The following contains spoilers for Savage Avengers #5, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Marvel bids farewell to Conan the Barbarian with a send-off befitting of the Hyborian Age hero.
Conan's time fighting alongside the Savage Avengers comes to an end in the fifth issue of the team's latest ongoing series, written by David Pepose and illustrated by Carlos Magno. Conan was a primary focus of the title's first arc, being that the group was trying to protect him from a Deathlok soldier out to kill him. In the end though, it is Conan who manages to save the entire team.
How Conan Saves All the Savage Avengers
The latest iteration of the Savage Avengers includes Daredevil Elektra Natchios, Agent Anti-Venom, Black Knight, Weapon H, Cloak and Dagger. While protecting Conan from Deathlok, they were all transported to Conan's home period, the Hyborian Age, and trapped there unless Deathlok could bring them all back to the Present Day. After Deathlok (secretly an aged Spider-Man Miles Morales) regains his humanity and tries to do just that, the team is experiencing bigger problems.
In the prior issue, the necromancer Thulsa Doom sliced Conan's throat and spilled his own blood as well, fulfilling a prophecy and unleashing the serpent god Set. In Savage Avengers #5, though Dagger heals Conan and brings him back into the fight, the team is struggling to contain Set while Deathlok is having trouble opening a portal to banish the god and send the Savage Avengers to their own time. With a feat of immense strength, Conan helps Deathlok get everyone through the portal and crushes the gate behind them, the pages then treating readers to a montage of Conan's history as he is left behind in the Hyborian Age.
The last image of Conan is as a king beside his family, the Avengers logo displayed about his throne room as the narration reads, "No matter what legacy he left behind, Conan would always know this...he was an Avenger...and his legend would live forever."
Conan the Barbarian Moves From Marvel to Titan Comics
Savage Avengers #5 may in fact be the final time readers see Conan the Barbarian in the Marvel Universe. In May 2022, it was announced by Heroic Signatures CEO Fred Malmberg that Marvel had chosen not to renew its Conan the Barbarian publishing rights with Conan Properties International, Malmberg saying, "We had a wonderful run with Marvel Comics but ultimately they have decided not to extend their license beyond this year." Titan Comics has taken over the publishing rights for Conan and will launch a new ongoing series starring the character in 2023.
Savage Avengers #5 is written by Pepose with interior art by Magno, colors by Espen Grundetjern and letters by VC's Travis Lanham. Main cover art for the issue is done by Leinil Francis Yu and Sunny Gho. The book is now on sale from Marvel Comics.
Source: Marvel