My Rating
“Frozen Faith Part 02 – Daughter’s Gaze”
In the far north of Asgar, Conan joins a group of battle-weary Aesirmen as they fight against an encroaching force of Vanir raiders. The young Cimmerian had little interest in the northmen and their blood-feuds, but when the red-haired savages attacked an undefended colony of women and children, Crom himself could not hold back Conan and the justice he was about to reap.
As the Aesir warriors lay plans for a counter-attack, a curious spirit soon begins to watch the drama unfold. Who is the red-haired woman that walks among the slayers like a ghost? Her curses of man and their daunting ways land in none of their ears. Only her father, the controller of storms, has an interest in what she does. She shows no care until the black-haired warrior piques her interest. What happens next? Only the gods know.
“Gods Of The North”
Jeffrey Shanks continues his series on Robert E. Howard and his timeless world of Hyboria. In this segment, readers are given the history of the Aesir and Vanir people. Taken directly from the Norse Prose Edda, Howard reinvents the godly realms as physical lands that would go on to inspire the proto-vikings and their future mythology. Shanks includes more references here which inspired Robert E. Howard and his development of the Nordheimr lands and its people.
Reviewer Notes
I have to admit that I was incorrect in my previous review. Originally, I assumed that the red-haired woman introduced in Titan Comics Conan the Barbarian #13 was simply another appearance of Red Sonja, or Valeria at the least; however, this is not the case. The evidence is clear in issue #14 that this woman is neither Hyrkanian nor Aquilonian. I will leave it there so as not to reveal any spoilers. But if you are a hardcore fan, I point you to Robert E. Howard’s story “The Phoenix on the Sword”.
This issue is another dive into the blood and grit that have become synonymous with Conan of Cimmeria. The woke and fant of heart need not apply, as Jim Zub continues to bring the readers the purest form of Howard’s work. The most interesting part of this story arc is the introduction of the Norsemen and their deities. For some reason, Nordheim has been overlooked by many Conan writers consumed by the lands of Aquilonia and Stygia. I say it’s about time Ymir and his frost giants were shown some attention. Now we just need closure on just who the hell the redhead beauty is haunting this book. I’m guessing it may be Skadi or Freyja, but only Crom knows for sure. I give this issue four out of five stars.
Tag(s)
Character(s)
Writer(s)
Penciller(s)
Inker(s)
Colorist(s)
Letterer(s)
Cover Artist(s)
Editor(s)
