You’ve seen “Conan the Barbarian” and you’re hungry for more from the brutal warrior. Where can you find more of the legendary hero based in the movie universe? Look no further. Dark Horse Comics has released a companion graphic novel to the new movie. It’s entitled “Conan the Barbarian: The Mask of Acheron.”
The “Conan the Barbarian: The Mask of Acheron” graphic novel is split into two parts. One part tells the back-story of warlord Khalar Zym. After witnessing his wife burned at the stake, he embarks on a journey in search of the mythical Mask of Acheron. The Mask is an ancient artifact that has the power to resurrect his beloved wife from the dead. In his search through northern Cimmeria, the warlord destroys the village of a boy “born of war.” He is left alone in the world to fend for himself.
The second part of the “Conan the Barbarian: The Mask of Acheron” graphic novel is an indirect adaptation of the “Conan the Barbarian” movie. It’s told from the standpoint of Khalar Zym as he comes across the young boy he left alive in the Cimmerian village he destroyed so many years before. The boy has grown into a powerful warrior bent on revenge for the destruction of his village. Zym and his daughter, Marique, will now have to come face-to-face with this barbarian named Conan in a battle that will determine the destiny of the whole world.
This graphic novel takes a unique approach to adapting the “Conan the Barbarian” movie into comic form. It’s an interesting concept to get the other side of the story from the villain instead of just getting a strict panel-by-panel replay of the film. Like they always say, there’s two sides to every story. “Conan the Barbarian: The Mask of Acheron” does just that!
“Conan the Barbarian: The Mask of Acheron” was written by Stuart Moore (“Detective Comics,” “Iron Man”). Gabriel Guzman (“Kull,” “She-Hulk”) provided Art. Inks for the book are by Jason Gorder, Mark McKenna, and Andy Owens. Michelle Madsen performed coloring
Reviews for the “Conan the Barbarian: The Mask of Acheron” graphic novel have been positive. Billy Dunleavy from Comic Attack stated, “The book does a good job keeping you attached to the pages. The art by Gabriel Guzman is definitely more than serviceable. His battle scenes and far away shots are very good.” Timothy K. from Hero Press commented, “I always hope that comic book adaptations and novelizations of movies will expand the storylines and fill in gaps, instead it has created gaps which I presume/hope will be filled in the movie. The artwork is decent, not too cluttered or too stylized and manages to adequately suggest the facial detail of the actors portraying various key roles in the movie.”
Consumer Daniel V. said, “Basically [this is] an adaptation of the movie, with Conan as a side character who appears occasionally to foil the plots of the book’s true subject: Khalar Zym, the film’s villain. If you read this before seeing the movie, significant aspects of the film, including the finale, are going to be spoiled. The book gives us background on Zym that I’m betting the movie will not include. Stuart Moore and Gabriel Guzman do serviceable work with the story and art, respectively, but there’s nothing really outstanding about either.”
The “Conan the Barbarian: The Mask of Acheron” graphic novel is available as a trade paperback. It features 64 pages. The book also includes a 10-page essay by Robert E Howard expert Dale E Rippke and a two-page map of Conan’s world. Age range for readers has been at 16-years old. The graphic novel costs around $6.99.
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