Broken Frontier

Could the story detailing the rise of Thoth be worth the hefty price tag when there is such a saturation of Conan related books out there? Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes.

After submitting to the will of Set at the end of last issue, Thoth’s power only grows. He murders, sacrifices, and rises in rank, while hiding his true intentions from the noble followers of Ibis. When Kharantus of the Azure Circle discovers Thoth’s plans, a mystical battle ensues leaving Thoth stronger than even he thought possible. After his victory, his strength grows as other members of the Azure Circle are mysteriously slain. Though he reaches a pinnacle of power, it is not enough, for he is greedy with the desire of Set himself. And though his plans are perfect, there is one, Kharantus’ son, Kalanthes, who begins to mistrust Thoth. Surely this is leading to something great....

At times it seems Busiek is channeling the spirit of Robert Howard to write these tales. The narrative, the exposition, even the dialogue, feels as though it is coming directly from Howard’s mind. Following the events of Thoth’s and Kharantus’ battle, it is clear in phrases such as this:

Were tragedy to keep a journal, wise reader, the following morning would be marked down in letters of blood. For a call for justice was indeed made to the Azure Circle and the night’s crimes were laid bare for all to know...

And the actions of the characters as they move through the paces of life also show Busiek and Wein have not only a profound ability to tell these tales, but high respect for Howard and his creations as well. In addition to seeing the formation of one of Conan’s most fearsome enemies, we also see the origin of one of his staunchest allies—Kalanthes. It is two stories for the price of one. And though it is a hefty price, it is worth every penny.

If I doubted the story would be worth it, when Jones’ art was thrown into the mix, the value was clear. No, he doesn’t appear to follow any anatomy charts, no his characters could never be misconstrued as being real people, and no, the world we live in does not in any way resemble the world Jones draws. Many have criticized him for this. I will not join their ranks. His art is dark and scary and larger than life. Shadows abound in his drawings just like shadows abound in Thoth’s world. The darkness of the art pairs with the darkness of the story to create an atmosphere of fear and foreboding, the exact atmosphere this book should have.

Yes, you are going to have to drop a few bills to purchase Conan: Book of Thoth. But if you read comics because of a fondness for words and pictures juxtaposed together to tell an amazing story, you will not regret the money spent.