Barbaric

Barbaric is a sword-and-sorcery series that has become one of the most acclaimed indie comics of the past decade. Published by Vault Comics and written by Michael Moreci with art by Nathan Gooden and colors by Addison Duke, the series launched in 2021 and has already been hailed as one of the best comics by Entertainment Weekly, Thrillist, and Screen Rant.

The premise is simple but brilliant: Owen the Barbarian was murdered and resurrected by witches who cursed him to do good with whatever remains of his life. His weapon, Axe, is a sentient axe with a drinking problem who acts as Owen’s moral compass—while getting drunk on the blood of the immoral. Together, they wander the realm, foredoomed to help any who seek assistance. But there’s one thing Owen hates more than a life with rules: Witches.

Moreci describes the series as “my ode to pulp adventures, immersive world-building, and larger-than-life characters”—a love letter to Conan, Hellboy, and the great barbarian fiction of the 1970s. But what makes Barbaric special is its blend of extreme violence and genuine heart. The comedy comes from the absurdity of a barbarian who wants to kill but is forced to help, and an axe that lectures him about morality while craving bloodshed.

The series went back for multiple printings before its first issue even shipped, a rare phenomenon in indie comics. Its success led Vault to declare “Year of Axe,” anchoring their 2023 line around the book and launching spin-offs including crossovers with fantasy novelist Nicholas Eames (Kings of the Wyld).

Entertainment Weekly named it one of the “10 Best Comics of 2021,” calling it “first-rate” and praising its balance of action, humor, and character work. Screen Rant called it “bloody spectacular” while noting it “never holds back.”

Nathan Gooden’s art drives the book’s identity—kinetic, gritty, and absolutely unafraid of the grotesque. The action sequences splatter across the page while the character work gives Owen, Axe, and later allies like the witch Soren and vampire Steel genuine emotional weight.

Perfect for fans of Conan the Barbarian, Hellboy, and Kings of the Wyld—big fantasy with even bigger hearts.