“Calling this product a comic book is stretching it. In fact, it is a magnificent portfolio in comic form of Esad Ribic’s artwork. While working only a short time on the Conan property, he’s destined to become a legend in his own right and is paving his way into the illustrated legacy of Robert E. Howard.”

By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor

There’s no question that Esad Ribic is an extremely talented artist. From his work on interiors in Thor to his recent covers for Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian, he has become a fan favorite and a respectable candidate to carry the torch as beloved illustrator of Robert E. Howard’s signature creation.

But Conan the Barbarian: Exodus is an artistic soliloquy and not a traditional comic. The few scripted words are in runes (I tried to translate them to no avail), and the bulk of the story is silent. It’s a tale of Conan’s move from youthful barbarian in the North to the barbarian we begin to know in the Conan canon. With the quality of Ribic’s art, few words are necessary.

If you’re looking for a traditional Conan read, this book gets a hard pass. But if you’re a Ribic fan, this comic – er, art portfolio – is a must have.

On a scale of 1-10, I’d give this issue a 7.5 – points are taken off because Ribic isn’t good at Conan’s face in close-up images, but his backgrounds and sequential storytelling are first rate.