Conan tpb 1: The Frost-Giant's Daughter and Other Stories

[stealthwise]

Damn was that ever refreshing. I've never really been a fan of "classic fantasy" or "Swords and sorcery" or whatever the heck it's called, but I really enjoyed the hell out of this book. Seven and a half issues for $21 (Canadian) was really worth it for me.

However, I'm glad that I got it in trade, because the first few issues didn't do a whole lot to grab me overall. Hopefully they'll continue to put out the trades in this way, because I'm really liking this title now. Great art and solid writing.

[Matt K]

Well keep in mind the first issue was issue #0. I was supposed to be just a teaser issue.

[Steeven]

So this trade collects which comics exactly?

[hamsterdance]

It collects issues #0 through the first half of 7.

[tk421atpost]

So this trade collects which comics exactly?

0 - 6 and part of 7.

The HC is signed by Busiek and worth the extra few dollars.

[hamsterdance]

The HC version also has those nice maps of the continent, kingdoms and cities. A beautiful addition to the HC version you won't get with the softcover.

[Steeven]

So, issue number 7 has two stories in it?

[Predator]

How did you guys get the softcover already? I can't get a copy until April.

[tk421atpost]

How did you guys get the softcover already? I can't get a copy until April.

They shipped the same day.

[stealthwise]

Well keep in mind the first issue was issue #0. I was supposed to be just a teaser issue.

I know, I bought it when it came out, then decided to wait for the trade. No idea how it tied for the "Best Single Issue" at the Eisners this past year.

[terryallenuk]

So, issue number 7 has two stories in it?

One story , but the first half finishes the first arcs story while the second is a prelude to the 2nd arc that started in issue 9

Terry

[terryallenuk]

They shipped the same day.

Then DH decided to hold the rest until the original date so that the HC could sell through on it's own.

Terry

[tk421atpost]

Then DH decided to hold the rest until the original date so that the HC could sell through on it's own.

Terry


Both the HC and the TPB of it were sitting side by side on the new release racks of several comic shops that I visited that weekend. If there was any holding back of it, it didn't happen around these parts.

[Kurt Busiek]

Both the HC and the TPB of it were sitting side by side on the new release racks of several comic shops that I visited that weekend. If there was any holding back of it, it didn't happen around these parts.

What he said was that Dark Horse held the rest, which is true -- those comics shops got their initial shipment, but they can't reorder any TPBs until the date it was supposed to come out.

Turns out hardcover sales were really strong anyway, so it may have been unnecessary, but so it goes...

kdb

[The Mirrorball Man]

Is it based on Robert Howard's story of the same name? If that's the case, could someone tell me what's in the TPB? If I remember correctly, the original short story is just a couple of pages long: Conan chases a goddess, he fights some giants, and that's pretty much it.

[terryallenuk]

The first story arc, now collected in both hardcover and paperback, contains the introductory ‘0’ issue. A re-telling of Conan’s life based on The Nemedian Chronicles. The book also collects issues 1 – 7 of the ongoing series, well actually the second part of issue 7 does not appear, as its a prequel to the next arc – this will feature in the second collection.

After introducing Conan in battle with the Vanir and his team up with the Aesir in issue 1, it’s straight into the first Howard adaptation, The Frost-Giant’s Daughter. This story acts as a springboard for the rest of the arc. A tale of betrayal and revenge that helps us understand Conan’s loathing for wizardry during his imprisonment by the Hyperboreans. Conan then embarks on the quest to track down his betrayers and at the end exact his vengeance as only Conan could.

Terry

[The Mirrorball Man]

All right, so basically, it's an expanded version of an original Howard short story, right?

[terryallenuk]

All right, so basically, it's an expanded version of an original Howard short story, right?

Sort of , with Kurt adding his own prequel and sequel so making a continous chronological story of Conan , similar to waht Roy Thomas did at Marvel.

Terry

[tk421atpost]

What he said was that Dark Horse held the rest, which is true -- those comics shops got their initial shipment, but they can't reorder any TPBs until the date it was supposed to come out.

Turns out hardcover sales were really strong anyway, so it may have been unnecessary, but so it goes...

kdb

Thanks for the clarification.

[Roquefort Raider]

I was very happy with the book (I got my softcover last week from Amazon, btw).

It brought back fond memories of my early Conan-collecting days, back during the original Roy Thomas run.

I'm happy to see that Kurt Busiek is as respectful of Howard's world as Thomas was, and to see that so many readers seem to like it. Hopefully we'll never again see pimply readers request that Conan fight Wolverine.

In all honesty, I would rather have had the Marvel Conan the barbarian series resurrected under the capable guidance of someone like Mr. Busiek (or any other writer with as much interest in the concepts and characters), if only to save all that Thomas had built into the mythos (the career in Turan, the story of Bêlit, the Conan-Sonja interaction, etc). But since that is an unlikely event, I'll just count my blessings and keep following the Dark Horse series.

Cheers!

- Ben