King Conan vol. 5: Wolves Beyond the Border

All good things must come to an end, and this represents the last of writer Tim Truman and artist Tomas Giorello’s work on “Conan.”  This being comics, that could change in a couple years, but the way Truman thanks everyone he’s worked with on the character over the years in his afterword really makes it feel like this is the last we’ll be seeing of this team here.  He also explains the origins behind the tale being told in this volume.  Based off of a couple of unfinished fragments from “Conan” creator Robert E. Howard, “Wolves Beyond the Border” is a fine showcase for the Old King Conan character that Truman and Giorello have had narrating their previous tales.  Now he’s the actual protagonist of the story that finds him gearing up for one last adventure across the river.  After a former comrade-in-arms delivers a magical Pictish helm to Conan, the old king is gripped by visions of its history and the possibility that it could be used to forge a lasting peace with the wild men of the jungle.  Also, the woman delivering the visions questions whether or not he’s too old for such an adventure, and if there’s one surefire way to get Old King Conan going that would be it.

So, a legendary character headed out on one last mission after he’s well past his prime.  That sure sounds like the kind of story where the protagonist pays for his hubris by dying tragically after failing in his mission.  Well… OLD KING CONAN SMACKS YOUR TROPES IN THE HEAD AND GUTS THEM WITH HIS MIGHTY BLADE!!!  If you’ve been wanting to see this character go out and kick some evil savage ass, and maybe a magic-user or two in the process, then you’re going to like what Truman and Giorello have to offer here.  Truman delivers a vision of the barbarian king whose fire never really went out and is more than ready to take on the challenges of the jungle before him.  Giorello obliges the writer by delivering more of the rough-hewn art that perfectly captures the bloody grandeur of Conan’s adventures.  Granted, some of the touches that Truman throws in to link “Conan” to two of Howard’s other notable characters do feel a bit fanfiction-y, and the story is a pretty straightforward one where the title character essentially growls his way through every challenge.  The creators do work hard to make sure the action and adventure are entertaining enough to overpower these issues, and the end result is bound to satisfy the fans who have followed their adventures on “Conan” over the years.