The splendor of it all augments Conan's despair because you just want the guy to enjoy himself. This may sound like a yawn of a tale considering who the titular character is, but don't let that deter you. This is a well-produced book that takes a break from adventure and journeys into the soul. Read Full Review

Overall, this is a surprisingly enjoyable side story from Brian Wood. Its a What If? issue that plays out beautifully and could have some major ramifications on Conan down the line as Wood steers this ship ultimately back towards Robert E. Howards original Queen of the Black Coast tale. There is undoubtedly a lot more to come from Wood before we reach the conclusion and if theyre anything like this issue and, frankly, the other 17 issues of this series so far, were in for a treat. A treat that nobody should be missing! Read Full Review

I actually chuckled as the last page announced, in bright colors and with an exclamation point an event called, BLACK STONES! Which sounds boring and pretty lame and is a great metaphor for how I've felt about the past couple issues. ("The thing you're reading is exciting and engaging, we swear!") There are things to like here, just not an incredible amount. Conan has been better, even in this run. Read Full Review

Overall the concepts driving this story are good ones with high potential. That said, there's nothing here by story's end that live up to the promises you'd hope from this series. It's possible Wood is holding his cards on this for future stories, but as it stands this story arc feels limp and unsatisfying. Read Full Review