Review by Frank Plowright

A significant part of Conan’s legend is the time he spent plundering on the seas in the company of pirate captain Bêlit, and that’s where Jim Zub alights for Twisting Loyalties. Although the title applies to all four chapters, there’s a clear separation in the middle, making this the first of Titan’s Conan volumes to contain a pair of stories rather than a full four chapter epic.

The opening tale occurs when Conan and Bêlit are told of a Stygian treasure that he’d rather leave alone, but which Bêlit is keen to acquire. All they have to do is interrupt a deal taking place in an antique dealer’s premises, but how far can they trust new ally Tarnasha? The second story jumps forward to the time shortly after Bêlit’s death, with a grieving Conan tracked through swamp and jungle.

First artist Danica Brine is unfortunate to be represented in the same volume as second artist Doug Braithwaite. Her two chapters are elegantly illustrated, with much effort spent on a decorative dance sequence, but equally her people are stiff in places and misproportioned. There’s none of that in Braithwaite’s work, where we’ve come to expect the spectacular. He delivers again, with the battle against a panther superbly laid out.

For all of Braithwaite’s two chapters being so well drawn, he’s given the weaker story. There have been consequences from the sequence Brine draws, and they play out among people well aware of the dangers even if Conan isn’t. Getting to the point, though, requires much padding. The better written first tale has variety, mystery and a supernatural surprise, but it’s also standard fare for Conan.

All of Zub’s Conan is good, but especially after the excellent Frozen Faith, this is the weakest volume to date for conforming too strictly to expectations.