Joseph Michael Linsner

The Final Host: Part 1 of 6 -A NEW ERA DAWNS FOR EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES - courtesy of JASON AARON and ED McGUINNESS! Thor Odinson. Steve Rogers. Tony Stark. The Big Three of the Avengers are reunited at last! And just in time to save the world from total annihilation at the hands of their most powerful enemies yet: the 2000-foot-tall space gods known as Celestials. Behold the coming of the Final Host. Who will answer the call to assemble for a wild new era of Earth's Mightiest Heroes? Hint: one of them has a flaming skull for a head. And what strange, world-shaking connection exists between the Final Host and Odin's ancient band of Prehistoric Avengers?

The Final Host: Part 1 of 6 -A NEW ERA DAWNS FOR EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES - courtesy of JASON AARON and ED McGUINNESS! Thor Odinson. Steve Rogers. Tony Stark. The Big Three of the Avengers are reunited at last! And just in time to save the world from total annihilation at the hands of their most powerful enemies yet: the 2000-foot-tall space gods known as Celestials. Behold the coming of the Final Host. Who will answer the call to assemble for a wild new era of Earth's Mightiest Heroes? Hint: one of them has a flaming skull for a head. And what strange, world-shaking connection exists between the Final Host and Odin's ancient band of Prehistoric Avengers?

A new story arc! Conan leaves his trials and regrets behind in Cimmeria and heads into the next phase of his adventurous life -- his mercenary career. Timothy Truman adapts Robert E. Howard's powerful "Black Colossus" short story and sets Conan off on what will be his bloodiest battle yet, when the mercenaries of Amalric clash with the demonic hordes of Natohk! Conan, once a wandering thief, tries his luck as a professional soldier, joining Amalric's forces and facing condescending jabs from the noblemen in his company, who mistakenly think that the Cimmerian is an unskilled simpleton. Tomás Giorello takes on full penciling duties once again, and Joseph Michael Linsner (Dawn, Dark Ivory) returns as cover artist for this exciting arc!

Nahtok, a powerful wizard with the desert tribes of Shem under his command, now looks to expand his motley empire northward into the politically unstable Koth -- where Koth's leaders are more likely to kill each other on the battlefield than join together to face a common foe. The only thing standing in Nahtok's way is the small border kingdom of Khoraja and their battered military forces, now led by the inexperienced Princess Yasmela. Amalric's mercenaries -- with Conan still riding among their numbers -- are charged with reinforcing Yasmela's depleted army, as the conquering Nahtok draws near and Yasmela is haunted by both evil threats and holy visions.

As the "Black Colossus" story arc continues, this issue focuses on Natohk, as he builds his army of desert tribesmen, bloodthirsty nomads, and demons to begin his invasion of Hyboria! Natohk has his sights set on the border city of Khoraja first, and he sends his fearsome horde to take it and begin their full assault on Koth -- a country filled with petty, quarreling rulers. Heading toward Khoraja with the rest of Amalric's mercenaries, Conan is still learning the ways of military discipline and strategy, impressing his leader while also making some enemies among Amalric's foot soldiers. Princess Yasmela is Khoraja's remaining sovereign. Haunted by terrifying apparitions and demonic visits, she prays to Mitra for help as Natohk's forces near her war-torn country and her near-defenseless city.

Not content to sit back and wait for Natohk to arrive to destroy the city of Khoraja, Conan leads his men to meet the Stygian wizard in open combat. As Amalric's mercenaries and the remaining soldiers of Khoraja march impressively out of the city, Natohk's horrifying army-backed by dark magic and otherworldly beasts-acquires yet another powerful weapon. What chance do mortal men have? Conan must deal with dissension and class conflict in his own ranks and the strange visions and revelations of Princess Yasmela before he can hope to defeat Natohk's hordes. Even though his men trust and respect him, the aristocrats resent his presence and are waiting for him to stumble so that they can fulfill their own selfish ambitions! And what news does a Zamorian thief bring out of the desert?

Natohk's horde of desert warriors advances on Conan's band of mercenaries and the remnants of the once-proud Khorajan army -- and the Battle of Shamla Pass begins! Earning the trust and admiration of his fellow soldiers, Conan impresses everyone with his natural leadership skills and tactical instincts -- but that hard-earned respect may be for naught if those defending Princess Yasmela and Khoraja are massacred by Natohk's monstrous forces. From his vantage point on a plateau, Conan looks down on his opponent, as a sea of approaching swords fills the valley. Things go from bad to worse when Natohk unveils some supernatural, deadly, and horrifying surprises. Conan's first command may be his last!

In "Black Altar," the relentless final chapter in the "Black Colossus" adaptation, Natohk's desert hordes surge up the narrow Shamla Pass, and Conan's ragged army desperately attempts to hold their high ground. Outnumbered and facing an army fueled by a zealous, reborn Stygian wizard, simply surviving may be the greatest victory Conan can hope for. Any triumph will ring hollow, though, if Conan can't protect Khoraja's current sovereign, the beautiful Princess Yasmela -- whom Natohk has vowed to capture! Tim Truman, Tomás Giorello, and José Villarrubia bring the gripping, blood-filled Battle of Shamla Pass to life! Smartly written and flawlessly rendered, don't miss the epic finale to a Robert E. Howard classic.

After Conan left Cimmeria and entered into a successful career as a brutal mercenary, he became the leader of Princess Yasmela's Khorajan army. In the calm after a successful campaign, Conan quickly tires of his pampered life as the princess's protector and lover. While Joe Kubert shows us what trouble a restless barbarian can get into on royal palace grounds, Tim Truman takes us back to the Cimmerian village of Conan's youth -- where a surviving Skrae creature claws its way toward Fialla, Conan's mother.

Ten thousand years before Conan disturbed the forbidden Temple of Set, princess Akivasha -- daughter to the first great ruler of Stygia -- was transformed into a vampire and cursed to haunt its halls forever. Her pampered years of hedonistic pleasure behind her, the beautiful Akivasha spent centuries with desiccated mummies and skittering monsters, as a deep loneliness grew within her. Now, something has awakened her from tedious ages of boredom. She immediately senses Conan’s power and vitality when he steals into the temple, and she vows to take this Cimmerian warrior as her lover -- or at least have a good time killing him! Spinning out of Robert E. Howard’s Hour of the Dragon novel comes the untold tale of Akivasha, the title character to Howard’s “I Am the Woman Who Never Died” chapter.

A new story arc begins, leading to Conan's tumultuous time fighting and looting with the kozaki -- a wild group of fellow mercenaries also known as the "Free Companions." Conan and his fellow warriors, regrouping and recovering from their battle with the wizard Natohk and his desert hordes, find themselves on the verge of having to serve in another war! Timothy Truman begins an original tale that will explore events alluded to in Robert E. Howard's Conan tales, and he will also share artistic duties with Argentine sensation Tomás Giorello to illustrate a time in Conan's life when he tries to keep his barbarous nature and hot temper in check in order to prove that he can be a leader of men.

In part two of the three-issue Free Companions arc, Conan rebels against Princess Yasmela, his former lover, and seeks to infiltrate the dungeons of Koth with a small band of handpicked mercenaries. Taking place right after Robert E. Howard's "Black Colossus" tale and setting up events that will lead directly into Dark Horse's next Howard adaptation, Free Companions finds Conan launching an impulsive precision mission to free Yasmela's captured brother, the true leader of Khoraja, who is a prisoner in Koth -- a rescue operation that's either inspired and necessary or extremely foolhardy! Will betrayal lead Conan into a rage-filled suicide mission?

Defying Yasmela's orders, Conan sets himself on a runaway course that will end his time fighting with the combined forces of Amalric's mercenaries, the Khorajan army, and Julion of Koth's rebel soldiers. Our newest issue marks a turning point in Conan's career as a sword for hire, when he and his comrades find themselves without work or direction. An old battle wound threatens the life of Amalric, the leader of the restless mercenaries, and the rekindled affair between Princess Yasmela and Prince Julion continues to enrage Conan -- who must take action in order to save face.

Tomás Giorello returns to full penciling duties -- with the remarkable colors of José Villarrubia fleshing out each page -- and Timothy Truman scripts this first episode in a new, three-issue story arc entitled "Kozaki"! After burning a few bridges and making some questionable choices, mainly fueled by jealousy over Prince Julion's recent appearance in Khoraja and a hatred for pampered royalty and their courtly life, Conan leaves Yasmela and her palace behind. Now leading Amalric's mercenary army, Conan is again responsible for the lives of others. But is he skilled and experienced enough to do the job right? In this issue, we'll also discover more bleak premonitions and clues concerning Conan's near future, when Conan and his companions leave organized mercenary life behind in order to survive as a group of raiders and looters. Such actions will undoubtedly draw the attentions of others, though, and the troubles that began for Conan in the previous "Free Companions" arc are far from over!

Conans earliest adventures, now available in affordable omnibus format! Featuring the legendary run of comics greats Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord, This 472 page omnibus features favorites such as Born on the Battlefield, The Frost Giants Daughter, The God in the Bowl, and more! Conan Vol. 0: Born on the Battlefield #0­-8, 15, 23, 32, 45, 46­­, Conan Vol. 1: The Frost-Giants Daughter #0-7 and Conan Vol. 2: The God in the Bowl #9-14