Could you make that a double?

The Savage Sword?

This is the kind of story I've been waiting for since Dark Horse first announced the nine book series of "one shots". Hands down this was the very best book of the series so far and it couldn't have come from a more unexpected title. Conan? The barbarian? The savage sword guy? No way! And yet here I sit having just finished one of the best books I've read so far in 2010.

Darick Robertson's illustrations were as well rendered as his story. He gets Conan and his portrayal of the barbarian and the brutality of his methodology were spot on. There was violence, blood and gore aplenty, but it didn't overshadow an intelligent and thoughtful tale. I found it remarkably refreshing to read a comic book in which the words, mature and adult weren't used as licenses to draw as many pairs of naked breasts as possible while dropping the F-bomb in every other sentence.

When I'm looking for a book to hand someone and say,"Here, this is the Dark Horse difference." this is the one I'll be reaching for. Smart, sophisticated and capable of telling a great story without having to drag twenty-five other books along for the ride. I've really enjoyed the one shots and I'd very much like to see them become a regular part of the Dark Horse line.

Conan, huh? I may just have to try another shot...