Conan: The Frazetta Cover Series #1
“She lures men from stricken fields into the wastelands to be slain by her brothers, the ice-giants, who lay men’s hearts smoking on Ymir’s board. The Cimmerian has seen Atali, the frost-giant’s daughter!”
Dark Horse Comics is adapting the paintings of Frank Frazetta into an eight issue limited series, written by Kurt Busiek and illustrated by Cary Nord, based on Conan, a character created by Robert E. Howard. The first issue is titled “The Frost-Giant’s Daughter” and is an interpretation of the Frazetta painting of the same name.
This comic doesn’t disappoint and meets every expectation when it comes to the exploits of the Crom worshipping Barbarian. It’s twenty-two pages featuring bloody battles and scantily clad maidens. Conan’s classic mirth, even in the heat of mortal combat, is cleverly scripted by Kurt Busiek. Nord’s portrayal of the cruel Cimmerian is presented in vivid detail and fluid movement, making every killing blow seem authentic and logical. At the very end of the issue are a pair of brief biographies on the inspirations for the comic book, Frank Frazetta and Robert E. Howard- both names any respecting fantasy aficionado should immediately recognize.
I expect this series will be successful given the source material and the reverence with which it has been treated. Each issue will apparently be a stand alone, having only to do with the respective adventure that has been immortalized in each Frazetta painting featured on the cover. I would recommend this series to fans of Frank Frazetta’s iconic art, Conan the Barbarian, Sword and Sorcery tales or any combination of these.