Covers For The Uncensored Cimmerian

Cover art by Chris Regnault

Having already teased the opening of the story for Free Comic Book Day, Ablaze is publishing the English-language translation of Glénat's original French "uncensored" adaption of Howard's Conan adventure Xuthal Of The Dusk (aka The Slithering Shadow), starting next month (July 22).

Variant cover by Stevan Subic

The remaining two monthly chapters of the three-part adaptation are then due to arrive in August and September, with the following main cover art work:

Cover art by Ito

Cover art by Stevan Subic

Cover art by Ito

Cover art by Stevan Subic

RISING TIDES LIFT ALL BARBARIANS!

Tides of The Tyrant-King #1 cover art by Roberto De La Torre

This September, the latest annual Conan The Barbarian event mini-series kicks off from Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures. 

Penned, as ever, by the ineffable 'Grim' Jim Zub, with art by Jésus Merino, Tides of The Tyrant-King, teased in this year's Free Comic Book Day offering, has Conan believing that Thulsa Doom's evil has been banished forever, but...

"...the Atlantean necromancer’s dark power stirs once more and, if it cannot be stopped, the dead shall overtake the living!

"The Tyrant-King of Atlantis returns and all shall suffer, unless Conan and his brave allies can turn back the tide! 

"The story follows Conan the Barbarian and Stephen Costigan, both warriors in different times - their battles are mirrored, as both of them are connected by a familiar evil that seeps its way into both stories…"

Variant cover art by Gerardo Zaffino

Variant cover art by Jésus Merino

Variant cover art by Roberto De La Torre

Variant cover art by Stuart Sayger

Variant cover art by Utsab Chatterjee

The first issue of Conan The Barbarian: Tides of The Tyrant-King is due to wash ashore in comic book stores on September 23, but on September 16 the glorious black-and-white magazine The Savage Sword of Conan #16 will include three tales connected to the wider Howardverse arc, all written by Jim Zub.

These yarns include:

"...a mesmeric Conan tale of corrupted memories and creeping madness with artist Nicola Scott, a return to the weird western world of Howardian gunslinger Steve Corcoran in a sequel to the classic Robert E. Howard tale Vultures of Whapeton with artist Chris Campana, and a descent into the shadowed past of mini-series femme fatale Zuleika with artist Sean Izaakse."

The Savage Sword of Conan #16, cover art by Joe Jusko

The Savage Sword of Conan #16, cover art by Nick Percival

Missed Out On Free Conan Comic Day? Fret Not...

Conan of Cimmeria believed that Thulsa Doom’s evil had been banished forever, but the Atlantean necromancer’s dark power stirs once more and, if it cannot be stopped, the dead shall overtake the living! The Tyrant-King of Atlantis returns and all shall suffer, unless Conan and his brave allies can turn back the tide!

Did you miss out on the Conan The Barbarian offering on May 2's Free Comic Book Day?

Don't worry - publishers Titan Comics has you covered. The 24-page book is now available as a free, downloadable PDF direct from them, here.

Written by legendary Conan scribe Jim Zub, with art by Jesus Merino, the comic is a prelude to the next big Howardverse comic book crossover event, Tides of the Tyrant King, starting in the Autumn.

This year's event ties into the classic 1929 Robert E Howard pulp story Skull-Face, his take on the Sax Rohmer's popular Fu Manchu adventures that began in 1912.

Tides of the Tyrant King also features, from the original Skull-Face yarn, Soldier Stephen Costigan, cousin of my favourite Howard creation Sailor Steve Costigan.

Free Character Class For Free Comic Book Day

Superzero art by J.E. Shields

To celebrate Free Comic Book Day (and Comic Giveaway Day) today. my good pal Pun has released an ashcan version of a character class scheduled to appear in his upcoming Dungeon Crawl Classics superhero zine Crisis In Infinite Zines #1.

The featured character class is the Superzero, designed to emulate the comic book staple of heroes with powers that aren't always that 'super', such as Marvel's Morlocks from the X-Men titles or DC's futuristic Legion of Substitute Heroes.

Read all about it - and pick up the free four-page PDF - on Pun's blog, Halls of the Nephilim.

TOMORROW IS FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!!!

Tomorrow is that most wonderful day known as Free Comic Book Day (and Comic Giveaway Day, for reasons).

The day when comic book publishers (large and small) try to tempt you to try their wares - or hook existing readers in for the next "must read" story arc - with free sampler comics at your friendly local comic store.

Remember, the books may be free to you - but the store still pays for them, so don't be greedy!

I've already revealed several of the titles that have caught my eye this year, such as the two Conan comics and Marvel's "apes and aliens" book, but there's also a He-Man and the Masters of the Universe/Dungeons & Dragons offering from Dark Horse that will scratch a certain itch.

More Uninvited Guests Drop In On The Planet of The Apes

Cover art by Stonehouse

Rather than giving the classic Planet of The Apes its own ongoing series, Marvel continues to push it as the perfect tourist destination for crossovers with its other properties.

The planet is currently enjoying a visit from the Fantastic Four, and in July the Yautja (aka Predators) are dropping in for a five-issue miniseries, Predator versus Planet of The Apes, penned by Greg Pak and illustrated by Alan Robinson.

"Worlds collide when a deadly Yautja crash-lands on the legendary Planet of the Apes!

"After a rescue mission gone wrong, astronaut Arch finds herself embedded in a hostile ape society where humans are subservient. But the hunters soon became the hunted when the apes find themselves being stalked by Predators!

"A three-way war is about to erupt between humans, apes and Yautja – who will reign supreme?!…

"Blending the mythology as well as the themes of both universes, the revolutionary saga pushes both Yautja and ape to their limit in a brutal battle for dominance!"

A prequel story to this series will appear in Free Comic Book Day Comics Giveaway Day's Alien, Predator & Planet of The Apes #1 (available on Saturday, May 2).

Variant cover by Tim Seeley

Movie cover variant art by Chris Campana

It's 82 Days To Free Comic Book Day

These two Conan titles are top of my wish list for this year's Free Comic Book Day.

Ablaze adapts the tales penned by Conan's creator, Robert E Howard, in the 1930's while Titan's bestselling Conan The Barbarian comic tells all-new adventures, with this Free Comic Book Day offering launching it's next big event storyline: Tides of The Tyrant King.

Have you started to compile your own list of titles you are eyeing to pick up during this annual celebration of the power of comic books as a storytelling medium?

Return To Planet of The Apes For Comic Book Giveaway

As part of Comics Giveaway Day - an "alternative" to the established Free Comic Book Day but occurring on the same day - Marvel, having remembered it has the Planet of The Apes license, will be releasing a new story for our simian superstars in a book showcasing 20th Century Studios sci-fi.

Saladin Ahmed presents a tale set on a planet that’s already succumbed to Xenomorphs! And in Jordan Morris’ story, a Yautja warrior stalks one of Earth’s greatest fighters. All this and a return to the Planet of the Apes!

This free comic will be available in participating comic book stores on May 2 (which is also Free Comic Book Day).

New Existential Adventures for Conan The Barbarian

cover art by Roberto De La Torre

As has now become a tradition, Titan Comics will be using next year's Free Comic Book Day event to launch a pivotal new event story arc for its flagship Conan The Barbarian series.

Written, as ever, by the inimitable "Grim" Jim Zub, the free, 24-page Conan The Barbarian: Tides of The Tyrant-King #0 will be released on May 2, 2026, ahead of the Tides of The Tyrant-King miniseries in September.

Conan of Cimmeria believed that Thulsa Doom's evil had been banished forever, but the Atlantean necromancer’s dark power stirs once more and, if it cannot be stopped, the dead shall overtake the living! The Tyrant-King of Atlantis returns and all shall suffer, unless Conan and his brave allies can turn back the tide!

Free Comic Book Day Aftermath

For those who missed Free Comic Book Day last weekend, or simply failed to pick up Titan's Conan: Scourge of The Serpent, the publisher has now made the issue available to download.

You can download it from Titan's own website, either as a PDF or a Kindle book, for free here.

This issue, written by Conan's current comic book scribe, Jim Zub, with art from Ivan Gil, is a prelude to this Autumn's major crossover Howardverse event, Scourge of The Serpent.

Fresh from mythic adventures in the frozen North, young Conan of Cimmeria’s wanderlust takes him south to the Nemedian principality of Numalia. A barbarian with no coin, no prospects, and an untamed thirst for wine and women, he embarks upon the first trade in his storied career: that of a thief. A simple enough prospect to most, but on this night the Cimmerian’s foray into petty crime will have consequences that ripple across the ages…

Today is Free Comic Book Day!

Today is Free Comic Book Day, the international celebration of the greatest artistic and narrative medium you can hold in your hands.

Support your local comic book shop, explore the epic multiverse of comic book adventures, and pick up some free samples while you're there (but don't be greedy - they may be free to you, but the store pays for them!)

I'm Pretty Sure I Am, But Are You Ready For The Summer of Superman?

To coincide with the release of a certain movie we're all looking forward to (don't let us down, James Gunn!), DC Comics has announced its Summer of Superman initiative.

Leading the charge will be a new ongoing title in May, Superman Unlimited, from the ever-excellent Dan Slott (of Fantastic Four, Amazing Spider-Man etc fame), making his ongoing DC debut, and artist Rafael Albuquerque.

A massive extinction-level Kryptonite asteroid showers Superman’s greatest weakness down upon the earth, creating an arms race for the new most valuable resource on the planet: Green K.

The greater availability of Kryptonite in the DC Universe changes the balance of power in the criminal empires of Metropolis and across the globe: Intergang, under new leadership, is on the rise, with practically all their foot soldiers carrying at least one clip of Kryptonite bullets on them.

The asteroid left massive Kryptonite deposits to be mined, and it houses unlimited horrors yet to be unpacked. To survive, Superman will need to forge new alliances, new tech and new tactics if he hopes to carry on his quest for truth, justice and a better tomorrow!

Superman Unlimited won’t just provide Superman’s nemeses with near-unlimited Kryptonite: the Daily Planet gets an upgrade.

A merger with a new incarnation of Morgan Edge’s Galaxy Communications expands the Daily Planet brand into a multimedia news platform with a cable news channel, website, strong social media presence, and—yes—Lois Lane is still editor in chief.

Daily Planet regulars Jimmy Olsen, Ron Troupe, Cat Grant and Steve Lombard will staff satellite branches across the DC universe, creating a global network.

Behind it all is the tech savvy of a new IT specialist from Gorilla City, King Solovar’s goddaughter, Tee-Nah.

The story kicks off with a 10-page preview in the DC All In Free Comic Book Day Special Edition #1, coming out on May 3. This flip book will also include a new Absolute Universe story, written by Jeff Lemire. 

Superman Unlimited #1 is then scheduled for launch on May 21.

DC’s Summer of Superman will not only embrace the already ongoing Action Comics and Superman titles but will include limited and ongoing series starring Superboy, Supergirl, Krypto (yay!), and more, highlighting DC’s deep roster of Superman-related characters.

I suspect this could see some heavy culling of non-Superman, and non-Fantastic Four, titles from my monthly pull-list, but nothing immediately springs to mind as expendable. Ahhh, first world problems!

The two faces of DC's FCBD flip book

Snakes Alive! Solomon Kane Gets His Own Comic and Conan Crushes FCBD Again!

In case you missed it: following the incredible success of its Conan The Barbarian comics, Titan is broadening its offerings from the worlds of pulp scribe extraordinaire Robert E Howard with the launch of a new Solomon Kane miniseries in March.

Although little is known at present, Solomon Kane: The Serpent Ring will be written - and illustrated - by Pat Zircher (who has delivered the mighty fine Solomon Kane strip in the Savage Sword of Conan magazine this year).

Legendary artist Mike Mignola (of Hellboy fame) will be providing variant cover art for, at least, the first issue.

The hardnosed, 16th Century Puritan monster-slayer Kane, of course, co-starred in Titan's recent Howardverse crossover comic event, Battle of The Black Stone, alongside Conan and a host of other Robert E Howard creations.

Keeping with the serpent theme (a common motif in Howard's work), Titan is also announcing its next "event" storyline, Scourge of The Serpent, with its 2025 Free Comic Book Day offering.

The serpent god's influence tightens its coils around the Hyborian Age and every other age linked to it... Three stunning supernatural stories will spiral together to answer a chilling question framed in past and present. What is Set’s grand plan for humanity and, now that it has begun, can it be stopped? The newest epic Conan event, begins here!

Conan: Scourge of The Serpent will be available, for free, from your friendly, local comic book shop on Saturday, May 3, along with a host of other 'taster' titles.