Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Brian Ching
Editor: Aaron Walker
Release Date: OUT NOW!
Price: $3.50

Conan The Avenger #24 is part 5 of the saga, ‘A Witch Shall Be Born’ which sees Salome still impersonating Queen Tamaris in the City of Khauran and establishing her evil reign more surely by the day. We get several pages of courtly intrigue as the good citizens plan a rebellion but we all know their only hope lies with Conan whose problem solving skills are on a par with ‘Hulk smash!’

In Conan The Avenger #24 that’s just what Conan intends to do, leading an army into battle for the soul of Khauran. Sounds noble but we all know Conan just loves a punch-up and that’s just what we get here, even if it is delayed. You could never call Conan  verbose, but apart from a battle cry or two, he gets no lines whatever in what I can only imagine is a deliberate ploy by Fred Van Lente to give us what he feels is ‘plot’ rather than mindless violence.

Far be it from me to disagree with this tactic in Conan The Avenger #24 but without Conan knocking heads every page or two Conan The Avenger #24 could be any generic sword and sorcery saga. Trademark Conan carnage is what we want and it’s been far too long in coming. Let’s hope part 6 redresses the balance and puts everyone’s favourite barbarian in the forefront of his own title.

Reviewer: Gary Orchard
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker