Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 Review: Crossover Is Filled With Twists

by

As a huge fan of Robert E. Howard’s work, last year’s ‘Battle of the Black Stone’ miniseries was something special – seeing so many of his characters brought together on one epic quest, traveling through time and space, was incredible. And it’s continuing this year with ‘Conan: Scourge of the Serpent‘! From what I’ve heard, this new installment really dives even deeper into the rich history and mythology Howard created – and honestly, I couldn’t be more excited.

Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 tells a story through three different timelines. Though these stories appear separate at first, they’re all connected by a single threat: the Serpent Men, an ancient race who once controlled the world.

This collection features three separate adventures. The first follows King Kull of Valusia as he deals with disguised enemies known as Serpent Men. The second stars a young Conan the Barbarian, who gets caught up in the Serpent Men’s schemes while working as a thief. Finally, the third story features Professor John Kirowan, who uses his knowledge of ancient history to fight the Serpent Men’s magic in the early 1900s.

Conan: Scourge of the Serpent adapts three stories perfectly

Fans of Robert E. Howard will immediately recognize the stories in Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1. This issue directly adapts three of his short stories – “The Shadow Kingdom,” “The God in the Bowl,” and “The Haunter of the Ring.” Writer Jim Zub has often used Howard’s work as inspiration, so this isn’t unexpected. What *is* surprising is how Zub and artist Ivan Gil creatively reimagine these classic tales.

I’ve noticed something really interesting in the parts about Professor Kirowan and the Ring’s haunting. The art actually *shows* Kirowan being disturbed by a vision of a woman while he’s examining the ring. The original story just said he felt a strange dislike for it. It seems like Zub and Gil were hinting at Kirowan’s past love, who gets talked about later on, and the artwork makes that connection much clearer.

Conan: Scourge of the Serpent perfectly captures what has made Robert E. Howard’s work so enduring. The action is thrilling and beautifully brought to life by the artwork. Any fan of horror, fantasy adventure, or great comics should definitely pick this series up.

Grade: 9/10

Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on September 24, 2025.

Read More

2025-09-22 20:27