Walt Simonson Launches ‘Conan the Barbarian: Eastern Horizons’ in May 2025

Conan the Barbarian is one of the best-known and most popular pulp characters of all time. Created by Robert E. Howard, the character has been the subject of numerous books, comic books, films, and even animated projects. And while Conan has never been a mainstream hero, he is a cult character with a solid fandom.

That is why news of a new Conan-focused work is always welcomed by the fans and we can confirm that a new comic book story is launching in May. Titled Conan the Barbarian: Eastern Horizons, the new standalone story will be written by veteran Walt Simonson, which is another exciting detail.

Walt Simonsen is a beloved comic book author and a true veteran. The 78-year-old author is best known for his run on Thor, during which he created the character of Beta Ray Bill, but he has also worked on Star Slammers, which he inaugurated in 1972, X-Factor, Fantastic Four, Detective Comics, Manhunter, Metal Men, Orion, Star Wars, Alien, Battlestar Galactica and Robocop vs. Terminator.

His run on Conan certainly has fans excited, as Simonson has proven himself as an author capable of bringing something new to the franchise he is working on. On this story, he will be working with artist Jerry Ma.

As for the plot, here is what we know:

Following rumors of untold treasures into the mystic East, Conan the Barbarian stumbles into a web of sorcery, deception, and danger. A chance encounter with a captive princess leads to a night of passion, a clash of steel, and a confrontation with an otherworldly power. Faced with ancient magic and unseen dangers, Conan must fight not merely for fortune, but survival – for in a land of illusions, even a barbarian’s instincts may not be enough. This standalone story is the first time that the legendary Walter Simonson (The Mighty Thor, X-Factor, Fantastic Four) has written for Conan!

The comic book comes out on May 7, 2025, and so far, we know that it is going to be released as a digital comic book by Titan Books. We don’t know if it will end up as a printed edition at one point, but we will keep you updated as soon as we know more.

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