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Conan Omnibus
Conan Omnibus, Vol. 1: Birth of the Legend
Conan's earliest adventures, now available in affordable omnibus format! Featuring the legendary run of comics' greats Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord, this three-in-one format omnibus features favorites such as Born on the Battlefield, The Frost Giant's Daughter, God in the Bowl, and more! Catch all the action as Conan comes of age on the battlefield, wars with the murderous Vanir, meets the Frost Giant's daughter, is taken a slave by the ancient sorcerers of Hyperborea, and comes across his greatest adversary: Thoth-amon!
• Features the legendary run by comics' greats Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord!
• Also features work by Thomas Yeates and Greg Ruth, with colors by Dave Stewart!
• Three-in-one affordable omnibus format!
• Faithfully adapts Robert E. Howard's best-known tales!
Contains Conan Volume 0 (Born on the Battlefield), Volume 1 (The Frost Giants Daughter) and Volume 2 (The God in the Bowl).
• Features the legendary run by comics' greats Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord!
• Also features work by Thomas Yeates and Greg Ruth, with colors by Dave Stewart!
• Three-in-one affordable omnibus format!
• Faithfully adapts Robert E. Howard's best-known tales!
Contains Conan Volume 0 (Born on the Battlefield), Volume 1 (The Frost Giants Daughter) and Volume 2 (The God in the Bowl).
472 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2016
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,923 books594 followersKurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 23, 2018
Conan's adventures collected in chronological order. This one collects volumes 0, 1, and 2 of the Dark Horse series.
Conan Vol. 0: Born on the Battlefield
Conan's early years growing up in Cimmaria. There's some crazy stuff here like Conan tearing out a wolf's throat at 8. Greg Ruth's art is very inconsistent. Sometimes beautiful, often muddy and ill-defined to the point where you aren't even sure what you're looking at.
Conan Vol. 1: The Frost Giant's Daughter and Other Stories
Conan heads North fighting the Aesir before making it to Hyperborea. I was surprised Conan visited Hyperborea so early in his life. I remembered it as the mythical kingdom Conan was always searching for. Busiek really captures the tone and feel of Robert E. Howard. The art in this one is great. Cary Nord and Thomas Yates give the book a real Frazetta vibe.
Conan Vol. 2: The God in the Bowl and Other Stories
Conan tries his hand at being a thief which leads into a locked room murder mystery. The he gets in between rival wizards running afoul of Thoth Amon for the first time. Thoth Amon once fought the X-Men and turned Manhattan into a Hyborian version of itself. Busiek mixes it up this time giving us more than just a bunch of bloody battles. The art still emulates Frazetta which seems fitting.
Conan Vol. 0: Born on the Battlefield
Conan's early years growing up in Cimmaria. There's some crazy stuff here like Conan tearing out a wolf's throat at 8. Greg Ruth's art is very inconsistent. Sometimes beautiful, often muddy and ill-defined to the point where you aren't even sure what you're looking at.
Conan Vol. 1: The Frost Giant's Daughter and Other Stories
Conan heads North fighting the Aesir before making it to Hyperborea. I was surprised Conan visited Hyperborea so early in his life. I remembered it as the mythical kingdom Conan was always searching for. Busiek really captures the tone and feel of Robert E. Howard. The art in this one is great. Cary Nord and Thomas Yates give the book a real Frazetta vibe.
Conan Vol. 2: The God in the Bowl and Other Stories
Conan tries his hand at being a thief which leads into a locked room murder mystery. The he gets in between rival wizards running afoul of Thoth Amon for the first time. Thoth Amon once fought the X-Men and turned Manhattan into a Hyborian version of itself. Busiek mixes it up this time giving us more than just a bunch of bloody battles. The art still emulates Frazetta which seems fitting.
December 27, 2016
I was so glad to see these reprinted in omnibus form. I used to have the trade paperbacks of Busiek's and Nord's full run, and they are as perfect a comic as I've ever read. The initial chapter, illustrated by Greg Routh, is also fantastic, though it is much grittier than Nord's smoother pencils and offers a stark contrast to the rest of the story, but the visuals are entirely appropriate to the content. It's not often that I include comics on my Goodreads profile, but this volume is entirely worthy of a place in anyone's library.
January 30, 2019
Busiek and the artists are absolutely fantastic, they have taken established Conan lore and told a new and fantastic story of Conan.
This graphic novel follows Conan from his childhood and the early events which shape his character as he explores the northern realms in his younger days. By a third of the way in he is the Conan we know and love. I particularly liked how he moves through each connected story and each realm of hyperboreia, focusing mostly on the northern realms, but the story flows so elegantly.
The finale is quite epic, the artwork is fantastic, with an additional gallery at the back.
An absolutely fantastic graphic novel
5 stars with no questions
Thanks for reading
Lee
This graphic novel follows Conan from his childhood and the early events which shape his character as he explores the northern realms in his younger days. By a third of the way in he is the Conan we know and love. I particularly liked how he moves through each connected story and each realm of hyperboreia, focusing mostly on the northern realms, but the story flows so elegantly.
The finale is quite epic, the artwork is fantastic, with an additional gallery at the back.
An absolutely fantastic graphic novel
5 stars with no questions
Thanks for reading
Lee
February 20, 2017
4.5stars, rounded up.
December 16, 2023
El volumen empieza muy bien con las primeras historias. Están protagonizadas por un Conan joven saliendo de Cimeria para ver mundo, participar en líos entre otras tribus, quedar atrapado en Hyperbórea, descubrir los rudimentos de su sociedad, escapar de allí... Además del tono aventurero me ha gustado por cómo Thomas Yeates enriquece los dibujos de Cary Nord, llenándolos de detalle y matices... que se pierden cuando Yeates desaparece a mitad del tomo. Algo que repercute en unas historias que se alejan de esa peripecia para entrar en la faceta de ladrón, agravado cuando las ramificaciones de la adaptación de El dios del cuenco se agotan.
A destacar el fill-in humorístico en el cual entra Fabian Nicieza a escribir la historia y John Severin y Bruce Timm en el dibujo. Un regalo inesperado.
A destacar el fill-in humorístico en el cual entra Fabian Nicieza a escribir la historia y John Severin y Bruce Timm en el dibujo. Un regalo inesperado.
August 31, 2020
I know almost nothing about Conan so was pleasantly surprised by how much I dug this collection of mighty thewed hack and slash stories by the reliable Kurt Busiek. Best read over multiple sittings to avoid repetitiveness setting in, though. This is a likeable Conan, smart and inquisitive as well as buff, but still providing a naif’s view of the venality and corruption of the fantasy world he slashes and shags his way through. The art is somewhat mixed as storytelling goes but the colouring is excellent and keeps the mood appropriately pulpy and heroic. Docked a star for gratuitous use of rape as a character motivator, tho.
December 29, 2018
I’m currently reading Robert E. Howard’s Conan stories in the order they were published and thought it would be interesting to supplement that with this graphic novel.
Howard’s stories jump around in time while the Omnibus is chronological. There is quite a bit of original writing here with only two of the Conan stories included Busiek augments them into a nice narrative.
Howard’s stories jump around in time while the Omnibus is chronological. There is quite a bit of original writing here with only two of the Conan stories included Busiek augments them into a nice narrative.
August 24, 2018
This Omnibus edition has volumes 0, 1 and 2.
Volume 0: Born on the Battlefield starts well with issue 0, a teaser story that sets up a framing story for volume 0. It takes place years after Conan is dead and forgotten in history. A bored, young noble is sent upon a mission by his father, mostly to keep him out of Daddy’s hair. He and his entourage find a tomb that contains a statue of King Conan and a copy of the Nemedian Chronicles. The bored noble is intrigued by the statue of Conan and sets his begrudging vizier to the task of interpreting the chronicle and reading it to him.
Issue 0 is brilliant, written by Kurt Busiek, art by Cary Nord (which equals comic book gold). It serves as framework for volume 0 and is frankly the best part of V0.
I’m not a big fan of the rest of V0. First of all, I don’t like the idea of giving Conan an origin. He leaps off the page without one. The story itself starts with the birth of Conan (on the battlefield — duh) and progresses until he is 15 or so. It’s an okey-dokey tale. A bit too much melodrama, which makes it smell of pastiche. It’s more Sword & very little Sorcery. If it were not put forward as a Conan story, I would like it better.
The main strike against it is the art. It’s not Cary Nord. The art ranges from striking to muddled and confusing. I believe volume 0 was written after volume 1, but I am not sure of that. I had read issue 0 before, I picked it up years ago, but knowing my distaste for Conan origins I ignored “Born on the Battlefield” until now.
3 Stars, with issue 0 carrying most of the weight.
Part 2, or Volume 1: The Frost Giant’s Daughter and other Tales, is where the good stuff begins. It has Swords & More (but still not enough) Sorcery.
Most importantly, Busiek + Nord = Clint (hearts) this series. “The Frost Giant’s Daughter” is well adapted, I love Nord’s depiction of the giants. The rest of the story deals with the ancient race of Hyperborians, an immortal people that grow bored with life and walk off a precipice when life has grown too monotonous. They are followed off the cliff face by their drugged household like a pack of zombie lemurs. It ends with a gripping revenge tale of young Conan out for blood. No mercy. Well done.
Part 2, solid 4 stars.
Part 3, or Volume 2: The God in the Bowl and other Stories, opens mysteriously with the introduction of the Widow Maker and the Bone Woman and a keen story of Conan playing the part of trickster. From there into a two part adaptation of “The God in the Bowl” (a story I’m keen on as it inspired my own S&S creation). It wraps with a three part story featuring fan favorite bad guy Thoth-Amon.
Much Sword & Much Sorcery. Absolutely a Funtastic read. 5 star.
Volume 0: Born on the Battlefield starts well with issue 0, a teaser story that sets up a framing story for volume 0. It takes place years after Conan is dead and forgotten in history. A bored, young noble is sent upon a mission by his father, mostly to keep him out of Daddy’s hair. He and his entourage find a tomb that contains a statue of King Conan and a copy of the Nemedian Chronicles. The bored noble is intrigued by the statue of Conan and sets his begrudging vizier to the task of interpreting the chronicle and reading it to him.
Issue 0 is brilliant, written by Kurt Busiek, art by Cary Nord (which equals comic book gold). It serves as framework for volume 0 and is frankly the best part of V0.
I’m not a big fan of the rest of V0. First of all, I don’t like the idea of giving Conan an origin. He leaps off the page without one. The story itself starts with the birth of Conan (on the battlefield — duh) and progresses until he is 15 or so. It’s an okey-dokey tale. A bit too much melodrama, which makes it smell of pastiche. It’s more Sword & very little Sorcery. If it were not put forward as a Conan story, I would like it better.
The main strike against it is the art. It’s not Cary Nord. The art ranges from striking to muddled and confusing. I believe volume 0 was written after volume 1, but I am not sure of that. I had read issue 0 before, I picked it up years ago, but knowing my distaste for Conan origins I ignored “Born on the Battlefield” until now.
3 Stars, with issue 0 carrying most of the weight.
Part 2, or Volume 1: The Frost Giant’s Daughter and other Tales, is where the good stuff begins. It has Swords & More (but still not enough) Sorcery.
Most importantly, Busiek + Nord = Clint (hearts) this series. “The Frost Giant’s Daughter” is well adapted, I love Nord’s depiction of the giants. The rest of the story deals with the ancient race of Hyperborians, an immortal people that grow bored with life and walk off a precipice when life has grown too monotonous. They are followed off the cliff face by their drugged household like a pack of zombie lemurs. It ends with a gripping revenge tale of young Conan out for blood. No mercy. Well done.
Part 2, solid 4 stars.
Part 3, or Volume 2: The God in the Bowl and other Stories, opens mysteriously with the introduction of the Widow Maker and the Bone Woman and a keen story of Conan playing the part of trickster. From there into a two part adaptation of “The God in the Bowl” (a story I’m keen on as it inspired my own S&S creation). It wraps with a three part story featuring fan favorite bad guy Thoth-Amon.
Much Sword & Much Sorcery. Absolutely a Funtastic read. 5 star.
March 28, 2018
4.5 stars really. This is superb stuff, definitely the high-water mark for 21st century Conan tales. Fantastic writing with gorgeous art and coloring. Truly, it does not get much better than this.
Read
August 21, 2021Well done for what it is, but I’m not a big enough fan of Conan to immediately seek out the second omnibus.
May 7, 2019
Part of me thinks this book should have been five stars instead of four. There’s a particular reason why. This particular omnibus is divided into three parts: Born on the Battlefield, The Frost Giant’s Daughter, and The God in the Bowl. I’ll talk a bit about each one individually.
Born on the Battlefield was hands down the best part of this installation. Had it all been like this, the book would be five stars no question. Tight writing capturing the primal pathos of Conan accompanied by astounding art by Greg Ruth made for a wonderful experience. Even if all the rest had been bad, this would have made it worth the purchase.
The Frost Giant’s Daughter has a bit of a rough start. The change in artist was extremely jarring, and though the art wasn’t bad, the beginning of this part was probably the weakest of the whole book. As it went on, however, the writing really picked up. Overall, it was still worth it, even if a handful of pages were slightly more difficult to get through.
The God in the Bowl... it was good. There isn’t much to say about it, barring the fact that it established some recurring characters that I’ll be looking forward to seeing in the coming volumes.
All in all, a worthwhile purchase that has me ready to track down a copy of volume 2 (hard as it may be to find one). I would recommend it to most fantasy and graphic novel fans, though at the same time, for those who could only get one, Born on the Battlefield is the way to go.
Born on the Battlefield was hands down the best part of this installation. Had it all been like this, the book would be five stars no question. Tight writing capturing the primal pathos of Conan accompanied by astounding art by Greg Ruth made for a wonderful experience. Even if all the rest had been bad, this would have made it worth the purchase.
The Frost Giant’s Daughter has a bit of a rough start. The change in artist was extremely jarring, and though the art wasn’t bad, the beginning of this part was probably the weakest of the whole book. As it went on, however, the writing really picked up. Overall, it was still worth it, even if a handful of pages were slightly more difficult to get through.
The God in the Bowl... it was good. There isn’t much to say about it, barring the fact that it established some recurring characters that I’ll be looking forward to seeing in the coming volumes.
All in all, a worthwhile purchase that has me ready to track down a copy of volume 2 (hard as it may be to find one). I would recommend it to most fantasy and graphic novel fans, though at the same time, for those who could only get one, Born on the Battlefield is the way to go.
May 10, 2024
Es curioso cómo hay etapas en la vida que leer aventuras sobre un guerrero, mercenario, soldado, ladrón, bárbaro, pirata, rey y a saber cuántas cosas más como Conan te lo dan todo y te ayudan a seguir adelante. La etapa de Busiek y Nord en el fondo va sobre eso: seguir adelante y continuar viviendo y contando historias que se conviertan en mito. Para mí, este tomo está detrás solo del Conan rey de Tomás Giorello y Timothy Truman. Pronto, reseña.
October 17, 2022
Album zawiera zeszyty z serii: Conan (2004) #1-15, 23, 32, 45 & 46.
Wyśmienita adaptacji prozy Roberta E. Howarda, która pozostała w mojej głowie na długo po lekturze, racząc mnie prostą, ale interesującą historią, która ładnie prezentuje dzieciństwo Conana, jego dojrzewanie i pierwsze przygody, które stanowiły zwiastun przyszłej wielkości Cymeryjczyka.
Urodził się na polu bitwy, dojrzewał pośród cywilizacji plemiennej, wierzącej w bóstwo zwanej Cromem, gdzie kultywowano siłę i zręczność. Już od małego dokazywał i pokazywał na co go stać, aby dorosnąć i stanąć do walki o swoje ziemie. Początek poprowadzi jego, jak i całe plemię do walki z morderczymi Vanirami, dążąc do podbicia lokalnej twierdzy zwanej Venarium. Jednak to będzie za mało dla naszego młodego awanturnika, który w końcu ruszy w świat.
Na północ, aby skonfrontować pogłoski z prawdą. Napotka Asgardczyków w drodze do Hiperborei, gdzie mają mieszkać nieśmiertelni Panowie. Skonfrontuje prawdę z mitami na własnej skórze. W dodatku napotka córę legendarnego lodowego olbrzyma. Wreszcie jego życie naprowadziło go na niejaką Jenissę czy z samym Thoth-Amon, straszliwym magiem. Wszystkie te przygody ukształtowały naszego przyszłego władcę.
Nie ukrywam, że nie spodziewałem się niczego po tym tytule, a dostałem sierpa w szczękę. Conan w wykonaniu Busieka jest szalenie wciągającą lekturą, bardzo ładnie zapełnioną zawartością wymyśloną, ale ładnie pokrywająca się z tym co stworzył Howard, jednocześnie poważając materiał źródłowy, tak bardzo jak się da. Dzięki czemu Conan jest bezkompromisowy, brutalny i hipnotyzujący.
Czy to Cary Nord, czy to Greg Ruth, rysunki są może nieco uboższe w szczegóły, ale to takie swoiste rozmycie pasuje Conanowi jak najbardziej i stanowi wartość dodaną tytułu. Wyśmienite połączenie warte nad wszech miar poznania. Kamień milowy komiksu? Nie, ale nowe otwarcie dla legendy Conana jak najbardziej.
Wyśmienita adaptacji prozy Roberta E. Howarda, która pozostała w mojej głowie na długo po lekturze, racząc mnie prostą, ale interesującą historią, która ładnie prezentuje dzieciństwo Conana, jego dojrzewanie i pierwsze przygody, które stanowiły zwiastun przyszłej wielkości Cymeryjczyka.
Urodził się na polu bitwy, dojrzewał pośród cywilizacji plemiennej, wierzącej w bóstwo zwanej Cromem, gdzie kultywowano siłę i zręczność. Już od małego dokazywał i pokazywał na co go stać, aby dorosnąć i stanąć do walki o swoje ziemie. Początek poprowadzi jego, jak i całe plemię do walki z morderczymi Vanirami, dążąc do podbicia lokalnej twierdzy zwanej Venarium. Jednak to będzie za mało dla naszego młodego awanturnika, który w końcu ruszy w świat.
Na północ, aby skonfrontować pogłoski z prawdą. Napotka Asgardczyków w drodze do Hiperborei, gdzie mają mieszkać nieśmiertelni Panowie. Skonfrontuje prawdę z mitami na własnej skórze. W dodatku napotka córę legendarnego lodowego olbrzyma. Wreszcie jego życie naprowadziło go na niejaką Jenissę czy z samym Thoth-Amon, straszliwym magiem. Wszystkie te przygody ukształtowały naszego przyszłego władcę.
Nie ukrywam, że nie spodziewałem się niczego po tym tytule, a dostałem sierpa w szczękę. Conan w wykonaniu Busieka jest szalenie wciągającą lekturą, bardzo ładnie zapełnioną zawartością wymyśloną, ale ładnie pokrywająca się z tym co stworzył Howard, jednocześnie poważając materiał źródłowy, tak bardzo jak się da. Dzięki czemu Conan jest bezkompromisowy, brutalny i hipnotyzujący.
Czy to Cary Nord, czy to Greg Ruth, rysunki są może nieco uboższe w szczegóły, ale to takie swoiste rozmycie pasuje Conanowi jak najbardziej i stanowi wartość dodaną tytułu. Wyśmienite połączenie warte nad wszech miar poznania. Kamień milowy komiksu? Nie, ale nowe otwarcie dla legendy Conana jak najbardziej.
January 21, 2019
I love Conan, and in comics, it’s tough to beat the team of Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord. But this first collection of the Dark Horse Conan series starts off without Nord, beginning with the “Born on the Battlefield” stories. These are decent enough pastiches of Conan’s early life, but they’re not the series’ best work by a long shot. Busiek’s writing is at its best when clustered around Howard’s stories. Even just the vague references to the sack of Velarium in “Across the Black River” provide Busiek with a firmer foundation than the early chapters of this volume. That said, once Busiek starts writing just outside the lines of “The Frost Giant’s Daughter” the stories and art catch fire. Busiek loses his way a bit after the “God in the Bowl” story, wandering into very tired territory (the rape-makes-swordswomen-powerful crap that Gail Simone got rid of in Red Sonja is back to haunt Sword and sorcery fans again here). An uneven volume, with the best yet to come. Also disappointed to see that Dark Horse did not include Mark Finn’s fabulous essays from the earlier collected editions. I’d pay money for a volume of those!
July 30, 2018
I've been on the fence regarding the re-imagining of Conan for years, mainly due to how different the drawing style is from that of artists like John Buscema and Ernie Chan. Now that I've taken the plunge with the first few volumes what really won me over was the writing far more than drawings. It's mature and intelligent, and not only retells the Conan canon but expands upon it in ways that add depth and credibility.
That being said this is still a comic and the uneven quality of the drawings does detract from the experience. The artists seem to aspire to a sort of vague, blurry style, as if you're viewing events through foggy glass. You can hardly ever see faces or backgrounds clearly, which is a shame since some of the backdrops here have the potential for some impressive panoramas of the Hyborian world. It's also at times inconsistent in how Conan is portrayed, with his already vaguely delineated face changing from one pane to the next. I wonder whether this was done deliberately as an artistic choice, or whether it was simply done to save time and money.
That being said this is still a comic and the uneven quality of the drawings does detract from the experience. The artists seem to aspire to a sort of vague, blurry style, as if you're viewing events through foggy glass. You can hardly ever see faces or backgrounds clearly, which is a shame since some of the backdrops here have the potential for some impressive panoramas of the Hyborian world. It's also at times inconsistent in how Conan is portrayed, with his already vaguely delineated face changing from one pane to the next. I wonder whether this was done deliberately as an artistic choice, or whether it was simply done to save time and money.
August 10, 2018
I always feel like I started out a fan of Conan in the purest form possible -- the original stories. While I have seen the Conan movies with Arnold, they were never what made me a fan. However, when I first discovered the stories coming out by Kurt Busiek in 2005 it just felt right. Later I learned that they stayed faithful to the original stories as much as possible and this comic book love letter shines thru. The art does vary some but it never takes you out of the story. Conan is visceral in his violence and almost charming in his naivety and ignorance -- something other adaptations don't always balance. The world feels big here and you want to explore it with him every step of the way. Any while there is mysticism, fantasy, and magic; they ultimately feel like just one small part of a story that is much bigger and not defined by them for the sake of being a "fantasy story." If you have never been able to get into Conan in other forms -- definitely give this a try.
June 15, 2020
Something timeless about a good old-fashioned sword and sorcery romp. I've read so many Conan comics and always seem to enjoy them. I had read many of these stories back when I myself was working at Dark Horse. Now, all these years later, I find myself a little disappointed with the artwork. Seeing it now it just looks half-finished and mostly carried by the gorgeous coloring of Dave Stewart. (Though the "Born on the Battlefield" arc with Greg Ruth art looks AMAZING!)
One of the things I always enjoyed in Conan stories in the past was the artwork, this time I felt like I was being presented very rough (sometimes VERY rough), unfinished work. I get that it was part of the 'look' of the Cary Nord run on the title, but I'm not sure my personal tastes were pleased with it.
I will continue with Volume 2, which I bought quite awhile ago now, before Marvel re-obtained the rights.
One of the things I always enjoyed in Conan stories in the past was the artwork, this time I felt like I was being presented very rough (sometimes VERY rough), unfinished work. I get that it was part of the 'look' of the Cary Nord run on the title, but I'm not sure my personal tastes were pleased with it.
I will continue with Volume 2, which I bought quite awhile ago now, before Marvel re-obtained the rights.
April 16, 2021
There are moments in this series that really shine. The adaptation of The Frost Giant's Daughter was great. There are a few others I liked too. Overall the art style isn't quite my favorite, though this is purely a personal aesthetic criticism, it's objectively still decent and the artists are very talented. I liked the Conan comics of the 1970's/1980's era more, and have enjoyed some of the other Conan series put out by the Dark Horse line. This wasn't bad, just not my favored iteration. My preference is for the Tomàs Giorello, Richard Corben, José Villarrubia, and Timothy Truman versions which I discovered in college.
November 9, 2023
Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord doing Conan? Yup sign me up. I read these and bought them per issue as the books were coming out, years ago. They were good then and they are still good. Finally finished this as I have read it like five times over the years but I never reviewed it. Simply put this is the birth and early life of Conan and the unbelievable story, The Frost Giant's Daughter. Cimmerian against Vanir and Frost Giants! Yeah its just good and I love it. Love the original stories by Robert E. Howard and loved the old books including SSOC. They haven'r figured a way to destroy this beloved barbarian and his stories......yet.
Hope they leave him and these stories alone.
Danny
Hope they leave him and these stories alone.
Danny
October 3, 2022
This was my first venture into Conan literature after playing the Conan Exiles game. I had seen the movie before but that strays far from the source material.
The stories in this collection are amazing, and the artwork is stunning! I loved it so much that I spent two years collecting the other collections from Dark Horse. It really is a shame they lost the rights to the character. This will always be my favorite version of the character.
If you can still find any of the Dark Horse comics, grab them right away!
The stories in this collection are amazing, and the artwork is stunning! I loved it so much that I spent two years collecting the other collections from Dark Horse. It really is a shame they lost the rights to the character. This will always be my favorite version of the character.
If you can still find any of the Dark Horse comics, grab them right away!
June 18, 2017
A great jumping on point for anyone who wants to read about Conan of Cimmeria. 'Born on the Battlefield' is a fantastic tale of Conan's formative years. Kurt Busiek's script keeps you locked in while Greg Ruth's artwork gives off a great rough, but easy on the eyes vibe. Cary Nord's art is a bit cartoony at times, but neither does it ruin the tales following 'Born.' All in all, well worth picking up and reading multiple times. Can't wait to dive into Volume 2.
September 15, 2018
Dark Horse did a good job adapting the Conan stuff. So although I enjoyed this collection, it's not without it's flaws. Some of the inking done for Cary Nord's art is intentionally sloppy. And while I understand that they were trying to make the stories look gritty, it just comes across as poorly done. Also, the colorist is not the best as most of the colors he chooses comes across as bright yellow or purple.
September 10, 2023
Conan en toda su gloria
Excelente inicio de la revisión de CONAN ,en su etapa en la editorial Dark Horse. Busiek entiende perfectamente al personaje y su mundo para escribirlo, que junto a la maestría visual de Nord, nos dejan grandes historias que perdurará como los picos más altos, no sólo en los cómics de fantasía, sino del género en general. Muy recomendable para los que buscan buenas historias, e imprescindible para los fans del cimmerio.
Excelente inicio de la revisión de CONAN ,en su etapa en la editorial Dark Horse. Busiek entiende perfectamente al personaje y su mundo para escribirlo, que junto a la maestría visual de Nord, nos dejan grandes historias que perdurará como los picos más altos, no sólo en los cómics de fantasía, sino del género en general. Muy recomendable para los que buscan buenas historias, e imprescindible para los fans del cimmerio.
September 6, 2017
Well done
This is a fine volume, something the movies could learn from. While it's the third time I've seen an adaptation of the frost giants daughter and the second for the God in the bowl, they are well done and worth reading. A good revisit to Conan and an honor to the name of Robert E. Howard.
This is a fine volume, something the movies could learn from. While it's the third time I've seen an adaptation of the frost giants daughter and the second for the God in the bowl, they are well done and worth reading. A good revisit to Conan and an honor to the name of Robert E. Howard.
October 20, 2018
Disappointing
After such a promising opening volume, the other revert to the common sword and sorcery cliches. Conan is the origin of the subgenre, I know, but I was hoping for something a little more than just Conan fights men good, especially given the care and development in the first volume.
After such a promising opening volume, the other revert to the common sword and sorcery cliches. Conan is the origin of the subgenre, I know, but I was hoping for something a little more than just Conan fights men good, especially given the care and development in the first volume.
November 22, 2020
Birth of a Legend serves as the origin story for one of the most famous characters in the fantasy genre. While I expected testosterone-fueled violence and got plenty of it, the story also had a surprising amount of depth, pathos, and nuance. This omnibus is one of the better graphic novels I've read this year and serves as an excellent example of this mythology.
June 15, 2021
A new take on Conan. The childhood is interesting and well written. A few good storylines but still missing that Robert E. Howard sense of adventure. At times Conan becomes a minor character in his own story and that really changes the tone. It also takes a long time for a major villain to appear and bring magical conflict.
January 31, 2018
This gargantuan collection gives the reader some excellent retellings of Conan's early years as expertly adapted by Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord with additional art by Greg Ruth, Tom Mandrake, and Thomas Yeates. Sword and sorcery at its finest.
July 7, 2019
Good enough, I suppose but I much prefer the Barry Smith artwork.
Artwork, though mostly ok, was inconsistent at times and was not fully developed. Of course the drawing media does not ever reach the depths of well written words. Overall I recommend this collection.
Artwork, though mostly ok, was inconsistent at times and was not fully developed. Of course the drawing media does not ever reach the depths of well written words. Overall I recommend this collection.
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