A great podcast that talks about all things Fist of Khonshu. Worth checking out!
Our friends who host the Conan Podcast! Check out their other podcasts here.
The Paint Monk uses CBCS to grade all of his key comics. Check out their prices - lower than CGC and just as good.
A podcast featuring titles from the Golden Age of comics.
Keep up-to-date on all the comics coming out that are based on the works and worlds of Robert E. Howard!
All you ever wanted to know about the short-lived Atlas Comics of the 1970s and its equally short-lived revival in 2011-2013.
Our friends at "Diversions of the Groovy Kind" take a look at many different Bronze Age comics! Check them out.
Do you enjoy Marvel's beloved superhero "non-team?" This is a nice blog for Defenders fans!
Get Marvel Unlimited - and access to over 20,000 of the best comic books in the industry - for only $9.99 a month!
Digital INDY comic subscription service with some Marvel and DC Comics, too.
By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor When I heard that Moon Knight was being relaunched this summer (followed in a month or two by my favorite Jungle Lord, Ka-Zar), I was filled with excitement but also with much […]
My interview with Donald Glut was reprinted in the latest issue of Comics Unlimited! If you haven’t read this new bi-monthly yet, it’s one of the best comic mags I’ve enjoyed since Comics Journal was on the shelves years ago. […]
(AUTHOR’S NOTE: It has been no secret that I have had issues with Marvel’s relaunch of Robert E. Howard’s Conan. The one bright spot has been the writing of Jim Zub. I was a fan before he took up the […]
“This editorial is full of spoilers for all three issues of Empyre: Avengers. If you haven’t read them or had your fill of modern comic book plots that have been beaten to death, go read the comics and come back […]
“As children, we all grew up and played together. Sometimes we even shared our toys, our bicycles, and our skateboards. But the cardinal rule was to take care of the toys or bicycle that you borrowed. Woe unto the kid […]
December 1st, 2019 
By Wally Monk, Conan (2019) 
Comments Off on REVIEW: Conan 2099 #1 A Bit Muddled But Still Fun 
“EONS FROM HOME, THE BARBARIAN BATTLES THE CIVILIZATION OF 2099! In the far-flung future of 2099, will barbarism finally triumph over an endangered civilization? When CONAN THE BARBARIAN entered the Marvel Universe with the SAVAGE AVENGERS, he stayed to conquer and claim his kingship in modern times. Now cursed by a mystic to live beyond his years, when Conan’s new kingdom is threatened, he swings his blade once more! But as the calamity in 2099 bears down on his secluded realm, will the future shock unseat the barbarian king? An unforgettable chapter, unlike anything you’ve ever seen in the saga of Conan! “
By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor
As somebody who prefers Conan in the Hyborian Age, my fingers were shaking a bit when I dropped $4.99 to pick up this book from the local comic shop.
Would this be another Age of Conan: Belit-style train … (Read More)
November 30th, 2019 By Bob Freeman, Reviews, Saturday Night Shivers Comments Off on REVIEW: A Tale of Horror, Conscience & John Constantine (EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to Saturday Night Shivers, a feature at Paint Monk’s Library. In the spirit of Elvira, the Ghoul, and other horror movie hosts, we’ll be featuring a review of one classic horror comic each week. Most horror stories we review (with a few exceptions) are from books approved by the Comics Code Authority or from comics that were published before the code was enacted. This installment is written by Bob Freeman.)
I bill myself as The Occult Detective. I own the URL and everything. I’ve been a fan of the genre since I was a wee lad, growing up on a small farm outside of Nowheresville, Indiana. My first taste was probably The Sixth Sense, a TV series than ran in 1972, starring Gary Collins as parapsychologist Dr. Michael Rhodes.
As far as occult detectives go, it’s hard to do better … (Read More)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to Saturday Night Shivers, a feature at Paint Monk’s Library. In the spirit of Elvira, the Ghoul, and other horror movie hosts, we’ll be featuring a review of one classic horror comic each week. All horror stories we review are from books approved by the Comics Code Authority or from comics that were published before the code was enacted. This installment is written by Bob Freeman.)
I grew up on a farm in rural Indiana and was a voracious reader. This was long before the internet, of course, and television was limited to a couple of snowy channels on a black & white set. Books were my escape and read just about anything I could get my hands on.
I went through a period, around 1973-1975 when I devoured a bunch of “women running away from the castle” books. You … (Read More)
“BARBARIAN ACTION AND INTRIGUE BY ROY THOMAS & ALAN DAVIS! CONAN’s latest job has gone awry, as he finds himself at the mercy of the Afghuli hillmen! But even this is nothing compared to the threat hovering in the hidden mountain cave that SERRA hired him to find! If they can escape the creatures, can they save the treasure? What secret is ZUBAIR hiding and what is Serra REALLY after? Plus: the penultimate chapter in the all-new novella THE SHADOW OF VENGEANCE!”
By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor
The title says it all. We’ve been given a mere two issues with Rascally Roy Thomas, and the tale is over. Frank Tieri will take over writing chores in Savage Sword #12, while Andrea Di Vito snags the pencils from Alan Davis.
I made some predictions last month about Thomas’ first issue and so far I’m pretty much on the … (Read More)
November 20th, 2019 By Bob Freeman, Conan (2019), Reviews Comments Off on REVIEW: The Ball is Dropped – And Punted – In Conan #11 
“BY CROM – THE BARBARIAN VS. HIS GOD! As Conan shuffles off this mortal coil, he stands face to face with his God, CROM! But Crom does not care for the fate of some weak mortal…Unless Conan MAKES him! CONAN IS DEAD! LONG LIVE CONAN!”
By BOB FREEMAN – PM Library Writer
We have reached the penultimate chapter in Jason Aaron and (mostly) Mahmud Asrar’s twelve-part saga — The Life & Death of Conan. It has been, for this reviewer, a dismal exercise that has highlighted the worst tendencies of modern comics.
I don’t want to be that guy … you know, the old gray-beaded curmudgeon recalling the glory days of comicdom when god-like beings named Lee, Kirby, Ditko, Buscema, Kubert, and more strode the earth. The guy who bemoans, “Back in my day, why comics were something special…”
But it’s kind of true.
The greatest crime Aaron and Asrar’s … (Read More)
November 20th, 2019 By Wally Monk, News Comments Off on EVENT: Bob Freeman’s “Descendant” Blog Tour Begins 
Long before Paint Monk’s Library welcomed Bob Freeman aboard as a librarian sharing his vast knowledge of Robert E. Howard’s Hyborian lore, the Occult Detective from Indiana was already busy exercising his creative chops and literary skills in many different ways.
Bob is the author of two book series — The Cairnwood Manor series (Shadows Over Somerset & Keepers of the Dead) and Tales of the Liber Monstrorum (First Born & Descendant).
This week, Bob is celebrating the release of his latest book, Descendant, with a blog tour, featuring personal appearances, interviews, podcasts and more. You can find more information about the Descendant Blog Tour and scheduled events here or at the link below:
Bob is a tremendously talented member of the Paint Monk’s Library team, and I am truly grateful for his contributions. Both … (Read More)
November 16th, 2019 By Wally Monk, Saturday Night Shivers Comments Off on REVIEW: “Tower of Shadows” Made To Compete With DC (EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to Saturday Night Shivers, a feature at Paint Monk’s Library. In the spirit of Elvira, the Ghoul, and other horror movie hosts, we’ll be featuring a review of one classic horror comic each week. All horror stories we review are from books approved by the Comics Code Authority or from comics that were published before the code was enacted. This installment is written by Wally Monk.)
In the mid to late 1960s, DC Comics was experiencing huge success with a handful of horror titles. Their “leading” title in this genre was called House of Mystery, and it began in 1951 as an anthology of scary stories. It would run a whopping 321 issues and undergo several shifts in content until its cancellation in 1983.
At the height … (Read More)
November 13th, 2019 By Wally Monk, Crowdfunding, Interviews, News, Slider Comments Off on INTERVIEW: Tackling ‘Hawk the Slayer’ on Audio CD! 
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The classic cult fantasy film Hawk the Slayer could live on in audio! British entrepreneur Graham Richards is currently crowd-funding the first installment of ‘Hawk the Slayer’ on a loaded, sound effects laden and character filled audio CD. If this endeavor succeeds, he’s indicated that he plans to complete the trilogy with Hawk the Hunter and Hawk the Destroyer to follow. Graham graciously agreed to a interview with Paint Monk’s Library about this exciting venture.)
By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor
If you’re a fan of swords and sorcery and were into cinema in the 1980s, you’ve no doubt seen the B-movie Hawk the Slayer. From it’s futuristic yet oddly appropriate soundtrack, to Crow the elven archer and a dramatically cliché and twisted Jack Palance, the film made its mark with fantasy enthusiasts across the globe.
Sadly, a Kickstarter project to produce its … (Read More)
November 12th, 2019 By Wally Monk, News Comments Off on NEWS: Jim Zub Tackles Conan – Dark Agnes Debuts 2/20 By WALLY MONK – PM Library Editor
These days, you’ll get both good and bad coming out of the House of Ideas. February 2020 brings us certainly much of the former and potentially some of the latter.
Today, on the Pull List YouTube podcast it was announced that Jim Zub will be taking the reins of Conan the Barbarian after Jason Aaron’s “Life and Death of Conan” story line wraps up with issue #12.
“A NEW ARC BY JIM ZUB & ROGÊ ANTÔNIO – INTO THE CRUCIBLE AS THE MARCH TO KHITAI BEGINS! Conan has faced many foes since leaving Cimmeria, but the greatest challenge lies ahead! A perfect jumping-on point for new readers as Conan finds himself in a city in the mystical Uttara Kuru, further on the eastern border than the young barbarian has ever traveled. And with the … (Read More)
November 11th, 2019 By Bob Freeman, Classic Conan Countdown Comments Off on REVIEW: Thomas Adapts Another deCamp/Carter Tale 
“In this issue, Roy Thomas tackles another story by L. Sprague deCamp and Lin Carter titled ‘The Snout in the Dark‘. Originally assembled and based on a small fragment of Robert E. Howard’s work, Roy Thomas improves on the tale, ably assisted by artist John Buscema.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to The Classic Conan Countdown, a series of reviews focusing on the original 275 issues of Marvel Comics’ Conan the Barbarian, which were published from 1970 to 1993. This is a review of Conan the Barbarian Vol. 1, #106).
By BOB FREEMAN – PM Library Writer
John Buscema and Ernie Chan were a dynamic team and each and every page of Conan the Barbarian they worked on was a marvel to behold. Yes, time constraints sometimes meant the work suffered, but that was a rarity.
One of my favorite splash pages comes from this issue, … (Read More)
Do you enjoy Robert E. Howard's classic Cimmerian in comic book form? Join Paint Monk's Library bloggers, as we review all 275 issues of Marvel's original Conan the Barbarian series. New installments added regularly!
REVIEW: OAR #2 Renews, Refreshes An RPG Classic
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to Musings from the Monk, a semi-regular column written by the chief archivist and comic nut who organizes Paint Monk’s Library ...
REVIEW: Red Sonja #19 a Good “Jumping Off” Point
"JUMPING-ON POINT FOR NEW READERS. Sonja The Red, victorious. But ruling is impossible. And a young, old foe returns with a plan ...
Moon Knight Squares Off with The Sun King
REVIEW: MOON KNIGHT #193 (Written by Max Bemis with art by Jacen Burrows)
When the avatars of the sun and the moon get ready ...
INTERVIEW: Will Barry Windsor-Smith work on New Conan?
By WALLY MONK - Paint Monk's Library Editor
Marvel Comics has announced the release of a new omnibus edition of their Conan the Barbarian ...
Are you a fan of Mordheim? Discuss Proxy Miniatures and New Warbands on Facebook
"Alt-Heim" debuted on 5/10/18 for discussion of proxy warbands in GW's Mordheim
Paint Monk's Library has a new community group on Facebook for Mordheim!
Paint ...
Do you enjoy surfing through comic book bargain bins? Join the Paint Monk as he discovers discounted treasures at comic book stores throughout the Midwest.
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