Set’s coils have tightened around the Howard-verse.
With Scourge of the Serpent about to be in full swing, readers find themselves in the middle of a cosmic conspiracy that spans from ancient Valusia to Depression-era America. But keeping track of every thread in this tapestry requires a guide, someone who knows where every serpent scale has been carefully placed.
That’s why we were so glad that series’ author, Jim Zub, sat down with us to map every twist and turn of the serpent’s path. In this exclusive interview, Zub reveals how each piece fits into a puzzle that redefines Howard’s entire mythology.
Read on so you can miss nothing and understand everything.
Your Roadmap to the Serpent’s Scourge
When asked which original Howard stories, if any, provide the best foundation for the event, Zub doesn’t hesitate.
“The Shadow Kingdom, The God in the Bowl, and The Haunter of the Ring act as foundational fuel for Scourge.”
But before newcomers start worrying about homework, Zub offers reassurance: “You don’t actually need to read any of those original short stories to understand the event.” He’s crafted Scourge to stand alone, though Howard veterans will discover hidden connections and deeper meanings throughout.
The reading order for the comics themselves, however, does matter significantly.
Here’s Zub’s recommended path through the serpent saga:
- Free Comic Book Day 2025: Scourge of the Serpent (available free here)
- Savage Sword of Conan #10
- Scourge of the Serpent #1-4
- Conan: Spawn of the Serpent God (Novel)
“If you follow that reading order, you’ll get all the info you need when you need it,” Zub explains, “and get the most out of subplots as well.”
New readers shouldn’t feel intimidated. “Even if this is a reader’s very first Conan story, everyone’s motivations and the quests they’re on are clear throughout the story,” Zub assures. Meanwhile, longtime fans will discover layers of meaning that reward their dedication without ever becoming required knowledge.
Now, let’s walk through each step of this roadmap to understand why this specific sequence matters.
The Spark – Free Comic Book Day 2025
Free Comic Book Day 2025’s impact on the Scourge saga cannot be overstated. Those who grabbed their copy witnessed the moment when three timelines converged and Set’s grand design finally began to reveal itself.
“The FCBD issue brings readers up to speed on the big questions that kick off Scourge,” Zub explains with characteristic precision. “Who is involved, where in time are they, and what inciting incidents put them in the snake god’s path.” In other words: if you didn’t read this issue, you’re trying to solve a puzzle with the corner pieces missing.
The three-timeline structure introduced in this issue defines everything that follows. Readers meet Conan in Numalia, Brule approaching Valusia’s walls, and John Kirowan examining cursed artifacts in the 1930s. Each moment carefully chosen, each hero positioned at a critical juncture where Set’s influence can no longer be ignored.
But it’s the eighteen-year-old Conan who steals the show. This version of the Cimmerian represents something readers haven’t encountered in Zub’s run thus far. “Young Conan is far more brash and headstrong than the legendary warrior he will become,” Zub reveals. “The certainty in his sword arm and strength leads him to make impulsive and downright dangerous decisions that the older Conan would avoid.”
Zub clearly relishes writing this version of the character. “That naïve courage is also a lot of fun to write because explosive action can kick off at almost any moment.” The museum heist orchestrated by Aztrias Petanius becomes the perfect showcase for this younger Conan’s volatile nature. Where a more experienced thief might plan carefully, young Conan simply scales the wall and trusts his instincts.
However, the museum heist does more than just illustrate Conan’s vigor. Readers might remember the Zamorian goblet that Conan sought out. That item, right there, is where the serpent’s power first becomes tangible to readers, setting up everything that follows.
The Bridge – Savage Sword of Conan #10
Between the Free Comic Book Day setup and the main event lies a crucial connective tissue that many readers might overlook: Savage Sword of Conan #10.
“Savage Sword of Conan #10 is an anthology issue that follows up from the events of the Twisting Loyalties arc,” Zub explains, positioning this issue as both epilogue and prologue.
This issue shows “how Conan crosses paths with Stygians once again as Set’s plan develops through the years.” Not in one decisive confrontation, but through a series of encounters that reveal the persistence of the serpent’s pursuit.
More importantly, the issue demonstrates “how Set’s power has influenced other times and places across our ‘Howardverse.'” Through the anthology format, readers witness the serpent’s shadow falling across multiple heroes, multiple eras, multiple continents.
“The structure helps broaden the scope of the event and shows how everyone may be affected by what is coming,” Zub notes. Whereas the Free Comic Book Day issue simply introduced three heroes in three times, Savage Sword #10 reveals these are actually just the most visible battles in a war that spans all of human existence.
Thus, the anthology format allows for something the linear narrative cannot provide: multiple vantage points on Set’s growing influence. Readers see ripple effects spreading outward.
The Main Event – Scourge of the Serpent #1-4
Four issues. Three heroes. One serpent god whose plan spans the entirety of human existence. The main Scourge of the Serpent series delivers on every promise made in the setup.
“Each protagonist in Scourge – Kull, Conan, and Kirowan – is on their own adventure happening in their own time,” Zub explains, establishing the event’s unique narrative structure.
The three heroes remain separated by millennia, yet their connection runs deeper than simple thematic parallels. “Key symbols and magic power moves across time, rippling backward or forward, changing how each story rolls out, building in intensity,” Zub reveals. When Conan strikes a blow in the Hyborian Age, its effects ripple backward to affect Kull’s battle in ancient Valusia. When Kirowan uncovers a truth in the 1930s, that revelation changes the nature of the threat facing both barbarian kings.
This temporal interconnection wouldn’t work without the artifacts that serve as anchors across the ages. “Each of them are items imbued with deific power, blessed or cursed to be used as tools of a god,” Zub notes. The dragon armband worn by Brule, the Serpent Ring of Thoth-Amon, and the Fangs of the Serpent dagger are all physical manifestations of Set’s influence reaching through time.
But what drives this elaborate construction? “After the events of Battle of the Black Stone, humanity is at a crossroads and only the strongest of souls will be able to choose what happens next.” So, you see, Scourge of the Serpent is anything but another story about preventing an ancient evil from awakening. The evil is already here.
The weight of these implications demands artwork that can capture both intimate character moments and cosmic horror. “Ivan and Joao are elevating every single scene with their stunning work,” Zub notes with obvious admiration.
The artistic team faces the monumental challenge of visually distinguishing three different time periods while maintaining narrative clarity. Color palettes shift to indicate temporal connections, symbolic imagery echoes across eras, and panel compositions mirror each other across thousands of years. “In issue #2, Ivan Gil illustrates a flashback two-page spread depicting ancient men fighting an army of horrifying shapeshifters. It’s one of the most incredible and detailed battle scenes ever shown in Conan comic history.”
Each issue peels back another layer of Set’s plan, revealing how every element fits into a design so vast that even our heroes struggle to comprehend its scope.
How the Seeds Were Sown
For readers who want to see just how far back this plan goes, Zub’s setup began long before Free Comic Book Day. In fact, the seeds for Scourge of the Serpent were planted as early as issue #13.
“The big picture plan has been laid out for quite some time now,” Zub reveals. “We’ve had it well in place since issue #13+.” This means everything from that point forward has been deliberately building toward the serpent’s rise. This especially was evident for readers who jumped in around Issue 17.
The Twisting Loyalties Arc (#17-20)
“The issues in this arc were built to work on their own as a Conan adventure,” Zub explains, “and also seed the ground for everything we have coming up in Scourge.” The Twisting Loyalties arc began with Conan and Bêlit living the high life in Kyros. What started as a simple revenge heist quickly escalated when Stygian agents appeared carrying the Fangs of the Serpent, a deific tool central to Set’s master plan that readers couldn’t have recognized at the time.
Bêlit’s death also takes on new meaning in retrospect. Her romance with Conan provided emotional stakes that make the cosmic horror hit harder. Then, Issue #20 introduced Zula hunting Conan through the jungle and removing a snake demon from Conan’s wound. The wound, inflicted by the Fangs of the Serpent, had infected Conan with Set’s taint. Zula’s extraction represented a necessary cleansing before the true war could begin.
Even minor characters served the larger narrative. Tarnasha, who betrayed Conan and fled with the Fangs, met her end in Asgalun, moving the dagger exactly where it needed to be.
The Nest of Serpents Arc (#21-24)
The current Nest of Serpents arc has been drawing Conan ever deeper into Set’s domain. Issues #21-23 have seen Conan and Zula navigate Stygia itself, battling wing-borne horrors, infiltrating Set’s temple in Kheshatta, and witnessing Thoth-Amon’s power firsthand.
Now, with issue #24 released, we can see that the Great Serpent’s influence will twist and turn, pulling Conan and his allies into their deadly maw. What they find will set the stage for a conflict beyond their wildest imagination.
Issue #24 represented the final turn of the key before the door to Scourge of the Serpent swings wide open. Readers who’ve followed from early on have witnessed Conan being systematically prepared for the battle to come.
The Hunt Begins Now
Everything you thought you knew about the Serpent Men, about Set, about the very nature of evil in Howard’s universe, it all changes here. “Once readers finally see Set’s grand plan, it’ll change how they experience every Stygian story in the Robert E. Howard canon,” Zub promises.
For those hungry for the complete experience, follow Zub’s reading order exactly. Each piece builds on the last, creating a narrative that works both as an entry point for newcomers and as the next essential chapter for those who’ve been following since issue #1.
The serpent has revealed itself. The hunt is on, and Issue 2 is right around the corner. The only question remaining is whether you’ll face it armed with the complete knowledge of Set’s grand design, or stumble blind into coils that have been tightening for millennia.
Your journey into the heart of Howard’s mythology begins now.
By Crom, what are you waiting for?
Lo Terry
In his effort to help Heroic Signatures tell legendary stories, Lo Terry does a lot. Sometimes, that means spearheading an innovative, AI-driven tavern adventure. In others it means writing words in the voice of a mischievous merchant for people to chuckle at. It's a fun time.
