Conan (Marvel Comics)
Encyclopedia
Conan is a fictional
character
based on Robert E. Howard
's Conan the Barbarian
. He was introduced to the comic book world in 1970
with Conan the Barbarian
, written by Roy Thomas
, illustrated by Barry Smith
and published by Marvel Comics
.
The highly successful Conan the Barbarian series spawned the more adult, black-and-white Savage Sword of Conan
in 1974 (published by the Marvel imprint Curtis Magazines
). Written by Thomas with most art by John Buscema
or Alfredo Alcala
, Savage Sword of Conan soon became one of the most popular comic series of the 1970s and is now-considered a cult classic.
The Marvel Conan stories were also adapted as a newspaper comic strip
which appeared daily and Sunday from September 4, 1978, to April 12, 1981. Originally written by Thomas and illustrated by Buscema, the strip was continued by several different Marvel artists and writers.
Marvel ceased publishing all Conan titles in 2000. In 2003, Dark Horse Comics
acquired the license to publish the character.
The following occur in the Hyborean age:
Note: At least some of these appearances (e.g. What If?, Avengers Forever, and Excalibur), if not all, were not of Conan from Earth-616
.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
character
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
based on Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
's Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
. He was introduced to the comic book world in 1970
1970 in comics
This is a list of comics-related events in 1970.- Events and publications :* Denis Kitchen founds Kitchen Sink Press in Princeton, Wisconsin-January:...
with Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian (comics)
Conan the Barbarian was a Marvel Comics title starring the sword-and-sorcery character created by Robert E. Howard. It debuted in Oct. 1970 and ran for 275 issues until Dec...
, written by Roy Thomas
Roy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
, illustrated by Barry Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith, born Barry Smith is a British comic book illustrator and painter whose best known work has been produced in the United States....
and published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
The highly successful Conan the Barbarian series spawned the more adult, black-and-white Savage Sword of Conan
Savage Sword of Conan
The Savage Sword of Conan was a black-and-white magazine-format comic book series published beginning in 1974 by Curtis Magazines, an imprint of Marvel Comics, and then later by Marvel itself. Savage Sword of Conan starred Robert E...
in 1974 (published by the Marvel imprint Curtis Magazines
Curtis Magazines
Curtis Magazines was an imprint of Marvel Comics that existed from 1971 to 1980. The imprint published black-and-white magazines that did not carry the Comics Code Authority seal. Initially, page counts varied between 68,76, and 84 pages....
). Written by Thomas with most art by John Buscema
John Buscema
John Buscema, born Giovanni Natale Buscema , was an American comic-book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate...
or Alfredo Alcala
Alfredo Alcala
Alfredo P. Alcala was a Filipino comic book artist, born in Talisay, Negros Occidental in the Philippines. Alcala was an established illustrator whose works appeared in the Alcala Komix Magazine. His 1963 creation Voltar introduced him to an international audience, particularly in the United...
, Savage Sword of Conan soon became one of the most popular comic series of the 1970s and is now-considered a cult classic.
The Marvel Conan stories were also adapted as a newspaper comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
which appeared daily and Sunday from September 4, 1978, to April 12, 1981. Originally written by Thomas and illustrated by Buscema, the strip was continued by several different Marvel artists and writers.
Marvel ceased publishing all Conan titles in 2000. In 2003, Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
acquired the license to publish the character.
Core appearances
Marvel Comics' Conan's core appearances include:| Title | Issues | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conan the Barbarian | #1 - 275 | 1970 – 1993 | |
| Annual #1-12 | 1973-1987 | ||
| Savage Tales Savage Tales Savage Tales is the title of three American comics series. Two were black-and-white comics-magazine anthologies published by Marvel Comics , and the other a color comic book anthology published by Dynamite Entertainment.-Marvel/Curtis:The first of the two volumes of Savage Tales ran 11 issues, with... |
#1 - 5 | 1971–1975 | Conan only appeared in the first five issues; the final six issues featured Ka-Zar Ka-Zar Ka-Zar is the name of two jungle-dwelling comics fictional characters published in the United States. The first appeared in pulp magazines of the 1930s, and was adapted for his second iteration, as a comic book character for Timely Comics, the 1930s and 1940s predecessor of Marvel Comics... |
| Giant-Size Conan | #1 - 5 | 1974–1975 | |
| Savage Sword of Conan Savage Sword of Conan The Savage Sword of Conan was a black-and-white magazine-format comic book series published beginning in 1974 by Curtis Magazines, an imprint of Marvel Comics, and then later by Marvel itself. Savage Sword of Conan starred Robert E... |
#1 - 235 | 1974–1995 | Black-and-white "mature readers" title originally published by the Marvel imprint Curtis Magazines Curtis Magazines Curtis Magazines was an imprint of Marvel Comics that existed from 1971 to 1980. The imprint published black-and-white magazines that did not carry the Comics Code Authority seal. Initially, page counts varied between 68,76, and 84 pages.... |
| Annual #1 | 1975 | ||
| Conan newspaper strip | 16 stories | 1978 – 1981 | |
| Handbook of the Conan Universe | #1 | 1985 | |
| King Conan/Conan the King | #1 - 55 | 1980 – 1989 | Title changed from King Conan to Conan the King after issue #19 |
| Conan the Adventurer | #1 - 14 | 1994 – 1995 | A "reboot" of Conan the Barbarian |
| Conan | #1 - 11 | 1995 – 1996 | |
| Conan the Savage | #1 - 10 | 1995 – 1996 | A "reboot" of Savage Sword of Conan |
Comic Strip Stories (Dailies and Sundays)
- The Coming of Conan, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& John BuscemaJohn BuscemaJohn Buscema, born Giovanni Natale Buscema , was an American comic-book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate...
(Sep 4, 1978 - Sep 9, 1978) - The Wizard's Daughter, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& John BuscemaJohn BuscemaJohn Buscema, born Giovanni Natale Buscema , was an American comic-book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate...
(Sep 10, 1978 - Oct 21, 1978) - Red Sonja, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
, John BuscemaJohn BuscemaJohn Buscema, born Giovanni Natale Buscema , was an American comic-book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate...
& Ernie ChanErnie ChanErnesto "Ernie" Chan is a Filipino-born American comic book artist.-Biography:Chan migrated to the United States in 1970, and became a citizen in 1976. For a number of years, he was obliged to work under the name "Ernie Chua" as that name had been wrongfully entered on his U.S...
(Oct 22, 1978 - Dec 24, 1978) - The Slavers, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& Ernie ChanErnie ChanErnesto "Ernie" Chan is a Filipino-born American comic book artist.-Biography:Chan migrated to the United States in 1970, and became a citizen in 1976. For a number of years, he was obliged to work under the name "Ernie Chua" as that name had been wrongfully entered on his U.S...
(Dec 25, 1978 - Feb 10, 1979) - The Stolen City, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& Ernie ChanErnie ChanErnesto "Ernie" Chan is a Filipino-born American comic book artist.-Biography:Chan migrated to the United States in 1970, and became a citizen in 1976. For a number of years, he was obliged to work under the name "Ernie Chua" as that name had been wrongfully entered on his U.S...
(Feb 11, 1979 - Mar 25, 1979) - The People of the Cataclysm, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& Ernie ChanErnie ChanErnesto "Ernie" Chan is a Filipino-born American comic book artist.-Biography:Chan migrated to the United States in 1970, and became a citizen in 1976. For a number of years, he was obliged to work under the name "Ernie Chua" as that name had been wrongfully entered on his U.S...
(Mar 26, 1979 - Jun 10, 1979) - The Castle of Vincenzo, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& Ernie ChanErnie ChanErnesto "Ernie" Chan is a Filipino-born American comic book artist.-Biography:Chan migrated to the United States in 1970, and became a citizen in 1976. For a number of years, he was obliged to work under the name "Ernie Chua" as that name had been wrongfully entered on his U.S...
(Jun 11, 1979 - Aug 26, 1979) - The Rescue of King Sohram, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& Ernie ChanErnie ChanErnesto "Ernie" Chan is a Filipino-born American comic book artist.-Biography:Chan migrated to the United States in 1970, and became a citizen in 1976. For a number of years, he was obliged to work under the name "Ernie Chua" as that name had been wrongfully entered on his U.S...
(Aug 26, 1979 - Oct 28, 1979) - Bride of the Black Book, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& Ernie ChanErnie ChanErnesto "Ernie" Chan is a Filipino-born American comic book artist.-Biography:Chan migrated to the United States in 1970, and became a citizen in 1976. For a number of years, he was obliged to work under the name "Ernie Chua" as that name had been wrongfully entered on his U.S...
(Oct 29, 1979 - Dec 22, 1979) - Red Sonja and Thulsa Doom, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& Ernie ChanErnie ChanErnesto "Ernie" Chan is a Filipino-born American comic book artist.-Biography:Chan migrated to the United States in 1970, and became a citizen in 1976. For a number of years, he was obliged to work under the name "Ernie Chua" as that name had been wrongfully entered on his U.S...
(Dec 23, 1979 - Mar 15, 1980) - The Jewel of the Ages, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& Ernie ChanErnie ChanErnesto "Ernie" Chan is a Filipino-born American comic book artist.-Biography:Chan migrated to the United States in 1970, and became a citizen in 1976. For a number of years, he was obliged to work under the name "Ernie Chua" as that name had been wrongfully entered on his U.S...
(Mar 16, 1980 - Apr 27, 1980) - Treasure Ship, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& Ernie ChanErnie ChanErnesto "Ernie" Chan is a Filipino-born American comic book artist.-Biography:Chan migrated to the United States in 1970, and became a citizen in 1976. For a number of years, he was obliged to work under the name "Ernie Chua" as that name had been wrongfully entered on his U.S...
(Apr 28, 1980 - Jun 22, 1980) - Island Warrior, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& Ernie ChanErnie ChanErnesto "Ernie" Chan is a Filipino-born American comic book artist.-Biography:Chan migrated to the United States in 1970, and became a citizen in 1976. For a number of years, he was obliged to work under the name "Ernie Chua" as that name had been wrongfully entered on his U.S...
(Jun 23, 1980 - Aug 27, 1980) - The Plague Demon, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
& Alfredo AlcalaAlfredo AlcalaAlfredo P. Alcala was a Filipino comic book artist, born in Talisay, Negros Occidental in the Philippines. Alcala was an established illustrator whose works appeared in the Alcala Komix Magazine. His 1963 creation Voltar introduced him to an international audience, particularly in the United...
(Aug 28, 1980 - Oct 19, 1980) - The Tower of the Elephant, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
, Rudy Nebres, Pablo MarcosPablo MarcosPablo Marcos Ortega, known professionally as Pablo Marcos is a comic book artist and commercial illustrator best known as one of his home country's leading cartoonists and for his work on such popular American comics characters as Batman and Conan the Barbarian, particularly during the 1970s...
& Alan KupperbergAlan KupperbergAlan Kupperberg is an American comic artist known for working in both comic books and newspaper strips.-Career:Kupperberg began writing and drawing for Marvel Comics in 1974, mostly doing fill-ins and one-shots...
(Oct 20, 1980 - Jan 3, 1981) - Revenge of the Son of Yara the Wizard Priest, Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
, Doug MoenchDoug MoenchDouglas Moench , better known as Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok.-Biography:...
, Alan KupperbergAlan KupperbergAlan Kupperberg is an American comic artist known for working in both comic books and newspaper strips.-Career:Kupperberg began writing and drawing for Marvel Comics in 1974, mostly doing fill-ins and one-shots...
, Pablo MarcosPablo MarcosPablo Marcos Ortega, known professionally as Pablo Marcos is a comic book artist and commercial illustrator best known as one of his home country's leading cartoonists and for his work on such popular American comics characters as Batman and Conan the Barbarian, particularly during the 1970s...
& Tom Yeates
(Jan 4, 1981 - Apr 12, 1981)
Marvel graphic novels
- The Witch Queen of Acheron (Marvel Graphic Novel [MGN] #19, 1985)
- Conan the Reaver (MGN #28, 1987)
- Conan of the Isles (MGN #42, 1988)
- The Skull of Set (MGN #53, 1989)
- The Horn of Azoth (MGN #59, 1990)
- Conan the Rogue (MGN #69, 1991)
- The Ravagers Out of Time (MGN #73, 1992)
Marvel Conan the Barbarian miniseries
- Stalker of the Woods (1997), 3 issues
- The Usurper (1997–1998), 3 issues
- Lord of the Spiders (1998), 3 issues
- River of Blood (1998), 3 issues
- Return of Styrm (1998), 3 issues
- Scarlet Sword (1998–1999), 3 issues
- Death Covered in Gold (1999), 3 issues
- Flame and the Fiend (2000), 3 issues
Marvel Universe appearances in the modern day
- What If (Volume 1)What If (comics)What If, sometimes rendered as What If...?, is the title of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics, exploring "the road not traveled" by its various characters...
#13 Conan briefly appears in the modern world and walks past Peter Parker and Mary Jane. - What If (Volume 1) #43 In the sequel to What If? 13, Conan fights Captain America.
- What If (Volume 2) #16 Conan fights Wolverine (in his own time) and briefly a Skrull, a Kree, and amidst the death of Jean Grey on the moon, throws a rock at Cyclops' head.
- Avengers Forever #12 (1998) This was Kurt Busiek's first writing of Conan. The Conan in this comic (1 panel) was the same Conan as the one in What if? #43.
- Excalibur #47 with Satyrnine.
- Fantastic FourFantastic FourThe Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
#405 fighting Ant-Man, Iron Man 2020, and Zarrko. - Incomplete Death's Head #11 where he appears in one panel.
- Green GoblinGreen GoblinThe Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
#10 What appears to be a robot of Conan fights Green Goblin in Arcade's Murderworld. - Paradise X: HeraldsEarth XEarth X is a 1999 comic book limited series written by Jim Krueger with art by John Paul Leon and published by Marvel Comics. Based on Alex Ross' notes, the series features a dystopian future version of the Marvel Universe....
#1 What may be a reincarnated Conan (and Red Sonja) by Kulan Gath appears and is apparently killed by Hyperion before issue 2 begins.
The following occur in the Hyborean age:
- Dr. StrangeDoctor StrangeDoctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
#11 (volume 3, 1989) versus Varnae - Dr. Strange #26 (volume 3, 1991) apparently a panel versus a werewolf
- Thor Corps 3 Conan appears with an astronaut.
- What If (Volume 2) #39 with Thor.
- Conan #249-250 with Red Sonja, he fights Varnae, the first vampire (who has fought Dr. Strange and Thor).
- Conan vs Rune (1995)
- Conan #4 (1995) featuring Rune
- Savage Sword of Conan #?-? with Solomon Kane.
Note: At least some of these appearances (e.g. What If?, Avengers Forever, and Excalibur), if not all, were not of Conan from Earth-616
Earth-616
In the fictional Marvel Comics multiverse, Earth-616 or Earth 616 is the name used to identify the primary continuity in which most Marvel Comics titles take place.-Origin of Earth-616:...
.
Miscellaneous appearances
- Conan the Barbarian Movie Special (1982), 2 issues
- Conan the Destroyer Movie SpecialConan the DestroyerConan the Destroyer is a 1984 American action fantasy film directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mako returning to resume their roles as Conan and Akiro the wizard, respectively. The cast also includes Grace Jones, Wilt Chamberlain, Tracey Walter and Olivia d'Abo. It is...
(1985), 2 issues - Marvel Age, issues 1, 2, 8 and 13
Reprints
- Conan the Barbarian (1978 to 1979), six paperbackPaperbackPaperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
-sized books published by Ace Books/Tempo Star. Reprints issues 1–3 (vol. 1); 4–6 (vol. 2); 7–9 (vol. 3); 10–11 (vol. 4); 12 (first story), 13 and 16 (vol. 5); 12 (second story), 14–17 and 87 (second story) (vol. 6). - Conan the Barbarian – Special Edition (1983), Red Nails
- Conan Saga (1987–1995), 97 issues
- Conan Classic (1994–1995), 11 issues
- Marvel Treasury Edition, issues 4, 15, 19 and 23
- Marvel Super Special, issues 2, 9, 21 and 35
- Essential Conan (2000), Vol 1 (reprints issues 1-25)