Conan the Barbarian (1970)

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The epic Marvel run by Roy Thomas and others.  We start in summer in Vanaheim. A battle is being waged by raiding Aesirs with the defending Vanirs and of course Conan is in the middle of this too. He is in his youth at this time and he sees an Aesir being attacked and here he decides that it is not to do with him because he has earned his gold. But why let 3 jackals live? His response, By Crom they should not and by crom they shall not. You know what happens next. He takes a swipe with his sword and kills 2 helping Olav of Aesgaard. The Vanirs flee leaving Conan and his party some time to heal wounds and bury the dead ones….



- Released The same month as Conan the barbarian Issue one.  A nice heroic symphonic soundtrack for the series.  

Im going to try to collect cheap runs throughout the series.   


I currently own:

Era 1: Barry Windsor-Smith (1970–1973, issues #1–24)
  • Ornate, psychedelic, experimental art.
  • Many straight Robert E. Howard adaptations.
  • Conan looks lithe, almost elfin, before becoming the brawny Buscema hero.
  • Tone: Psychedelic sword-and-sorcery.
  • Albums:
    • King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969)
    • Deep Purple – Burn (1974)
    • Uriah Heep – Demons and Wizards (1972)
1 (Reprint)
4
4 (Reprint)
5
6
7
8
12
15
16
17 (Reprint)
21
23 (Reprint)


Era 2: Transition Era (1973–1974, issues #25–34)
  • John Buscema takes over, Roy Thomas still scripting.
  • Conan’s look shifts: from wiry dreamer to muscular adventurer.
  • Tone: Proto-metal heroic fantasy.
  • Albums:
    • Deep Purple – Burn (1974)
    • Uriah Heep – Demons and Wizards (1972)
30
32
34


Era 3: Bronze Age Prime (1974–1976, issues #35–60, + Savage Sword launch)
  • Conan becomes Marvel’s sword-and-sorcery flagship.
  • Buscema’s art defines Conan’s “classic” look.
  • Roy Thomas adapts Howard stories with gusto.
  • Tone: Bold, pulpy, darker than before.
  • Albums:
    • Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
    • Judas Priest – Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
36
37 (Reprint)
39
42
43
45
46
47
53
54
55
56
58 (Reprint) - 1st Belit
58
58
59 - Origin of Belit
60


Era 4: High Adventure Period (1977–1980, issues #61–115)
  • Big epics, expanded world-building, iconic foes.
  • Buscema and Thomas at their creative peak.
  • Tone: Sweeping fantasy adventure.
  • Albums:
    • Rush – 2112 (1976)
    • Rainbow – Rising (1976)
    • Blue Öyster Cult – Agents of Fortune (1976)
61
62
63
64
65
68
70
71
72 (I own 2, whoops)
73
74
84 - 1st Zuma
85 - Origin of Zuma
100 - Death of Belit

Era 5: Darker Maturity (1981–1983, issues #116–145)
  • Roy Thomas leaves in ’82; tone shifts darker, grittier.
  • Conan feels older, more hardened, foreshadowing King Conan.
  • Tone: Brooding, violent, morally complex.
  • Albums:
    • Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast (1982)
    • Dio – Holy Diver (1983)
121
122
127
128
130
131
134
136
137
139
143
145

Era 6: Later Buscema Stretch (1984–late ’80s, issues #146+ & King Conan)
  • Conan expanded into multiple titles (King Conan, Conan the King).
  • Art often guided by Buscema’s layouts, influenced by the Schwarzenegger films.
  • Tone: Epic high fantasy, cinematic, big battles.
  • Albums:
    • Manowar – Hail to England (1984)
    • Metallica – Ride the Lightning (1984)

146
147
148
149
151
153
156
161
166
171
172
179
186
187 (Reprint)
214
220
224
228
229

Comments

  1. ccNovember 9, 2024 at 7:33 AM

    186 - 187 might be a good run. 187 is the resurrection of Conan.

    145 to 149 might also be a good run only because I have a nice sequential run

    I’ll look both of these up to see what other runs might be available

    ReplyDelete
  2. ccFebruary 5, 2025 at 3:37 AM

    Just finished issues 58 and 59. Two great issues back to back. The first appearance and then origin of Belit. 59 is a great stand alone issue, probably one of my favorites so far in this series. I’ll jump to 84 and 85 next which is the intro and origin of Zula, the barbarian and a sorcerer??

    ReplyDelete
  3. ccFebruary 5, 2025 at 3:39 AM

    I really need to find issue 60 now and perhaps 62 onwards to continue to Belit run.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ccMay 18, 2025 at 4:14 AM

    Currently reading issue 84 & 85, 1st appearance of Zulu followed by his Origin story.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ccMay 18, 2025 at 4:17 AM

    Currently on page 14 as we see Conan who is now helplessly imprisoned. Will Belit come to his rescue?

    ReplyDelete
  6. ccJuly 3, 2025 at 3:05 AM

    I should start collecting:
    #244 - #250 - notable Zula arc with Red Sonja and Conan.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ccJuly 3, 2025 at 3:47 AM

    Finished issue 84, the introduction of the shape shifting barbarian, Zula. Conan arrives at the valley of Iskander looking for Belit. He confronts Mer-ath who has taken her. Conan soon learns that Belit had escaped. Merath quickly traps
    Conan with the help of a mysterious barbarian named Zula. Conan awakes to find himself in a jail cell with Zula. They decide to work together and escape. Conan agrees to help Zula on his quest to seek vengeance for being enslaved. They leave via flying hawks to Khshatta. Meanwhile Belit and her companion are also trying to escape and find themselves confronted by a serpent god. They both seem to transform into pythons and slither away.

    Onto issue 85 to see how Conan and Zula friendship grow and to see if Belit and her companion will turn back to human form.

    ReplyDelete

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