Joe the Barbarian is an eight-issue comic book limited series[1] written by Grant Morrison[2][3] and drawn by Sean Murphy.

Morrison has discussed the inspiration behind the series:[2] I was obsessed with fantasy books when I was a young teenager – Tolkien, Alan Garner, Susan Cooper, Robert E. Howard, Michael Moorcock, Stephen Donaldson….

I even wrote two big swords-and-sorcery novels back then, but I'd never done a fantasy comic book before and it seemed like an interesting challenge to do a real proper kind of "Lord of Rings", "Alice in Wonderland" all-ages story for today.The first issue was released in January 2010 (cover dated March 2010).

Here he becomes embroiled in a war with King Death, while in the real world he searches for a soda to fix his blood sugar.

He knows there is one in the kitchen downstairs, but it is extremely far away, made farther by his medical condition affecting his mobility.