This is a brilliant idea for the Conan series. Dark Horse is continually playing all of their Conan cards as right as rain. These supplemental one-shots and minis are the perfect companions to the regular series. The first one, Conan and the Jewels of G-something, was a little wordy, and a bit short on art, but was still a great story. Now, with “Demons of Khitai, they have given us a real treat.

The story is about Conan in his years far after the point we are reading about in the regular series. In this mini, he is a king. After being invited into a kingdom in the Far East, Conan arrives only to find (surprise) trouble and a bit of love.

This is a great story based on the ideas of Robert E Howard, as gleaned from the mentioning of Khitai in various tales. I think, I am getting it right, though, in stating that this is the first comic or story which actually takes place in this far eastern land. The story, by Akira Yoshida and the artwork, by Paul Lee are both superb. They have successfully displayed a Conan more mature and wizened than our current series hero, though no less lethal and cunning.

This is a great addition to your Conan reading, and should not be shrugged-off as a money ploy or impatience. This is a great story, and one which is tied back to the current regular series through some clever event-related lines. If you are a regular reader you will catch these, pat yourself on the back, and think how cool, how cool.

-Peblee