Returning to his homeland to investigate reports that a Cimmerian using his name is slaughtering entire villages, Conan has not returned alone. With him is Belit, fearsome Queen of the Black Coast, and she provides the most interesting dynamic of the issue. Back home she is well known, feared and respected but in Conan’s village she is unknown and expected to be subservient to Conan. In fact, when they first arrive in the village Conan’s mother assumes she is a slave and that sets the tone for her interactions with the them.
You can almost feel Belits rage coming off the page as she suffers indignation after indignation and it makes the story crackle with anticipation of her eventual breaking point. She yearns to prove herself worthy of Conan while staying within the laws of the village and that propels the story forward.
What writer Brian Wood has done with this series is to make Conan multi-dimensional and interesting as a character and not just portraying him as an unstoppable killing machine. That in itself is an achievement but the story is also top notch and is sure to please both casual Conan fans and the hardcore alike.
7 out of 10
7 Word Summary: A different look at the classic character.
Conan the Barbarian #7
Dark Horse Comics – $3.50
