Conan the Barbarian – Dark Horse Comics – 2012–2014 – Volume 2 – Ongoing Series – #1–25

Quick Summary: This 25-issue run, primarily written by Brian Wood, is a focused, high-concept adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s masterpiece, "Queen of the Black Coast." Unlike the sprawling epic of the previous volume, this series centers entirely on the passionate and doomed romance between a young Conan and the pirate queen Bêlit. The title is noted for its "indie" aesthetic, utilizing a rotating cast of acclaimed artists like Becky Cloonan (the first woman to draw a Conan title), James Harren, and Declan Shalvey. It explores Conan’s emotional maturity and his transition into a hardened pirate of the Black Coast, concluding with the definitive and tragic end of the Tigress crew.