The Stop Button

Thomas runs into a not insignificant problem this issue. Though the details are different, he has a lot of the same dramatics he used in the previous issue, especially when it comes to Conan’s friend and Conan’s friend’s wife. Having the same plot point in both issues… Thomas isn’t just making the series predictable, he’s making it melodramatic and pat.

He also needs to start using thought balloons. Having the characters give asides to the reader isn’t working.

Those problems aside, it’s a fantastic battle issue. Windsor-Smith gets in a grandiose scale even though he’s often dealing with small panels. There’s a real tension to it (and the battle, at least, is unpredictable).

The Conan mythos lets Thomas do so much—the story opens with a war god talking to Conan—it doesn’t seem like he should need repetitious plot points.

Taken on its own though, a fine issue.