Tvrda epika starog kova

Konan  

Dok je za filmskog Konana jedina realnost svakodnevno nasilje, za iskrene ljubitelje ovog legendarnog varvarina novo impozantno izdanje moglo bi biti najbolja stvar u životu, pa makar im bila potrebna konanovska snaga da ga čitaju iz ruke.  

     Izdanjem „Konan – divlji mač Simerije“ beogradskog Darkwood-a, saga o legendarnom varvarinu  pisca Roberta I. Hauarda u svojoj najobimnijoj stripovskoj inkarnaciji konačno dolazi pred ovdašnju publiku u pravom svetlu. Iako smo Konana imali prilike da čitamo u raznoraznim izdanjima od kasnih sedamdesetih pa do pre koju godinu, tek sada će biblioteka crtanih avantura ovog junaka na srpskom jeziku konačno biti kompletirana kroz nastavke ove, prve od mnogih knjiga u seriji.

Inače, ime Darkwood, koje je nekada bilo poznato samo kao dom Duha sa Sekirom- Zagora Te Nej-a, dugi niz godina stripovski znalci vezuju za legendarnu striparnicu na Zelenom Vencu, odnedavno unapređenu u izdavača promišljene politike, koji je sve sigurnim pogocima osvojio stripofile širom bivše Jugoslavije. Konkretnije, do sada su bili u pitanju italijanski serijali Gea, Julija i najnoviji, Lilit, koji opovrgavaju ovdašnje stereotipe, pre svega po pitanju predodređenog pola glavnog junaka (ovde su u pitanju junakinje). Povrh toga, ovi stripovi su provokativni, politički angažovani, emocionalno nabijeni, eksplicitno surovi i nadasve kompleksni ili da pojednostavimo, upravo prilagođeni poodraslim ljubiteljima uradaka izdavačke kuće Boneli, koja je postala sinonim za italijanski strip na ovim prostorima. Dižući lestvicu još više na čisto umetničkom planu, Darkwood je dosad izbacio i jedno kapitalno izdanje kakav je Tarzan Burna Hogarta, nedvosmisleni vrhunac u grafičkoj ali i pripovedačkoj obradi ovog izraubovanog junaka.

U prethodnom ključu sada nam se nudi i Konan, ali naspram gotovo poetskog Tarzana ili gore pomenutih heroina, vreme je za malo osvežavajuće sirovog i jednostavnog testosterona. Nije da u ovom Konanu nedostaje poezije, ali ovde je u pitanju tvrda epika. Gabarit izdanja kao da odražava svog junaka, jer se na domaćoj strip sceni ne pamti ovako masivno i bogato opremljen strip. Ostavlja prvi utisak pre svega svojim džambo formatom, a prvi sledeći sledi kada ga uzmete u ruke i osetite skoro pet kila težine. Ono najlepše nalazi se unutar tvrdih korica, koje kriju pravu malu riznicu mapa, ilustracija, eseja, i konačno, bonus poster sa žestokim prikazom razapetog Konana, koji potpisuje majstor Boris Valeho. Glavnu masu čine probrani stripovi iz najboljeg perioda obrade ovog junaka u ovom mediju, a oni se vezuju za tendem scenariste Roja Tomasa i crtača Džona Bjuseme.

Bogati grafizam kojim je Bjusema, sam ili u kolaboraciji sa drugim crtačima, od kojih se u epizodama skupljenim u ovom izdanju izdvaja Alfredo Alkala, oživeo Hiborijansko doba, izmišljeni period velikih civilizacija nekih 10.000 godina p.n.e., uveo je Hauardovog Konana u srca miliona klinaca. Ovaj ideal neobuzdane snage, žestine i odlučnosti nije uspela da ograniči ni oštra cenzura, oličena u ozloglašenom Comics Code Authority-ju, koja je vladala u američkom stripu u vreme kada je Konan izlazio. Nadovezujući se na originalne priče, ali i otkrivajući neke potpuno nove pristupe Konanovom univerzumu, Tomas i drugi scenaristi su kroz dve i po decenije objavljivanja ovog junaka u stripu napravili jednu vanvremensku epopeju, za koju interesovanje ne jenjava, što dokazuju brojni reprinti. Nasuprot drugim herojima, odnosno superherojima po kojima je izdavačka kuća Marvel poznata, Konana izdvaja osećaj prave opasnosti, svepristutna smrt i jedinstvena fantastična i pseudoistorijska atmosfera zbog koje nikada neće ostariti niti biti prevaziđen.

Old classic hard core epics

Conan

While for the on screen Conan the only reality is everyday violence, for true fans of this legendary barbarian the new imposing issue could be the very best thing, even if they needed the strength of Conan to read it holding it in their hands.

    With the issue of "Conan – The Savage Sword of Simeria" published by Belgrade Darkwood, the saga about the legendary barbarian, creation of the writer Robert I. Howard in its most voluminous comic book incarnation is finally coming before the local audience. Although we had the opportunity to read Conan in various publications since the late 70's until a few years ago, only now the collection of comic adventures about this hero in Serbian will finally be completed with the extensions of this, first of many books in the series.

Otherwise, the name of Darkwood, which was once known only as the home of "The Spirit with the Hatchet" or Zagor Te Nej, for many years has been associated with the legendary Comic Store in Zeleni Venac, recently promoted to publisher with cunning policy, which has won the connoisseurs of comics throughout ex-Yugoslavia with winning editions. More specifically, until now there have been Italian serials like Gea, Juliet and the latest, Lilith, which deny the stereotypes, especially regarding the predetermined sex of the main character, since they are all heroines. Moreover, these comics are provocative, politically engaged, emotionally charged, explicitly brutal and above all complex, or to simplify it, created specifically for older fans of publications of the publishing house Bonelli, which became synonymous with Italian comic books in the area. Raising the level of artistic expression, Darkwood has so far released one capital issue, Burn Hogarth's “Tarzan”, unambiguous master piece in graphic and narrative interpretation of this hero.

Now they offer us Conan in the same form, but differently from the almost poetic Tarzan or above mentioned heroines, it's time for a bit refreshingly raw and simple testosterone. It's not that there is no poetry in this version of Conan, just there is hard and pure epics. Dimensions of the issue reflect its character, because the local scene doesn't remember such a massive and richly presented comic book. It leaves a first impression above all with its jumbo dimensions, and the next impression follows when you pick it up and feel at least five kilos of weight. The most beautiful thing, of course, can be found inside the hard covers that hide a real treasure of maps, illustrations, essays, and finally, the bonus poster with intense picture of crucified Conan signed by the artist Boris Valeho. The main content consists of carefully selected comics from the best period of publishing of this comic book hero, and those are associated with the tandem consisting of the writer Roy Thomas and the cartoonist John Bjuseme.

Rich graphics with which Bjusema, alone or in collaboration with other cartoonists, among which stands out Alfredo Alcala in the episodes collected in this volume, revived the Hiborian time, imaginary period of great civilizations some 10,000 years BC, introduced Hauard's Conan into the hearts of millions of kids. This ideal of unrestrained power, rage and determination couldn't have been limited even by the severe censorship, represented by the infamous Comics Code Authority, which ruled in the American comics at the time when Conan was being published. Building on the original story, but also revealing some completely new approaches to Conan's universe, Thomas and other writers have created a timeless epic through two and a half decades of publishing this comic book, for which the interest doesn't wane, what is proved by numerous reprints. Unlike other heroes, or super heroes, for which the publishing house Marvel is known, what makes Conan different is a sense of real danger, constant death and unique pseudo-historic and fantastical atmosphere for which it will never be out of fashion or outdated.

Kolumna: Pavle Zelić

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