Savage Sword of Conan
Encyclopedia
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. Howard
's most famous creation, Conan the Barbarian
, and has the distinction of being the longest-surviving title of the short-lived Curtis imprint.
As a "magazine," Savage Sword of Conan didn't have to conform to the Comics Code Authority
, making it a publication of choice for many illustrators. It soon became one of the most popular comic series of the 1970s and is now-considered a cult classic. Roy Thomas
was the editor and primary writer for the series' first few years (until issue 60), which featured art by such notable illustrators as Neal Adams
, Dick Giordano
, Barry Windsor-Smith
, John Buscema
, Alfredo Alcala
, Jim Starlin
, Al Milgrom
, Pablo Marcos
, and Walter Simonson. Painted covers were provided by such artists as Earl Norem
, Bob Larkin
, and Joe Jusko
.
Savage Sword of Conan was published under the Curtis imprint until issue 60, when it became part of the Marvel Magazine Group. Stories from the comic were reprinted in the Marvel UK
title of the same name. Savage Sword of Conan ran until issue #235 (July 1995).
), and they cover different eras of Conan's life. The Savage Sword stories mostly feature an older Conan, and adapt R. E. Howard stories and pastiches starting from "Black Colossus
" (according to the Miller/Clark chronology
), thus following the Roy Thomas
stories in Conan the Barbarian.
The first issue leads off with Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith
's adaptation of one of Howard's shortest but most well-known Conan tales, "The Frost Giant's Daughter
." This is one of Conan’s earliest tales chronologically. Still a teenager, he encounters a beautiful woman in the frozen north who leads him into an ambush by her giant brothers. Issue #2 featured another Howard adaptation, "Black Colossus
," in which Conan faces off against a three-thousand-year-old sorcerer. This story teams long time Conan penciler John Buscema with his frequent partner Alcala. The cover of issue #5 sports a Boris Vallejo
painting of Conan being crucified, from the story "A Witch Shall Be Born
." This story features Conan at his most resilient, surviving a desert crucifixion to get revenge on the man who put him there.
Issues #6-10 included "People of the Dark," a 30-page tale scripted by Thomas and drawn by Alex Niño
; the continued adaptation of Howard’s only full-length Conan novel, The Hour of the Dragon
(the first parts having been printed in Giant-Size Conan #1-4); and the adaptation of "Iron Shadows in the Moon
," by Buscema and Alcala, where Conan goes from chief of the Zuagirs to pirate captain of the Red Brotherhood.
The next three years of the title featured numerous adaptations of Howard stories (many by the art team of Buscema and Alcala), including "Shadows in Zamboula
", "The Devil in Iron
," "The People of the Black Circle
," "The Slithering Shadow," "The Pool of the Black One
," "The Tower of the Elephant
," "Jewels of Gwahlur
," "Beyond the Black River
," "The Scarlet Citadel
," "The Flame Knife
," "Hawks Over Shem
," "The Treasure of Tranicos," and "Wolves Beyond the Border
."
A later issue (#204) adapts Howard's "Drums of Tombalku
."
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published beginning in 1974 by 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....
, an imprint of 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...
, and then later by Marvel itself. Savage Sword of Conan starred 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 most famous creation, 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...
, and has the distinction of being the longest-surviving title of the short-lived Curtis imprint.
As a "magazine," Savage Sword of Conan didn't have to conform to the Comics Code Authority
Comics Code Authority
The Comics Code Authority was a body created as part of the Comics Magazine Association of America, as a tool for the comics-publishing industry to self-regulate the content of comic books in the United States. Member publishers submitted comic books to the CCA, which screened them for adherence to...
, making it a publication of choice for many illustrators. It soon became one of the most popular comic series of the 1970s and is now-considered a cult classic. 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...
was the editor and primary writer for the series' first few years (until issue 60), which featured art by such notable illustrators as Neal Adams
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
, Dick Giordano
Dick Giordano
Richard Joseph "Dick" Giordano was an American comic book artist and editor best known for introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes, and serving as executive editor of then–industry leader DC Comics...
, Barry Windsor-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....
, 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...
, 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...
, Jim Starlin
Jim Starlin
James P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters...
, Al Milgrom
Al Milgrom
Allen "Al" Milgrom is an American comic book writer, penciller, inker and editor, primarily for Marvel Comics. He is known for his 10-year run as editor of Marvel Fanfare; his long involvement as writer, penciler, and inker on Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man; his four-year tenure as West...
, Pablo Marcos
Pablo Marcos
Pablo 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...
, and Walter Simonson. Painted covers were provided by such artists as Earl Norem
Earl Norem
Earl Norem , often credited simply as Norem, is an American artist primarily known for his painted covers for Marvel Comics books and magazines...
, Bob Larkin
Bob Larkin
Bob Larkin is an American artist primarily known for his painted covers for Marvel Comics' magazine-format titles, published under the imprints of Curtis Magazines and Marvel Magazines in the 1970s and early 1980s....
, and Joe Jusko
Joe Jusko
Joe Jusko is an American artist known for his realistic, highly detailed painted fantasy, pin-up, and cover illustrations, mainly in the comic book industry...
.
Savage Sword of Conan was published under the Curtis imprint until issue 60, when it became part of the Marvel Magazine Group. Stories from the comic were reprinted in the Marvel UK
Marvel UK
Marvel UK was an imprint of Marvel Comics formed in 1972 to reprint US produced stories for the British weekly comic market, though it later did produce original material by British creators such as Alan Moore, John Wagner, Dave Gibbons, Steve Dillon and Grant Morrison.Panini Comics obtained the...
title of the same name. Savage Sword of Conan ran until issue #235 (July 1995).
Publication history
The adventures in Savage Sword of Conan are not always consecutive (as they are in the color Marvel title Conan the BarbarianConan 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...
), and they cover different eras of Conan's life. The Savage Sword stories mostly feature an older Conan, and adapt R. E. Howard stories and pastiches starting from "Black Colossus
Black Colossus
"Black Colossus" is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine, June 1933...
" (according to the Miller/Clark chronology
Conan chronologies
Conan Chronologies have been prepared by a variety of people from the 1930s onward to provide a timeline into which to fit the numerous Conan the Barbarian stories by Robert E. Howard and later writers....
), thus following the 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...
stories in Conan the Barbarian.
The first issue leads off with Thomas and Barry Windsor-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....
's adaptation of one of Howard's shortest but most well-known Conan tales, "The Frost Giant's Daughter
The Frost Giant's Daughter
"The Frost-Giant's Daughter" is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard, but not published in his lifetime....
." This is one of Conan’s earliest tales chronologically. Still a teenager, he encounters a beautiful woman in the frozen north who leads him into an ambush by her giant brothers. Issue #2 featured another Howard adaptation, "Black Colossus
Black Colossus
"Black Colossus" is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine, June 1933...
," in which Conan faces off against a three-thousand-year-old sorcerer. This story teams long time Conan penciler John Buscema with his frequent partner Alcala. The cover of issue #5 sports a Boris Vallejo
Boris Vallejo
Boris Vallejo is a Peruvian-born American painter. He immigrated to the United States in 1964, and he currently resides in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He frequently works with Julie Bell, his wife, painter, and model....
painting of Conan being crucified, from the story "A Witch Shall Be Born
A Witch Shall be Born
"A Witch Shall Be Born" is one of the original stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian. It was written in only a few days in spring of 1934 and first published in Weird Tales in 1934. The story concerns a witch replacing her twin sister as queen of a city state, which brings her...
." This story features Conan at his most resilient, surviving a desert crucifixion to get revenge on the man who put him there.
Issues #6-10 included "People of the Dark," a 30-page tale scripted by Thomas and drawn by Alex Niño
Alex Niño
Alex Niño is a Filipino comic book artist best known for his work for the American publishers DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Warren Publishing, and in Heavy Metal magazine.-Early life and career:...
; the continued adaptation of Howard’s only full-length Conan novel, The Hour of the Dragon
The Hour of the Dragon
The Hour of the Dragon, also known as Conan the Conqueror, is a fantasy novel written by Robert E. Howard featuring his seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian. It was first published in serial form in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1935 through 1936; and in book form in 1950 by Gnome...
(the first parts having been printed in Giant-Size Conan #1-4); and the adaptation of "Iron Shadows in the Moon
Iron Shadows in the Moon
"Shadows in the Moonlight" is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine in April 1934. Howard originally named his story "Iron Shadows in the Moon"...
," by Buscema and Alcala, where Conan goes from chief of the Zuagirs to pirate captain of the Red Brotherhood.
The next three years of the title featured numerous adaptations of Howard stories (many by the art team of Buscema and Alcala), including "Shadows in Zamboula
Shadows in Zamboula
"Shadows in Zamboula" is one of the original stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian, first published in Weird Tales in 1935. Its original title was "The Man-Eaters of Zamboula"....
", "The Devil in Iron
The Devil in Iron
"The Devil in Iron" is one of the original stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian, first published in Weird Tales in August of 1934. Howard earned £115 for the publication of this story....
," "The People of the Black Circle
The People of the Black Circle
"The People of the Black Circle" is one of the original novellas about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine in three parts over the September, October and November 1934 issues...
," "The Slithering Shadow," "The Pool of the Black One
The Pool of the Black One
"The Pool of the Black One" is one of the original short stories starring the sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard...
," "The Tower of the Elephant
The Tower of the Elephant
"The Tower of the Elephant" is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan infiltrating a perilous tower in order to steal a...
," "Jewels of Gwahlur
Jewels of Gwahlur
"Jewels of Gwahlur" is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard. Set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age, it concerns several parties, including Conan, fighting over and hunting for the...
," "Beyond the Black River
Beyond the Black River
"Beyond the Black River" is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine circa 1935. The story was republished in the collections King Conan and Conan the Warrior...
," "The Scarlet Citadel
The Scarlet Citadel
"The Scarlet Citadel" is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine circa January 1933...
," "The Flame Knife
The Flame Knife
The Flame Knife is a 1955 fantasy novella written by Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp featuring Howard's seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was revised by de Camp from Howard's original story, a then-unpublished non-fantasy Oriental tale that featured Francis X. Gordon...
," "Hawks Over Shem
Hawks over Shem
Hawks over Shem is a 1955 Conan the Barbarian novelette by L. Sprague de Camp based on the story Hawks Over Egypt, by Robert E. Howard. It is usually credited to Howard and de Camp.-Synopsis:...
," "The Treasure of Tranicos," and "Wolves Beyond the Border
Wolves Beyond the Border
"Wolves Beyond the Border" is one of the original stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian, a fragment begun in the 1930s but not finished or published in Howard's lifetime. It is a peripheral story in the canon in that while it takes place in Conan's "Hyborian Age" and during Conan's...
."
A later issue (#204) adapts Howard's "Drums of Tombalku
Drums of Tombalku
"Drums of Tombalku" is an American fantasy short story, one of the original ones by Robert E. Howard featuring Conan the Cimmerian, a fragment begun in the 1930s but not finished or published in Howard's lifetime. It was completed by L. Sprague de Camp and in this form first published in the...
."
Collected editions
In 2007, Dark Horse Comics began issuing a series of trade paperbacks, collecting and reprinting early issues of the title, as well as stories which originally appeared in Savage TalesSavage 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...
.
Issues
Abbreviations: C = Conan, RS = Red Sonja, K = King Kull, TXT = Important article, RE = Later reprinted (Co = Conan the Barbarian, CoA = Conan the Barbarian Annual)| Issue | Abbr | Title | Writer | Artist | Cover | Re | Notes |
| #1 1974 |
C RS |
"Curse of the Undead-Man" | Roy Thomas | John Buscema, Pablo Marcos |
Boris Vallejo | ||
| RS | "Red Sonja" | Esteban Maroto, Neal Adams, Ernie Chan |
|||||
| TXT | Conan's Women Warriors | Fred Blosser | |||||
| "Blackmark", #1 | Gil Kane | Gil Kane | |||||
| C | "The Frost Giant's Daughter" Re: Conan the Barbarian #16 |
Roy Thomas | Barry Smith | ||||
| #2 | C | "Black Colossus" 3 parts |
Roy Thomas | John Buscema, Alfredo Alcala |
Neal Adams | ||
| "Blackmark", #2 | Gil Kane | Gil Kane | |||||
| KK | "The Beast from the Abyss" | Roy Thomas | Barry Smith | CoA #3 | |||
| #3 | KK | "At the Mountain of the Moon-God" #2: "Where Dark Death Soars" |
Roy Thomas | John Buscema, Pablo Marcos |
Mike Kaluta | CoA #3 | |
| "Blackmark", #3 | Gil Kane | Gil Kane | |||||
| KK | "Kull of Atlantis" | Barry Smith | Barry Smith | ||||
| C | "Demons of the Summit" | Roy Thomas | Tony deZuniga | Co #87 | |||