Savage Sword of Conan: REFORGED #4 review

48 restored and fully colored pages of barbaric savagery!

Inside this magnificent full-color magazine you will find the following:

Classic remastered art pin-ups in stunning color:

Conan the Barbarian by Jeffrey Catherine Jones from Savage Sword of Conan (1974) #5

Conan the Barbarian by Tim Conrad from Savage Sword of Conan (1974) #13

Conan, Bêlit & Red Sonja ad by Pablo Marcos from Savage Sword of Conan (1974) #23

BLACK COLOSSUS by Robert E. Howard, Roy Thomas, John Buscema and Alfredo Alcala. (New Colors by GFB Group/GFB.it)

The mysterious ruins of Kuthchemes. Shevatas (a Zamorian master-thief) finds a treasure. Thugra Khotan, the dark sorcerer who had reigned in Kuthchemes three thousand years ago, wakes up and kills Shevatas.

Khotan, who wants to rule the world, renames himself Natohk, the Veiled One; for his features were always masked.

Natohk amasses an army of nomads and teams-up with a rebellious Stygian prince (Katuman/Kutamun).

Natohk lusts for princess Yasmela of Khoraja, she makes Conan the commander of the armies of Khoraja.

Natohk kills Count Thespides and his knights, Conan's men finally stop Natohk's horde, Conan slays the Stygian prince, but Khotan kidnaps Yasmela.

Natohk's black camel and his monster ape abandon Natohk and Yasmela. Conan terminates Thugra Khotan before he can feast on Yasmela's soul to become unconquerable.

THE HYBORIAN AGE, Chapter 1: The Pre-Cataclysmic Age by Robert E. Howard, Roy Thomas and Walter Simonson. (New Colors by GFB Group/GFB.it)

Adapted from the Essay by Robert E. Howard (Conan's creator). The Age of Kull of Atlantis from Savage Sword of Conan (1974) #7.

What I did like:

A Novel-Length Tale From The Age Of SWORDS AND SORCERY!

A NEW "Black Colossus" cover by Roberto De la Torre!

A vintage cover by Neal Adams from Savage Sword of Conan (1974) #2.

Fabled Robert E. Howard adaptations from the 1970s!

Black Colossus was previously colourized in Marvel Treasury Edition (1974) #15 by Marie Severin, where Natohk looks like the Marvel hero known as the Sleepwalker.

Black Colossus was colourized once again in Robert E. Howard's Savage Sword (2010) #9 by Jim Campbell.

Clearly inspired by Elijah and the Chariot of Fire.

What I did not like:

Yasmela doesn't appear on Roberto's cover. Disappointing!

No new essay by Roy Thomas!

Only reprints. I wanted at least one fresh new exclusive continuing story in color.

I give it a 9/10. Rob De la Torre completists, you need this!

Transformers #28 (2023) review

Kirkman Kills The Transformers! Well, not all of them, yet! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, he now takes the writing reins of the flagship Transformers comic series as well, with Dan Mora now on pencils and Mike Spicer still on colors. In this twenty-eighth issue, Megatron has a freakout, Arcee gets a promotion, Miles Mayhem tries his darndest to get a spin-off, and SOMEONE DIES. FOR REAL. PERMANENTLY. Whut-oh. Yeah, Kirkman finally gives in to his Walking Dead and Invincible pedigree and brings on the gore here, for both human and Transformer alike! After I felt like he was being remarkably restrained for his first three issues, he really goes for it here and it’s... I dunno... kind of on the nose, maybe? I guess he wanted to show that his run will be chock-full of consequences too, but I feel maybe his choice of victim was a little flawed and a real shame. The victim is a Transformers character that is known for getting the shaft usually...

Transformers #34 (2023) review

How do you propose I get to the comic store this week? On My ROLLER SKATES??? The bold new era for the Autobots and this book continues! Robert Kirkman, chief architect of the Energon Universe, writes the flagship Transformers title and Jason Howard takes over as regular penciler for this new story arc with Mike Spicer on colors. Howard had previously drawn issues #13 and #14 of this book, along with many covers. In this thirty-fourth issue, we meet Doctor Henri Arkeville, Thundercracker and the Aerialbots set out on a quest, and Shredhead and Cliffjumper bite off more than they can chew! Doctor Arkeville? Really? Yep! Kirkman’s appreciation for the Sunbow cartoon continues as he formally introduces Doctor Arkeville into the story, and much like Miles Mayhem, he just has to take a swing at General Flagg! Flagg’s in an ornery mood after learning that Optimus gave up the Matrix and is a less powerful ally now, so he doesn’t take kindly to being attacked. He still offers Arkeville Mayhem’...

Solomon Kane: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 1 review

Robert E. Howard's Solomon Kane, the dour English Puritan Swashbuckler, gets a revised complete collection of his classic Marvel suggested for mature readers sword and sorcery adventures. The omnibus is available in two versions: with a Mike Mignola dust jacket (available everywhere) or with a direct market Howard Chaykin dust jacket (only available from comic book stores). Inside this magnificent hardcover you will find the following: Stories in full color: Kane versus looter Le Loup (Red Shadows by Robert E. Howard, Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin) Kane versus looter Le Loup (Red Shadows by Robert E. Howard, Ralph Macchio, Steve Carr and Bret Blevins) Kane versus a werewolf (And Faith, Undying... by Ralph Macchio and Bret Blevins) Kane versus kidnaper Sir George Banway (Blades of the Brotherhood by Robert E. Howard, Ralph Macchio, Bret Blevins and Al Williamson) Kane versus Prince Ali-Ben Ar (The Prophet by Ralph Macchio, Mike Mignola and Al Williamson) Kane versus vampires/zombie...

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