Conan the Barbarian - The Life and Death of Conan - Book One

 

I've been a fan of the Cimmerian's adventures since Marvel first started featuring him, which lead me to investigate Robert E. Howard's original writings as well as many of the various other sword'n'socery titles that appeared in comics and paperback. Although an admitted barbarian, Conan was intelligent and imbued with his own code of honor - much more so that the "civilized" men he would encounter in his travels - and while he solved many a-problem by simply hacking at it, he also knew how to come up with legit solutions based on his knowledge and instinct. He could also be an intense hedonist filled with wine, ale and lust for women.

This collection is tied together by Conan's fight with a witch and her followers - actually the followers of the demon/god she served - through the years while also chronicling various adventures and misadventures from the time he was a teenage through his old age as a king. Author Jason Aaron does a fine job telling tales that we have not heard before of feats of survival, foul, sorcerous creatures, treacherous men and honorable Picts, among others. This book expounds on Conan's reputation and keeps the character true to himself.

I picked up this volume at a local book fair (thanks Christy and the Founder's Club!) and immediately after finishing it I ordered the next volume. Fans of the Cimmerian will not be disappointed!