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Conan: Book of Thoth #1-4
Conan: Book Of Thoth
Writers Kurt Busiek and Len Wein, creator of Wolverine and SwampThing, team up with the grandmaster of horror art, Kelley Jones, to tell thehorrifying origin of Thoth-amon Conan's greatest adversary!Inthe dank alleys of a decaying city, a beggar child conjures visions of a futurewhere, instead of spitting on him in the streets, the rich and privileged cowerin fear of his terrible authority. Through cunning, murderous means, heingratiates himself into a benevolent priesthood, only to turn the church andthe nation itself over to the terrible snake-god, Set!This essentialpiece of the Conan mythos reveals the secrets behind the dread sorcererThoth-amon for the first time!
192 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 2006
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,851 books625 followersKurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 28, 2014
No, Conan, however a still intriguing and dark read full of dark magic, religion and politics. A prequel to how the evil Thoth-Amon became the bitter and conniving character that he is.
Any fan of Conan's world should delve into this story based tale.
Any fan of Conan's world should delve into this story based tale.
August 7, 2022
3.25 out of 5 stars
December 31, 2014
Weird illustrations, but curiously fitting with the story and it definitely gave this volume a feeling of one story as a whole. It was somewhat weird how different some of the characters looked from scene to scene or angle to angle, making it quite hard to tell exactly who people were without a bit of a double-take. Yet in other scenes, especially the more supernatural scenes, the art was quite atmospheric.
The story itself has nothing to do with Conan, but is set in the same world as Conan, presumably some time prior to his birth. Instead it is the story of the rise of one of the recurring villains in the Conan stories - especially the latter ones, I believe. It is a fascinating tale of villainy and the descent of one man into evil. At a couple of places I felt that the main character's reached crisis points and their decisions to go one way rather than another was not as well explained as they could have been. Yet in others there was a great inevitability of the path which added a certain tragic aspect to the story.
Definitely one of the more interesting side stories from these series that I have read.
The story itself has nothing to do with Conan, but is set in the same world as Conan, presumably some time prior to his birth. Instead it is the story of the rise of one of the recurring villains in the Conan stories - especially the latter ones, I believe. It is a fascinating tale of villainy and the descent of one man into evil. At a couple of places I felt that the main character's reached crisis points and their decisions to go one way rather than another was not as well explained as they could have been. Yet in others there was a great inevitability of the path which added a certain tragic aspect to the story.
Definitely one of the more interesting side stories from these series that I have read.
March 7, 2008
Conan: Book Of Thoth was originally published as four, 40 page comics as a spin-off of the monthly Dark Horse title. Kurt Busiek has written quite a few good Conan tales, but it's Len Wein who I was most excited about. Most people probably know Len, if at all, because he co-created the character Wolverine, but my heart lies with his first creation, Swamp Thing, and that's what made me pick this book up. I figured that Len = Horror, and Conan = Fun, so it was a combination that I couldn't pass up.
The story follows a street beggar by the name of Thoth, and his efforts to pull himself out of the gutter and make something of himself. I could use any number of means to describe the narrative, but as with good pulp and horror, the story is as important as the mood, and this book has it in spades. The colors are dark and brooding, and the art is superb by any means of measurement. And, as with any good Conan story, there is magic and kings, women and gold, and action all the way through.
But Len's major contribution is the pace. Like a Howard story, it moves forward at it's own pace, neither fast or slow, but to match the story and it's nuances as it unfolds before us. Many people have tackled this character over the years, and it is too easy to rush things, or to slow down so far as to loose the essence of the character. In Len's story, everything happens only when it should, and it is in this patience that true horror - the kind that grips you and stays with you - can grow and develop.
The story follows a street beggar by the name of Thoth, and his efforts to pull himself out of the gutter and make something of himself. I could use any number of means to describe the narrative, but as with good pulp and horror, the story is as important as the mood, and this book has it in spades. The colors are dark and brooding, and the art is superb by any means of measurement. And, as with any good Conan story, there is magic and kings, women and gold, and action all the way through.
But Len's major contribution is the pace. Like a Howard story, it moves forward at it's own pace, neither fast or slow, but to match the story and it's nuances as it unfolds before us. Many people have tackled this character over the years, and it is too easy to rush things, or to slow down so far as to loose the essence of the character. In Len's story, everything happens only when it should, and it is in this patience that true horror - the kind that grips you and stays with you - can grow and develop.
January 20, 2010
This barely got the 2-Start rating. The writing was tedious and the art was unimpressive and inconsistent, so much so that characters ages and appearances appeared to change randomly from panel to panel. I think the world of Conan may only be interesting through the context of the heavy-drinking, barroom-brawling, fun-loving Conan.
April 15, 2016
Άλλο ένα διαμαντάκι από το σύμπαν του Κόναν.
Πως άρχισαν όλα?
Πως επανήλθε στο προσκήνιο η λατρεία του απαγορευμένου Θεού Σετ και η μαύρη μαγεία?
Η προιστορία των λαών πριν εμφανιστεί ο Κόναν, που ρίχνει φως σε πολλά σκοτεινά σημεία και δικαιολογεί τους αγώνες ενάντια στο κακό του αγαπημένου μας βάρβαρου!
Πως άρχισαν όλα?
Πως επανήλθε στο προσκήνιο η λατρεία του απαγορευμένου Θεού Σετ και η μαύρη μαγεία?
Η προιστορία των λαών πριν εμφανιστεί ο Κόναν, που ρίχνει φως σε πολλά σκοτεινά σημεία και δικαιολογεί τους αγώνες ενάντια στο κακό του αγαπημένου μας βάρβαρου!
January 26, 2016
Excellent comic series. Here the beginnings of the great wizard of Conan's age is told. Very recommended
October 20, 2021
I've never read any Conan before but was given this to read on recommendation. Graphic novels are quick and easy reads, so I figured I'd give it a go.
This had an interesting story. Somewhere between a corruption arc and a fall arc as the lead character, Thoth, starts out a pretty bad, but inevitably gets a lot worse. Thoth is a total villain, and I don't see antagonists as the main character that often so it was pretty interesting to watch him grow and fall deeper into darkness.
I really didn't like the artwork and I struggled to tell the difference between Thoth and Amon in the beginning. It was only when one was named that I realised which of the two the story was following. The face design of all the characters is inconsistent throughout, so it's difficult to tell anyone apart based on their appearances cause the facial features are constantly changing. Even eye colour changes from one panel to the next, and characters who are meant to be children often look like old men, and sometimes the men looked more like women. It's just so unflattering. They often looked more like caricatures. It was all very weird and terribly distracting from the story.
I also wasn't a fan of the dialogue. Some people love that archaic way people spoke back in medieval times, but I find it very stilted and forced. When overdone, it can also sound like a joke, and I do think it was a little over the top in this novel. Just something about it doesn't sound natural in my head and I struggle to connect to that kind of dialogue.
But overall, it was okay. I don't regret reading it. It made for an interesting read from the villains perspective.
This had an interesting story. Somewhere between a corruption arc and a fall arc as the lead character, Thoth, starts out a pretty bad, but inevitably gets a lot worse. Thoth is a total villain, and I don't see antagonists as the main character that often so it was pretty interesting to watch him grow and fall deeper into darkness.
I really didn't like the artwork and I struggled to tell the difference between Thoth and Amon in the beginning. It was only when one was named that I realised which of the two the story was following. The face design of all the characters is inconsistent throughout, so it's difficult to tell anyone apart based on their appearances cause the facial features are constantly changing. Even eye colour changes from one panel to the next, and characters who are meant to be children often look like old men, and sometimes the men looked more like women. It's just so unflattering. They often looked more like caricatures. It was all very weird and terribly distracting from the story.
I also wasn't a fan of the dialogue. Some people love that archaic way people spoke back in medieval times, but I find it very stilted and forced. When overdone, it can also sound like a joke, and I do think it was a little over the top in this novel. Just something about it doesn't sound natural in my head and I struggle to connect to that kind of dialogue.
But overall, it was okay. I don't regret reading it. It made for an interesting read from the villains perspective.
September 2, 2018
Found this through a friend who is a fellow REH fan. This is the story of Thoth-Amon, the greatest and most diabolical of the Conan villains. It begins with his abusive upbringing on the streets of Memphia, capitol of Stygia. He lies and swindles his way into the good graces of Great Karanthes, the High Priest of Ibis, the patron deity of Memphia. He discovers an ancient tome concerning the dark god Set and begins his descent into the ultimate evil. Thoth turns the priests of Ibis, having those too difficult slain. He makes war on the surrounding lands of the Danu, and others land, plunging Stygia into chaos and reveling in the power he wields.
This book was very good and the art was an unusual style but interesting, Kelley has a style I haven't seen often and it seems to work well with this book. Busiek writes solid here, as he always does and crafts a dark and winding story that just seems to carry the reader through it. Very good effort and I was there was more of it. Good Read indeed!
Danny
This book was very good and the art was an unusual style but interesting, Kelley has a style I haven't seen often and it seems to work well with this book. Busiek writes solid here, as he always does and crafts a dark and winding story that just seems to carry the reader through it. Very good effort and I was there was more of it. Good Read indeed!
Danny
March 5, 2018
Having read nothing else in the series, and knowing little to nothing about Conan, I picked this up at the library. I was surprised that there was no Conan--not even a cameo as far as I could tell--but was even more surprised to find the story rich and engaging. Busiek packs a lot in these pages and deftly humanizes a villain. 4.5 stars
March 20, 2018
For a mini series about a one-time Conan villain, this was better than it had any right to be. I enjoyed it a lot!
July 1, 2021
One of the best pure evil character story arcs I’ve ever encountered.
July 29, 2019
very nice ark
i love busiek s conan comics
i love busiek s conan comics
April 11, 2016
A Dark Horse fez mais do que reviver a obra de Robert E. Howard nos quadrinhos. Com o trabalho de roteiristas e artistas fodásicos, a Dark Horse está contribuindo para expandir o mundo hiboriano mantendo o espírito sombrio e violento dos contos de Howard. E esse trabalho continua com uma minisérie que partiu de uma premissa interessante: qual é a história do feiticeiro mais “motherfucker” da era hiboriana, o grande Toth-Amon?
Toth-Amon é o perfeito antagonista de Conan. Diferente do bárbaro, o feiticeiro é um personagem criado por uma civilização decadente, valorizando o conhecimento e o poder que o conhecimento pode lhe dar. Ele é o Coringa do Conan, um personagem que serve para contrastar a brutalidade honesta do cimério. Toth é pura intriga, pura conspiração, e muito mais do que os poderes que seu deus Set lhe dá, sua maior força está na sua capacidade de manipulação e corrupção de quem estiver em sua volta.
Nada mais justo do que dedicar uma mini-série de quadrinhos para o precursor de Voldemort (veja quantas semelhanças existem entre Thoth-Amon e o vilão da série Harry Potter!).
A mini-série foi escrita por Kurt Busiek e Len Wein, e desenhada pelo mestre do quadrinho de horror, Kelley Jones. O roteiro é muito legal, mostrando a ascenção de um jovem ladrão stigiano até assumir o controle de toda a nação de Stygia. Além da trajetória de Toth, a mini-série mostra sua relação com Kalanthes, um sacerdote de Ibis (um deus da luz que se opõe ao deus Seth). Kalanthes foi um personagem introduzido na revista Conan (2004-2008), como um aliado de Conan contra Toth-Amon e é bem legal descobrir mais sobre o personagem.
O tema da mini-série é o papel do medo na corrupção da alma humana. A sociedade de Stygia aceita o pacto com o maligno deus Seth forçada pelo medo da destruição de todo o reino por nações inimigas. Achei bem legal essa metáfora do drama americano (e mundial) da perda das liberdades individuais por causa da paranóia anti-terrorista. O que vale mais, viver com medo mas protegendo a liberdade individual, ou aceitar um controle autoritário em troca de proteção?
Fica a dica da mini-série, uma visão diferente do mundo hiboriano pelo ponto de vista de um dos seus maiores vilões.
Book of Thoth (em inglês) pode ser comprado através da Dark Horse Digital nesse link. Tentei achar, mas parece que não foi publicado em português por nenhuma editora nacional, o que é uma pena.
Toth-Amon é o perfeito antagonista de Conan. Diferente do bárbaro, o feiticeiro é um personagem criado por uma civilização decadente, valorizando o conhecimento e o poder que o conhecimento pode lhe dar. Ele é o Coringa do Conan, um personagem que serve para contrastar a brutalidade honesta do cimério. Toth é pura intriga, pura conspiração, e muito mais do que os poderes que seu deus Set lhe dá, sua maior força está na sua capacidade de manipulação e corrupção de quem estiver em sua volta.
Nada mais justo do que dedicar uma mini-série de quadrinhos para o precursor de Voldemort (veja quantas semelhanças existem entre Thoth-Amon e o vilão da série Harry Potter!).
A mini-série foi escrita por Kurt Busiek e Len Wein, e desenhada pelo mestre do quadrinho de horror, Kelley Jones. O roteiro é muito legal, mostrando a ascenção de um jovem ladrão stigiano até assumir o controle de toda a nação de Stygia. Além da trajetória de Toth, a mini-série mostra sua relação com Kalanthes, um sacerdote de Ibis (um deus da luz que se opõe ao deus Seth). Kalanthes foi um personagem introduzido na revista Conan (2004-2008), como um aliado de Conan contra Toth-Amon e é bem legal descobrir mais sobre o personagem.
O tema da mini-série é o papel do medo na corrupção da alma humana. A sociedade de Stygia aceita o pacto com o maligno deus Seth forçada pelo medo da destruição de todo o reino por nações inimigas. Achei bem legal essa metáfora do drama americano (e mundial) da perda das liberdades individuais por causa da paranóia anti-terrorista. O que vale mais, viver com medo mas protegendo a liberdade individual, ou aceitar um controle autoritário em troca de proteção?
Fica a dica da mini-série, uma visão diferente do mundo hiboriano pelo ponto de vista de um dos seus maiores vilões.
Book of Thoth (em inglês) pode ser comprado através da Dark Horse Digital nesse link. Tentei achar, mas parece que não foi publicado em português por nenhuma editora nacional, o que é uma pena.
April 20, 2013
so, when is a Conan book not a Conan book?
When its about his main "nemesis" Thoth...
Good origin story of a chracter I wasn't even interested in knowing what his origin story was actually.
Although I've always "known" that Thoth Amon was Conan's greatest enemy, part of me didnt really care, I really prefer stories where Conan goes from threat to threat without having any re-occuring bad guys. Get him to confront and kill a monster, then move on to the next adventure. Re-occuring characters just get in the way... except for Sonja, they can put her in a Conan story anytime.
When its about his main "nemesis" Thoth...
Good origin story of a chracter I wasn't even interested in knowing what his origin story was actually.
Although I've always "known" that Thoth Amon was Conan's greatest enemy, part of me didnt really care, I really prefer stories where Conan goes from threat to threat without having any re-occuring bad guys. Get him to confront and kill a monster, then move on to the next adventure. Re-occuring characters just get in the way... except for Sonja, they can put her in a Conan story anytime.
November 20, 2007
Date read is approximate. Read in single issue form. This was an okay entry in Busiek's Conan work that tries to delve into the past of one of Conan's foes. Unfortunately, it was just a bit too predictable to be up to my usual standards for Kurt. Still, the Kelley Jones art fits the mood perfectly, and it's still a good comics series. If you're a fan of Busiek, Jones, or the Conan mythos, this is worth a look.
August 28, 2007
Conan mythos back story of the origins of Thoth-Amon, a recurring character in the Marvel Comics version of Conan, but who only appeared once (and was mentioned twice more) in the original Robert E. Howard tales. Kelley Jones' artwork is impressive; the man can draw a mood.
December 3, 2009
I tried, lord knows I tried. Its writing is okay, and its artwork is also okay – but I only managed to get ¾ of the way through before a thought overpowered me and I put it back.
It’s Fan Fiction!
And not particularly good or clever fan fiction. Disappointing really.
It’s Fan Fiction!
And not particularly good or clever fan fiction. Disappointing really.
November 30, 2008
A great little side story involving two boys named Thoth and Anon, and the gods, Set and Ibis. Niceness.
February 4, 2016
Questo volume raccoglie la miniserie dedicata alle origini del personaggio di Thoth Amon che si affianca alla serie regolare di Conan pubblicata dalla Dark Horse.
August 25, 2011
First chapter started off well but the next three parts were blah. Still, great art by Len Wein.
February 26, 2016
Review to come! :D
January 24, 2014
Interesting origin story.
April 18, 2016
Great origin story told from the point of view of the villain.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews