Robert E. Howard’s “Shadows in Zamboula” Conan story is getting adapted by ABLAZE, with the first issue debuting in July.
Strap on your sandals and fetch a steel blade, a new Cimmerian comic book is on the way. ABLAZE announced today that “The Cimmerian: The Man-Eaters of Zamboula” No. 1 will go on sale this July.
Adapted from Robert E. Howard’s original Conan tale by French cartoonist Gess, this uncensored story details the Cimmerian’s adventures in the trading city of Zamboula, where orientalism and macabre witchcraft wafts overhead like a rain storm over the Pacific Northwest. Conan is warned upon arrival of disappearances from a nearby cheap inn owned by Aram Baksh, where many foreigners stay while visiting the city. Naturally, that’s where Conan is inclined to rest, at least until he’s viciously attacked by a cannibal.
“With all the highly skilled creative talent that has been working on ‘The Cimmerian,’ each story is very different from the next,” said Rich Young, VP of Creative/Business Development for ABLAZE. “Everyone seems to have their favorites so far, and I’m sure this one will also gain some new fans with the outstanding work Gess does here.”
Howard’s story was originally named “The Man-Eaters of Zamboula,” but was later changed to “Shadows in Zamboula” and was published in the pages of Weird Tales in 1935. The yarn is well known for introducing readers to Baal-Pteor, a popular foe of Conan’s. Marvel Comics did an adaptation of the story in the mid-1970s with “Savage Sword of Conan” No. 14, written by Roy Thomas with art by Neal Adams.
The first issue of “The Cimmerian: The Man-Eaters of Zamboula” will be listed in the May Previews catalog from Diamond Comic Distributors for preorder. The comic goes on sale July 14, with covers available by Gess, Yanick Paquette, Moritat, Fritz Casas and Robin Recht.
View a couple preview pages below, courtesy of ABLAZE, which is based in Portland, Oregon.
