Conan the Barbarian #11
Marvel Comics
Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Mahmud Asrar
Colors by Matthew Wilson
Letters by Travis Lanham
Conan will confront Crom himself to decide his ultimate fate.
After the catastrophic events of the last issue, Conan awakens as the boy he was in the Cimmeria he remembers. With his parents by his side, young Conan leaps into battle, but questions why. When he is informed that they do what the mountain demands, which consists of a life of toil and battle, Conan decides to confront the mountain itself.
Making his way up the mountain, he is confronted by obstacles designed to stop him. When he finally reaches the top, he confronts Crom himself. A battle of will between the two will not only decide Conan’s fate, but will put him on a path of bloody revenge against those that killed him in the first place.
This issue is relentlessly fun from start to finish. Not only does Jason Aaron capture the spirit of Conan, but the determination of the character makes the drama of this issue special. The issue is filled with great dialogue, especially the moments between Conan and Crom. Their animus and mutual contempt is so entertaining to see play out and the final moment between the two of them is epic.
Mahmud Asrar’s art is the perfect complement to this story. The art is beautiful, sweeping and brutal. The mountains and backgrounds are gorgeous and the characters look amazing. The confrontation between Conan and Crom is awesome. I love the look of this issue.