Despite only appearing in a single story, the pirate queen Belit is one of the most notable of Robert E. Howard‘s heroines. Titan Comics‘ latest Conan the Barbarian arc delivers a long-awaited sequel to the story that introduced Belit, Queen of the Black Coast.
Conan the Barbarian #5 by Jim Zub, Doug Braithwaite, and Diego Rodriguez presents a summary of the action of Queen of the Black Coast, and Belit’s death. The first four pages, which can be read below, also offer a rare view of Conan as a character. Despite being described by Howard as full of “gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth,” it is rare for Conan to be shown in the depths of sorrow.
This opening showcases Conan’s whirlwind romance with Belit, and his deep depression at the loss of his first love. As Conan the Barbarian #5 opens, Conan is deep in his cups, caring little if he lives or dies. This leads him to join a daring gang, and a heist that even the bold barbarian might have avoided.
Belit’s Importance to Conan the Barbarian Explained
The cliché image of a muscular hero with a supple wench at his feet is one of the hallmarks of sword and sorcery. Ironically, while Robert E. Howard solidified this trope with his early Conan stories, he preferred writing warrior women. This was clear from his handling of Belit in Queen of the Black Coast.
Amid a legion of damsels in distress, Belit stood out as something special. Belit owned her sexuality and was as dangerous as Conan the Barbarian in a fight. Such was her will that she defied death itself to save the man she loved from her fate.
Despite giving Belit a grand sendoff and a Viking funeral in Queen of the Black Coast, Howard never made reference to Belit in any later Conan stories. While several comics showed Conan’s life immediately after Belit’s death, none truly explored the depth of his loss. The preview of Conan the Barbarian #5 suggests that Jim Zub will be tackling this oversight head on, while offering another ripping yarn of Conan the Thief.
Conan the Barbarian #5 arrives in stores on November 22, 2023.
