tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210408773928235445.post5329769398680082857..comments2023-12-20T21:19:20.824-06:00Comments on Black & White and Bronze!: Super Blog Team-Up - What Price Immortality? A Review of Red NailsDoughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210408773928235445.post-66855108261898342712019-08-31T07:30:30.564-05:002019-08-31T07:30:30.564-05:00Doug, I've only bought a few of the new Conan ...Doug, I've only bought a few of the new Conan comics - to be precise Conan The Barbarian #7 and #8, Savage Sword Of Conan #7, Age Of Conan: Belit #5 and Age Of Conan: Valeria #1. But I've also downloaded the e-book versions of the graphic novels Conan The Barbarian Vol.1 (featuring issues #1-6) and Savage Sword Of Conan Vol.1 (issues #1-5). The new Conan stories are excellent in my opinion and I'd highly recommend them. But I'm a life-long Conan fan so I'm a bit biased :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210408773928235445.post-60725640090731648942019-08-30T09:21:52.125-05:002019-08-30T09:21:52.125-05:00Thanks, Edo!
DougThanks, Edo!<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210408773928235445.post-23040546297872235532019-08-30T09:21:22.051-05:002019-08-30T09:21:22.051-05:00Hi, Colin -
That's cool that Valeria is getti...Hi, Colin -<br /><br />That's cool that Valeria is getting some attention!<br /><br />I continue to find the prices of new comics cost-prohibitive. I just can't see spending upwards of $4 for a standard 20-page comic. And some are as high as $10! No way I can justify that. But... if you don't mind, let me know your impressions of the new stories.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210408773928235445.post-51653790588521744302019-08-30T08:27:59.853-05:002019-08-30T08:27:59.853-05:00As you probably know, Doug, Conan has recently ret...As you probably know, Doug, Conan has recently returned to Marvel in Conan The Barbarian and Savage Sword Of Conan (now a colour comic-book not a black & white magazine). Marvel has also launched Age Of Conan and #1-5 featured Belit. Now Age Of Conan has started again at #1 and features the origin of Valeria from Red Nails. I don't understand why Marvel created Red Sonja when they could have used Valeria who already existed - and Red Sonja was just Valeria in all but name anyway. But the "Age Of Conan: Valeria" mini-series means that Valeria finally gets her own Marvel series nearly 50 years after Conan's Marvel debut. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210408773928235445.post-11821604915844880572019-08-29T17:09:30.305-05:002019-08-29T17:09:30.305-05:00Ah, yes. Red Nails. The Conan story I think I'...Ah, yes. Red Nails. The Conan story I think I've read more than any other - both the prose original and this comics adaptation. And currently I have the original b&w version reprinted in the Savage Sword phonebook, and the color special edition version from the early 1980s (and I used to have the Treasury Edition as well).<br />What can I say about it that already hasn't been said? It's a great story, and this adaptation with the Smith's stunningly gorgeous art is arguably better than the original prose version.<br />Great review, Doug; this is definitely one of the black and white masterpieces of the Bronze Age.Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210408773928235445.post-6589478546700754962019-08-29T10:16:30.963-05:002019-08-29T10:16:30.963-05:00Hi, Simon -
The Song of Red Sonja is my personal ...Hi, Simon -<br /><br />The Song of Red Sonja is my personal #2 in the "Barry Smith swan songs". I think the epic-ness of Red Nails pushes it over the top. But the work on "Song" is no less spectacular!<br /><br />Thanks for the interview link. I believe I read that several years ago, but it's worth revisiting.<br /><br />Be well,<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210408773928235445.post-67285082255228446482019-08-29T10:14:53.835-05:002019-08-29T10:14:53.835-05:00I did not know that Smith colored that version of ...I did not know that Smith colored that version of Red Nails. Now I'll definitely have to find it. Thanks for that tip, my friend!<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210408773928235445.post-36678389182499224312019-08-28T15:22:42.994-05:002019-08-28T15:22:42.994-05:00Thanks for posting this great review, Doug! And wh...Thanks for posting this great review, Doug! And what wonderful artwork! Like Redartz I'm also a huge fan of this story - I always struggle to choose between this and The Song Of Red Sonja when I try to decide which is my fave Thomas / Smith Conan story. ( This is the kind of thing which keeps me awake at night! ) Seriously, it's a fantastic example of an outstanding creative team at the height of their powers and surely one of the pinnacles of the Bronze Age in general.<br />I've recently re-read Howard's original story so it's interesting to see how faithful Roy was in his adaptation, even down to the overwrought "bondage" scenes which were a staple of the "spicy" pulp magazines. ( And in regards to your comments about age-appropriate material, I was only 8 or 9 years old when I first read the Marvel adaptation in the Treasury Edition... )<br />There's a hilarious interview with Barry Smith from an old issue of Comic Book Artist where he clearly doesn't want to talk about Red Nails. Give it a read if you've got some spare time: <br />http://twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/02bws.htmlSimon B https://www.blogger.com/profile/07719757386457800087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210408773928235445.post-9191185213972168732019-08-28T07:41:20.104-05:002019-08-28T07:41:20.104-05:00Another fine review, Doug! And an excellent tale ...Another fine review, Doug! And an excellent tale to consider. "Red Nails" is probably my favorite Conan story, and one of the best in comics in general. <br /><br />Yes, Roy Thomas did a fine job here. But Barry's art steals the show for me (probably due to my visual arts background). Words fail me in trying to describe it. I have those 2 issues of "Savage Tales" in which the tale first appeared. I also have the Marvel Treasury with the color version (which, incidentally, Barry colored himself). Both are wonderful, and Barry is a colorist with an eye for detail to match that in his line work. But You're right, it is best in b/w.Redartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221459636234713619noreply@blogger.com