Conan Comics

[GordoCrisp]

Hi guys!

I am looking to revisit some of the Bronze Age comic book greats I enjoyed in my childhood.

I dug Marvel's Conan the Barbarian from the mid to late 70s; wondered if any of you aficionados could recommend a particularly excellent issue run from that 70s era?

Thanks in advance!

[GordoCrisp]

Alright, then.

[warlock664]

Hey gordocrisp!
I don't think you can go wrong with any run from the first 115 issues (Roy's last IIRC). Of course, the first 24 issues are standouts thanks to Thomas' collaboration with Barry Smith - I particularly recommend #s 14 & 15 (Elric appearances), and 23 & 24 (Red Sonja debut). Issue #4 (Tower of the Elephant) is another standout, and it's neat to compare it to the Thomas/John Buscema version in SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #24.
Issues 58-100 are great, with an expanded adaptation of "Queen of the Black Coast" (Belit). And I like the run of 66-68 and MARVEL FEATURE (Red Sonja) 6 & 7, with Conan, Red Sonja, and Kull.
And I mentioned SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN; don't overlook that mag, as it includes probably the best Conan stories ever crafted, most of them adaptations of Robert E Howard, done without the constraints of the comics code.

[haggis]

I get all 'fan'ish over anything drawn by John Buscema...a good place to start!

[GordoCrisp]

^Nice! Thanks a lot guys.

[WannabeMego]

I don't think you can go wrong with any run from the first 115 issues (Roy's last IIRC).
Of course, the first 24 issues are standouts thanks to Thomas' collaboration with Barry Smith - I particularly recommend #s 14 & 15 (Elric appearances), and 23 & 24 (Red Sonja debut).

Issue #4 (Tower of the Elephant) is another standout, and it's neat to compare it to the Thomas/John Buscema version in SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #24.
Issues 58-100 are great, with an expanded adaptation of "Queen of the Black Coast" (Belit).

And I like the run of 66-68 and MARVEL FEATURE (Red Sonja) 6 & 7, with Conan, Red Sonja, and Kull.

And I mentioned SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN; don't overlook that mag, as it includes probably the best Conan stories ever crafted, most of them adaptations of Robert E Howard, done without the constraints of the comics code.

Can't argue with any of that...

The adaptation of "Red Nails" by Roy Thomas and BWS is a definite highlight.

I agree 100% that the stories written by Roy Thomas (Conan 1-115 & 240-275...and...Savage Sword of Conan from 1-60 & 190-235) are the best of the Marvel Lot.

Conan was bound by the Comics Code, so Roy had to be super creative with his interpretation of the Robert E. Howards proses, while Savage Sword was not restricted and more of a literal translation whenever/wherever possible..

Though I love BWS and Sal Buscema, I REALLY enjoyed Ernie Chan's Artwork and associate it strongly with Marvel's Conan.

Red Sonja (Wonderful Frank Thorne Artwork) and Kull are awesome follow-ups.

[Apositive]

Dark Horse did a great service to fans with Chronicles of Conan trade paperbacks. These can be found easily on auction sites. I think Barry Windsor Smith was amazing! Good luck in your hunting.

[Brazoo]

I never read the comic, but I LOVED Savage Sword of Conan when I was a kid, but I haven't read any in years, so I can't remember issue numbers. These were also collected a few years ago in reasonably priced Essentials style volumes.

Do you know the indie comic Cerebus? If you want a great parody of Conan from this period you might want to check out a couple of the early Cerebus collections. The first collection (just called "Cerebus") and "High Society" are a lot of fun - especially for 70s Conan fans. The series got less joke-driven and stranger as it went, but these first two volumes are still very easy to enjoy.

[GordoCrisp]

^Awesome insight. Appreciate you guys!

[Brazoo]

Without breaking the no-politics rule I should also warn you that the series Cerebus is mainly known now for the creator's infamous statements against women/feminism (depending on how you look at it), but in Dave Sim's younger days he was a well of humor and creative energy, and the fact that he published these comics on his own was incredibly influential. He changed the industry in many ways, and it's a bit sad to me that his contributions are overshadowed by the battles he created for himself later in his career.

Anyway, none of that stuff enters the early work.