Here at POTW we make the tough decision of what to buy if you only had money for ONE book coming out that week… this is easily the best comic coming out any given Wednesday. Even though we’ve not read it yet, we’re assured of its greatness!
I have to admit that this week’s pick is an odd one for me. Conan The Barbarian is relaunched this week with…the creative team of DEMO? I’ve never read anything Conan. I’ve tried to get into the character but he’s never resonated with me. I’m 99% sure that will change with the creative team of Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan.
One of the things that already has me hooked is that Wood has established in interviews that this is a 25 issue story. That means it has a set beginning and and end. I’m always for a story if I know it has a finite ending. Wood’s strength of developing character is what will make this for me. I wasn’t really interested in Wood’s Northlanders series but I gave it a chance and after a few issues I was totally sold. That was all due to Wood being able to develop deep character in what I always saw as a shallow premise.
To add to the lure of the book is Wood’s long time collaborator, Becky Cloonan. Cloonan’s work on DEMO was the first I’d ever seen her work. While it didn’t start out as my favorite art ever, it’s hard not to fall in love with at the end of the series. Not to mention after seeing her current work in color, I’ve been excited to see her next project. (Damn you, Marvel! That canceled Dr. Doom mini-series would have looked awesome!) From the preview pages I’ve seen, this looks to be the best work of her career.
So we have all formula for an excellent series: Brian Wood + Becky Cloonan + Conan + 3.50 = High Quality Entertainment. I mean seriously $3.50 won’t break you. If you like even one of these things then give this book a chance.
PS: While we’re speaking of Dark Horse books, you should flip through the Strange Case of Mr. Hyde TPB that hits this week. You’ll be surprised.
