Wonder Woman and Conan #1 Review

Writer: Gail Simone / Artists: Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan / DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics Here’s some honesty today: This is both the first Wonder Woman comic I’ve read since I was a kid AND the first Conan comic I’ve read maybe ever. I know who they are — both are American icons for totally separate reasons — but a comic of them is new territory. But Gail Simone is writing and Aaron Lopresti is on pencils, and I don’t have a fantasy/medieval title on my list, so…why the hell not, it’s only $3.99. The start is exactly as expected. Conan is traveling alone and he comes across a thief about to be summarily executed. He saves him, maybe it is for the promise of money, maybe it is because Conan doesn’t like to see people killed on the side of the road. Of course there is no money, so Conan takes on this thief and they travel to the city to go to the arena, where money can be made.

In the course of the journey, Conan flashes back to his youthful days and the first girl he ever loved, Yanna. This is really where the sword and sorcery tone of the comic is established. It reminds us that Conan is essentially a romantic tale, one in which a scrawny no-body boy can find love and wealth beyond imagination. We’re also treated to conversations between two magic crows, whom, if the title is to be believed, will have a large part to play down the line. Arriving in the arena, Conan is reminded of his gladiator days (he has a lot of flashbacks for a young man), where he sees a young wom…