In the first issue of Conan the Slayer by Cullen Bunn (Harrow County) and Sergio Dávila, we followed a wounded Conan into a community of Kozaki warriors. After some grandstanding, Conan earned their trust and caused a divide between the father (leader of the pack) with his older son. The older son does not trust Conan. Conan trusts none of them.

Bunn is a master at layering stories so you have no idea what’s going to happen next. The initial beat in this picks up from the previous issue. The troublesome brother is making unholy pacts to help accomplish his treacherous goal. This may include patricide, but dealing with whom I won’t reveal and to what outcome hasn’t been revealed. Conan doesn’t trust the brother. It begins there and ends far from anything I expected. Conan is sent out with a scouting party that lands them not only in one violent situation but into a second almost impossible situation that made my head spin.

This isn’t just Conan comic book reverie, this is old English poetry, mud and blood, sweat and dark magic. This is warriors who are larger than life facing enemies larger than even that. This is epic.

Sergio Davila’s artwork is stellar and fitting.  Along with Michael Atiyeh’s coloring, they bring to life this uncomplicated world of kill or be killed.

This issue also introduces us to an awesome female character: Oksana. One of the Kozaki, she can fire a bow better than Robin Hood and Katniss and is not afraid to put Conan in his place. She’s as smart and good a warrior as any, and better than most!