When we first unveiled the Conan Battle of the Black Stone action figure in December, fans got their initial glimpse at what promises to be the definitive comic book Conan collectible. Rob de la Torre’s explosive cover art – capturing our Cimmerian warrior exhausted yet unbowed amidst the chaos of combat – had already set forums ablaze with speculation. Now that figure is becoming reality.

But that was just the beginning.

We recently sat down with project lead Eamon O’Donoghue for an exclusive deep dive into every detail that’s transforming this from a simple collectible into a piece of Howardverse history. From the revolutionary articulation that lets Conan grip his sword with both hands (a rarity in the figure world) to the complete arsenal of Robert E. Howard character weapons included in the deluxe edition, Eamon pulled back the curtain on what makes this figure special.

What follows is your complete guide to the Black Stone Conan: the materials, the craftsmanship, the fan input, and the surprises that even seasoned collectors won’t see coming.

The Complete Figure Breakdown

When Eamon O’Donoghue promises that “this guy has got all the articulation you need, boys and girls, so no one’s going to be mourning about it,” he’s not exaggerating. The Black Stone Conan represents a quantum leap in comic-accurate articulation, featuring ball joints at both the chest and waist that allow for the kind of dynamic lunging poses that define Rob de la Torre’s artwork. The figure sports butterfly shoulders, double-jointed knees, and even bendable toes with full ankle rockers – details that transform a static collectible into a fully poseable warrior.

But the crown jewel of this engineering marvel is what Eamon calls the holy grail of action figure design: true double-handed sword gripping. “Double-handed, straight out Conan, lunging at you,” he describes. This is a natural, powerful grip achieved without unsightly cuts or compromises to the chest sculpt. As anyone knows, finding a figure that can hold a sword with both hands without it looking terrible and having ugly cuts is exceptionally rare in the collectible world.

The standard edition comes loaded with options straight from the Battle of the Black Stone cover art. Collectors receive the battle-worn Conan with his iconic ripped shirt, a desert helmet that Eamon particularly loves, an alternate head sculpt, and the bloody axe from the cover illustration. The figure includes four sets of interchangeable hands – fists, gripping hands, relaxed hands, and reaching hands – plus bare feet for those who want to recreate “slave Conan” appearances from the comics.

The deluxe edition, available exclusively through heroicsignatures.com, transforms this figure into a celebration of Robert E. Howard’s entire pantheon. Beyond the standard accessories, collectors receive a separate tray containing Brissa’s Pictish spear complete with blue feathers, Solomon Kane’s ancient staff and sword, Dark Agnes’s distinctive raper, and El Borak’s tulwar- complete with a specialized gun-holding hand. Each weapon tells a story from the Battle of the Black Stone event, creating what Eamon calls “a love letter not to just comic fans, but hardcore Howard fans.”

Perhaps most intriguingly for collectors who’ve invested in Eamon’s previous work, the Black Stone Conan shares a compatible parts system with the Frazetta Conan line. “The loincloth, everything, the loincloth and boots and cuffs are interchangeable,” Eamon confirms, though he notes the hands are scaled slightly differently to match each artistic interpretation. This cross-compatibility opens up endless customization possibilities, allowing collectors to create their own unique Conan variants by mixing and matching between the comic-accurate and Frazetta-inspired designs.

Craftsmanship and Materials

The Black Stone Conan exemplifies what Eamon O’Donoghue calls a “boutique action figure,” and the material choices reflect this premium positioning. Every component serves a specific purpose in the engineering hierarchy.

The joints utilize an extremely hard ABS plastic, specifically POM plastic, ensuring durability where it matters most. Arms, forearms, and upper legs employ a softer vinyl ABS blend that provides the right balance of flexibility and structure. For elements like hair and clothing, Eamon opts for super-soft plastics that allow natural movement because, as he notes, “Nothing’s worse than getting a character with long hair and the hair is just too solid.”

This attention to material science extends to the paint work, where the figure truly separates itself from mass-market offerings. “The paint applications we have on here is far higher than the average Hasbro,” Eamon emphasizes, positioning this firmly in the realm of collectible art. Every detail from Conan’s stubble to the battle-worn texture of his clothing receives meticulous attention, creating a figure that captures Rob de la Torre’s artwork with stunning accuracy.

The refinement process itself reveals the obsessive dedication behind this release. What collectors will receive represents the culmination of multiple test shots and iterations. As Eamon explains, “This is a pre-test, so like you get one from a factory, okay, lots of things. As it goes along, by the time you get a fourth test shot, things have really been refined.” The team reviews everything from “deco samples” for paint applications to specialized articulation samples, ensuring every aspect meets their exacting standards.

Behind this quality stands an international team of artisans who share Eamon’s passion for the source material. Gurjeet Singh, whom Eamon calls “an absolute genius,” handles the sculpting from his studio in India. Paint master Matto Tool brings the figure to life with color, while Carlos Savant in New Orleans manages the 3D printing for prototypes. Even specific engineering challenges see specialist input, with Aaron Doyle contributing his expertise to perfect the butterfly joint mechanism. As Eamon notes, these people are “mad Conan fans themselves.”

All this craftsmanship comes at a refreshingly accessible price point. While other premium collectibles soar past the hundred-dollar mark, Eamon remains committed to his philosophy: “I like a really well made plastic action figure that’s 40-50 bucks.” This positioning allows the figure to compete directly with elite collector lines while remaining attainable for fans.

Speaking of those elite lines, the Black Stone Conan stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the industry’s best. “This figure is designed to go with the Xerxes, X-Ray Studios, Gladiators, and the Mythic Legions,” Eamon confirms. The scale and quality ensure it integrates seamlessly into premium collections, whether displayed alongside Storm Collectibles’ fighters or facing off against Mythic Legions’ fantasy warriors. 

How Conan Fans Shaped the Black Stone Action Figure

Fan feedback during development revealed a community divided yet passionate. “You are very much in two camps there,” Eamon observes. “There are people who think my articulation is baloney. There are people out there who think I’m a genius for my articulation.” Rather than playing it safe, the Black Stone Conan pushes boundaries to satisfy both aesthetic purists and articulation enthusiasts. The result speaks to Eamon’s confidence in understanding what collectors truly want: “I’ve been buying action figures since the age of eight years old. In fact, in my college studio, I put Hasbro Conan [action] figures on everyone’s cubicle.”

This lifelong immersion in collecting culture ensures the Black Stone Conan fits seamlessly into the broader premium figure ecosystem. When Eamon states, “I want to make figures that I want to see,” he’s speaking as someone who owns them all, from vintage Masters of the Universe to modern Mezco releases. He knows exactly where this figure must stand in a collection.

Eamon’s approach draws directly from the evolution of the action figure community itself, particularly the explosion of action photography over the past decade. “People want dynamic posing so they can do whole scenes,” he explains. “It kind of reminds me of old men back in the 70s and 60s with train sets in the attic. People want to get knuckled. Us older guys, we want to knuckle down, get down on the ground, get our photographs in.” The rise of independent figure makers has transformed what was once child’s play into serious artistic expression, with collectors staging elaborate photoshoots that rival professional productions. “Quite frankly, one of the most joyful things in the world is to photograph your figure,” Eamon notes, and every engineering decision reflects this understanding.

When discussing the deluxe edition’s REH character weapons, he says: “If folks get behind us on these figures, we will do Picts. We will do Aquilonians. We will do Gundermen. We’ll do Stygians. We’ll do Snakemen.” 

And so, the Conan Battle of the Black Stone Figure represents not an endpoint, but a beginning.

Eamon’s vision also extends far beyond Conan’s world, encompassing the entirety of Howard’s broader universe of heroes. From Solomon Kane and Dark Agnes to Brissa and the mysterious Thulsa Doom with his authentic skull visage, each character represents an opportunity to bring Howard’s timeless creations to life with the same meticulous attention to detail and articulation that defines this inaugural release.

Upon release, the standard retail edition of the Battle of the Black Stone action figure delivers everything you need to bring Rob de la Torre’s vision to life: the figure, the battle-worn accessories, and packaging that features both de la Torre’s explosive cover art and the complete Battle of the Black Stone story synopsis. 

But for collectors who understand that some moments in Conan history demand more, there’s the deluxe edition.

Available exclusively through heroicsignatures.com, the deluxe version transforms from action figure to artifact. The collector box itself becomes a display piece, featuring embossed details, the Mountain of Power logo, and the Eye of Shumagorath carved into the side. 

When Eamon says, “At last, finally, we have this—the Conan we’ve always wanted,” he’s not speaking in hyperbole. He’s stating a fact that every prototype, every joint, every paint application proves.

The pre-order list is open now. 

Whether you’re drawn to the standard edition or ready to claim the complete Conan.com exclusive experience, secure your own figure. 

Because as Eamon reminds us: “Some battles are too epic to miss.”