The fourth volume of the reprint volumes of one of my favourite comics continues to be fantastic value and a joy to read. The centrepiece of this volume is the multi part adaption of the novel, Conan the Buccaneer by Roy Thomas, John Buscema and Tony DeZuniga. The writing by Roy Thomas is up to his usual excellent standard, it is rich and fruity, the descriptions are dense and luxurious and they create a great texture for the astonishing art by John Buscema and Tony Dezuniga.
Sometimes reading a collection of comics can be a bit numbing, they formulas that underlie the stories becomes too clear, the sameness overtakes the enjoyment. They were designed to be read singly with monthly intervals between them so that the details would blur slightly and the structures not be so noticeable. The stories in this volume do stand up very well to reading as a group, the formula is very clear, the skill with which it is applied, the quality of the art become clearer when they are presented in a group like this. The underlying sameness is a strength in the stories rather than a diminishing factor, they way that Roy Thomas manages the subtle re-arrangement of details is disarming and the sheer variety expressed in the artwork is stunning.
The extra length in the stories is very useful also, it gives room for a greater cast and movement within and between the stories. This is just pure comics pleasure.
