King-Size Conan #1: An Issue Worthy of This King
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Conan the Barbarian is a funny character, in that the sword-swinging, Crom worshipping Cimmerian is as simple as you can get when considering his desires, but it's from this simplicity that truly great tales may emerge and
King-Size Conan delivers on that promise in celebrating fifty years of the warrior's comic book tenure. The tales in this issue break down Conan's character into a number of categories, ranging from "The Barbarian" to "The Thief" to "The Avenger" and provides readers a fantastic look into the mind of this long-running character.
King-Size Conan #1 is an anthology, containing five different stories that see Conan taking on very different roles. Luckily for readers, these stories range from solid to downright fantastic, with "The Mercenary" being the best of the bunch for me. Written by X-Men legend Chris Claremont with artist Roberto de La Torre, this tale starts with Conan presenting himself as a decidedly not very good person. The Cimmerian is hired to eradicate a number of nomads, killing a warrior woman striking down his "comrades." Winning the day, Conan is faced with a thought-provoking predicament that the Barbarian meets with such a cold response that readers might find it endearing.