Written by: Sam Santiago
Few characters in fantasy literature have endured like Conan the Barbarian. Created by Robert E. Howard in 1932, the Cimmerian has survived nearly a century of novels, comics, films, games, and countless imitators. Yet every generation needs a creator capable of capturing what made Conan endure in the first place: the savage action, the philosophical undertones, and the sense of ancient mystery that lurks behind every sword stroke. CROM laughs at your modern characters!
In modern comics, few writers have embraced that challenge more successfully than Jim Zub. Since taking the reins of Conan's current adventures, Zub has delivered stories that feel deeply rooted in Howard's original vision while still forging new paths through the Hyborian Age. Whether chronicling the barbarian's earliest exploits as a thief or his rise toward kingship, Zub has consistently balanced brutal action with the intelligence and melancholy that define Conan at his core.
With San Diego Comic-Con approaching and new Conan adventures on the horizon, we sat down with Jim Zub to discuss his first encounter with the legendary barbarian, the misconceptions that still surround the character, the influence of Robert E. Howard's original stories, and what's next for the greatest sword-and-sorcery hero ever created.
TD: Conan has been written by many creators over the decades, but your work often feels like it genuinely understands Robert E. Howard's original voice. What was your first experience with Conan, and what made you fall in love with the character?
JZ: "I'm sure I saw Conan in Marvel Comics house ads when I was young, but I didn't fully key into the character and that world until I saw the original Conan movie in the early 80s. It was an R-rated film, and I know I was too young to see it, but it really felt like the kind of rollicking adventure my older brother and I had been creating when we played Dungeons & Dragons. The stakes were high, the combat was intense and, unlike other fantasy movies I'd seen up until that point, everyone in the production was taking it seriously.
"After that, my brother read some of the Conan Lancer paperbacks which were handed down to me after he was done, and when I visited a friend of mine who had a subscription to Savage Sword of Conan magazine, I started digging into those.
"Years later, I would come to appreciate Robert E. Howard's prose and the primacy of those original stories, but my way in was through the first movie and comics."
TD: When you sit down to write Conan, what do you feel is the biggest misconception people have about him? Is there a side of the character that gets overlooked?
JZ: "The downside of the Arnold Schwarzenegger films is that they galvanized the pop culture version of Conan as purely a physical presence instead of an intelligent and thoughtful warrior. When I'm writing new stories I want to deliver pulp-inspired action and adventure but also exemplify as much of the poetry and philosophy Robert E. Howard had in the best of those original stories."
TD: Conan is often remembered as a warrior and conqueror, but many of Howard's stories portray him as a deeply solitary figure. How important is that loneliness to your understanding of the character?
JZ: "In the very first Conan story, he's described as having 'gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth,' so obviously both those aspects need to find their way into new stories where possible. Again, the Cimmerian is far more thoughtful and nuanced than people who haven't read the Howard tales may realize. He feels deeply, and that's true in both victory and in sorrow."
TD: Howard's Conan can be brutal one moment and surprisingly thoughtful the next. How do you balance the savage and philosophical sides of the character when writing him?
JZ: "Contrast is crucial to storytelling in general, and the dichotomies at the heart of Conan provide lots of fuel for writing. Scenes of explosive violence need to be paired against quiet tension-building or desolate travel. The outward supernatural machinations of gods and demons should be played against internal thoughts around existence, humanity, and faith. That kind of contrast keeps readers engaged and helps stories break free from feeling overly formulaic."
TD: Is there a particular Robert E. Howard story that continues to influence your work on Conan more than any other?
JZ: "The Tower of the Elephant is a stone-cold classic and the perfect entry point for a new reader to the Hyborian Age, so I'm always looking at it for inspiration, but Red Nails does so much in its word count that I'm consistently inspired and intimidated by it in the best way possible. It builds a compelling location with history and engaging atmosphere, contains memorable characters, showcases explosive violence and wraps up with a great climax."
TD: Conan has lived many lives: thief, pirate, mercenary, general, king. Which era of Conan's life do you find most interesting to explore and why?
JZ: "When I started writing Conan stories I gravitated to the young and impetuous thief because he most resembled the archetypal D&D adventurer that I knew so well, but the more I write and older I get, I'm definitely starting to shift toward the king and his struggles to maintain his freedom and lead the people of Aquilonia even though he's an outsider."
TD: Your Conan stories often feel connected to the wider mythology of the Hyborian Age without becoming trapped by continuity. How do you decide when to honor established lore and when to surprise readers?
JZ: "I wish I could tell you I had a perfect formula worked out but, honestly, it's just research and personal taste. I try to read as much Howard material as I can, I chat with Jeff Shanks, the literary scholar who writes the short essays in the back of each issue, and I look for patterns and gaps. Patterns of established lore I can weave through and gaps I can subtly fill in without trying to banish every shadow from the Hyborian Age. Some aspects need to stay mysterious no matter what, otherwise it won't feel like Robert E. Howard's world."
TD: Dark Horse published some of the most beloved Conan comics of the modern era. As a fan and creator, what do you think made those stories resonate so strongly with readers?
JZ: "I think Kurt Busiek, Tim Truman, and the many other creators who contributed to the Dark Horse line had a passion for the source material and really did their homework. It was a fresh jumping-on point with an eye to the pulps. When we were building the new Heroic Signatures-Titan plan, I looked at both the original Marvel run and Dark Horse material to try and glean as much as I could about what worked and what didn't, with an understanding that the market is different now but that core ideas in there could still grab a modern audience if we did it right."
TD: When you're crafting a new Conan tale, do you start with the adventure itself, the setting, the villain, or Conan's personal journey through the story?
JZ: "Every story is different. For an arc like Bound in Black Stone I started with the villain and their ultimate goal, working backwards from there to figure out how it would impact Conan. For Thrice Marked For Death it was the concept of a heist that sprawled outward and became more meaningful as I put greater challenges in Conan's way. For Frozen Faith it started with Doug Braithwaite's desire to draw a story set in the frozen north and then research in and around the only canon Conan story set there, The Frost-Giant's Daughter.
"Every story is its own puzzle to solve. Sometimes it's all me doing that solving and other times it's a team effort with the editor and art team."
TD: One thing readers often praise about your work is that the world feels ancient, dangerous, and lived in. What goes into creating that sense of authenticity for the Hyborian Age?
JZ: "When thinking about a location, object, or foe, adding a sense of history and lore to it, even if it's not fully defined or made explicit, will help push it past feeling like a plot device, even if ultimately that's what it is.
"Conan is very tough and capable, but he's not invulnerable. Kicking his ass adds to that sense of danger and reminds us that there are actual stakes. He's more impressive and engaging when he's injured and keeps going instead of just being an unstoppable killing machine."
TD: Looking back on your run so far, is there a Conan issue, scene, or moment that you're particularly proud of?
JZ: "The Nomad, our fully painted 25th issue, was an incredible milestone on this journey. I've had that story swimming in my head for quite a while, and finally getting it out onto the page while collaborating with artist Alex Horley is something I will never forget."
TD: Conan has survived and remained relevant for nearly a century. What do you think it is about the character that still connects with modern readers in 2026?
JZ: "Like so many icons, Conan's core is simple to understand. In a mad world full of mystery, danger, and duplicitous bastards, Conan is a survivor and a slayer. We all strive to withstand hardship and be courageous. We all want to be like the Cimmerian and laugh in the face of danger."
TD: With San Diego Comic-Con just around the corner, what can you tell fans about what's coming next for Conan? Are there any upcoming stories, projects, surprises, or announcements you're excited for readers to discover?
JZ: "Our Tides of the Tyrant-King mini-series that starts this fall will continue the mythic Howardverse epic we've been building for the past three years. Our next story arc in the flagship series, Cursed Shores Beyond, is a swashbuckling pirate adventure with supernatural foes aplenty. Beyond that, exciting announcements about other Conan media that I'm sworn to secrecy about until our SDCC panel."
TD: Thank you again for your time and for helping keep the spirit of Conan alive for a new generation of readers.
JZ: "Thank you for reading and sharing your enthusiasm with others! It's an honor to be part of this team."
Bonus Question:
TD: Is there a corner of the Hyborian Age you've been waiting years to explore that readers haven't seen yet?
JZ: "I've purposefully held off on diving into Conan's time in Hyperborea, but someday I'll pop the cork on that and I know it'll be a ton of fun."
Our sincere thanks to Jim Zub for taking the time to speak with Truly Disturbing. Whether you've followed Conan since the days of Robert E. Howard's pulp stories, discovered him through the classic Marvel comics, or first picked up a sword alongside the Cimmerian in Titan's current run, it's clear that Zub understands exactly what makes the character endure generation after generation.
With new adventures on the horizon, major announcements expected at San Diego Comic-Con, and Conan charging toward his hundredth anniversary, the Hyborian Age remains as dangerous, mysterious, and exciting as ever. If Jim Zub's work has proven anything, it's that there are still countless tales left to tell beneath those ancient skies. Hail Conan, and may Crom grant us many more years of sword-and-sorcery greatness.