Steven Paul
Oct 15, 2004, 12:13 am
<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dh/1004/Conan_Daughters.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dh/1004/Conan_Daughters_t.jpg" align=left alt="Conan and the Daughters of Midora preview"></a>
Reviewer: Steven Paul Watson, vipereyes_2000@yahoo.com
Quick Rating: Excellent
The journey of two daughters…
Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti
Artist: Mark Texiera
Colored by: Michelle Madsen
Inked by: Jimmy Palmiotti
Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft
Cover Artist: Mark Texiera
Designer: Darin Fabrick
Assistant Editor: Matt Dryer
Editor: Scott Allie
Publisher: Mike Richardson
Special Thanks To: Theodore Bergquist, Jeff Conner, and Fredrik Malmberg at Conan Properties
Based on the work of Conan creator: Robert E. Howard
Warning: Some Spoilers Ahead!
This is more like it. Something about Conan and his adventures that work very well in any form but here it seems best, one issue for one story. Not saying the current ongoing from Dark Horse isn’t good; in fact it’s one of the best comics currently being published. But the wait between issues, though very timely, seems too long to have to endure.
The Daughters of Midora as far as I can tell is a standalone tale and has very little besides the title character to do with the ongoing series. It begins with Conan having a few drinks and enjoying himself in the city of Gouvia, perhaps enjoying himself too much as he reveals to a dancer why he is there and that is too steal The Black Pearl. Shortly after being rejected and taking it rather badly he is faced with a group of soldiers whom the dancer has informed of his plans.
We learn shortly everything Conan does; he does for a reason of his own. He planned to be caught; it was his way into the castle to steal the pearl. But as clever as Conan is his reputation out lives him as the King has heard of him and offers Conan the pearl as payment for a job.
The job is to track down a former wizard, Killver, whom has taken his daughter and bring her back safely as well as the wizard’s head. Conan at first doesn’t want to take the job (even though he doesn’t have much of a choice) and even goes as far to suggest the other daughter become Queen. The king refuses, Valensa unlike Hannah is a warrior and with two others would accompany Conan on his journey.
Things move quickly from there as the small group set out on their journey and most everything that happens is expected from a Conan story. Conan and Valensa, though they had a rocky start, bond and battle the wizard and his followers.
Maybe I was being naïve but the revelation at the end about the wizard and how the story itself ended surprised me. They were neither shocking or the most original but both surprised me cause I did not expect them for this story.
Mark Texiera’s art is good, and with some panels even excellent. But for the most part it is hit and miss through out the issue. The best part of the art was the battle scenes, probably the most important parts of a Conan story and that is where Texiera’s art really works.
It’s easy to see why the Conan property and the character are as popular as they are. Conan is brutal in his take no prisoner ways and he doesn’t always do the right thing. The character unlike others in comics, movies, and television, just seems more dangerous and unpredictable from one situation to the next. This one-shot or the ongoing may not be for everyone but it is for those willing to try something different.
Story:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg
Art:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhnone.jpg
Overall:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhhalf.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=13214)
Reviewer: Steven Paul Watson, vipereyes_2000@yahoo.com
Quick Rating: Excellent
The journey of two daughters…
Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti
Artist: Mark Texiera
Colored by: Michelle Madsen
Inked by: Jimmy Palmiotti
Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft
Cover Artist: Mark Texiera
Designer: Darin Fabrick
Assistant Editor: Matt Dryer
Editor: Scott Allie
Publisher: Mike Richardson
Special Thanks To: Theodore Bergquist, Jeff Conner, and Fredrik Malmberg at Conan Properties
Based on the work of Conan creator: Robert E. Howard
Warning: Some Spoilers Ahead!
This is more like it. Something about Conan and his adventures that work very well in any form but here it seems best, one issue for one story. Not saying the current ongoing from Dark Horse isn’t good; in fact it’s one of the best comics currently being published. But the wait between issues, though very timely, seems too long to have to endure.
The Daughters of Midora as far as I can tell is a standalone tale and has very little besides the title character to do with the ongoing series. It begins with Conan having a few drinks and enjoying himself in the city of Gouvia, perhaps enjoying himself too much as he reveals to a dancer why he is there and that is too steal The Black Pearl. Shortly after being rejected and taking it rather badly he is faced with a group of soldiers whom the dancer has informed of his plans.
We learn shortly everything Conan does; he does for a reason of his own. He planned to be caught; it was his way into the castle to steal the pearl. But as clever as Conan is his reputation out lives him as the King has heard of him and offers Conan the pearl as payment for a job.
The job is to track down a former wizard, Killver, whom has taken his daughter and bring her back safely as well as the wizard’s head. Conan at first doesn’t want to take the job (even though he doesn’t have much of a choice) and even goes as far to suggest the other daughter become Queen. The king refuses, Valensa unlike Hannah is a warrior and with two others would accompany Conan on his journey.
Things move quickly from there as the small group set out on their journey and most everything that happens is expected from a Conan story. Conan and Valensa, though they had a rocky start, bond and battle the wizard and his followers.
Maybe I was being naïve but the revelation at the end about the wizard and how the story itself ended surprised me. They were neither shocking or the most original but both surprised me cause I did not expect them for this story.
Mark Texiera’s art is good, and with some panels even excellent. But for the most part it is hit and miss through out the issue. The best part of the art was the battle scenes, probably the most important parts of a Conan story and that is where Texiera’s art really works.
It’s easy to see why the Conan property and the character are as popular as they are. Conan is brutal in his take no prisoner ways and he doesn’t always do the right thing. The character unlike others in comics, movies, and television, just seems more dangerous and unpredictable from one situation to the next. This one-shot or the ongoing may not be for everyone but it is for those willing to try something different.
Story:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg
Art:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhnone.jpg
Overall:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhhalf.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=13214)