Conan (comics)

Marvel Comics and Dark Horse Comics character


title: "Conan (comics)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["characters-created-by-barry-windsor-smith", "characters-created-by-roy-thomas", "comics-characters-introduced-in-1970", "conan-the-barbarian-comics"] description: "Marvel Comics and Dark Horse Comics character" topic_path: "general/characters-created-by-barry-windsor-smith" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_(comics)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Marvel Comics and Dark Horse Comics character ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox comics character "]

FieldValue
character_nameConan
imageConan the Savage 6.jpg
captionCover to Conan the Savage #6 (Jan. 1996).
Art by the Brothers Hildebrandt
publisherMarvel Comics
Dark Horse Comics (2003–2018)
debutConan the Barbarian #1
(October 1970)
creatorsRobert E. Howard
Roy Thomas
Barry Smith
aliasesAmra the Lion
powersPeak human physical condition
Melee weapons master
Knowledge and experience of fighting the supernatural
::

|character_name = Conan |image = Conan the Savage 6.jpg |caption = Cover to Conan the Savage #6 (Jan. 1996). Art by the Brothers Hildebrandt |publisher = Marvel Comics Dark Horse Comics (2003–2018) |debut = Conan the Barbarian #1 (October 1970) |creators = Robert E. Howard Roy Thomas Barry Smith |alliances = |aliases = Amra the Lion |powers =Peak human physical condition Melee weapons master Knowledge and experience of fighting the supernatural Conan the Barbarian by Robert E. Howard was first adapted into comics in 1952 in Mexico. Marvel Comics began publishing Conan comics with the series Conan the Barbarian in 1970. Dark Horse Comics published Conan from 2003 to 2018, when the rights were reacquired by Marvel Comics. Marvel published Conan comics until 2022, when Titan Comics took over the license (through Heroic Signatures) to begin publishing its own series.

''La reina de la Costa Negra''

The first comic book adaptation of a Howard Conan story was the feature La reina de la Costa Negra (taken from the original Conan story, "Queen of the Black Coast") in the miniature-size Mexican anthology title Cuentos de Abuelito #8 (1952) published by Corporacion Editorial Mexicana, SA. The series features the main characters, Conan and Bêlit, though Conan is depicted as blond rather than black-haired. Issues 8 through 12 adapted the original Howard story, while subsequent issues featured original material. The feature ran in nearly every issue of Cuentos de Abuelito up through number 61. A digest-sized standalone series, La reina de la Costa Negra, was published by Ediciones Mexicanas Asocidas in 1958–1959 which lasted for at least eleven issues. In 1965–66 Ediciones Joma published a standard-size La reina de la Costa Negra comic that ran for at least 53 issues.

Marvel Comics

Main article: Conan the Barbarian (comics)

Marvel Comics introduced a version of Conan in 1970 with Conan the Barbarian, written by Roy Thomas with art initially by Barry Windsor-Smith, then John Buscema and Ernie Chan (aka Ernie Chua). The successful Conan the Barbarian series spawned the more adult, black-and-white Savage Sword of Conan in 1974, by Thomas, Buscema, and Alfredo Alcala. Savage Sword of Conan soon became one of the most popular comic series in the 1970s.

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 Roy Thomas and illustrated by John Buscema, the strip was continued by several different Marvel artists and writers.

Other Marvel Conan titles over the years include Savage Tales (1971–1975, issues 1–5 only), Giant-Size Conan (1974–1975), King Conan/Conan the King (1980–1989), Conan the Adventurer (1994–1995), Conan (1995–1996), and Conan the Savage (1995–1996).

After the 2019 return of Conan to Marvel, new titles included Conan: Serpent War (2019–2020 miniseries), Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown (2020 miniseries), alongside the reappearance of Conan the Barbarian (2019–2021) and Savage Sword of Conan (2019), which both received new #1s but retained the original "Legacy Numbering" continuing where their original Marvel series left off.

Conan later appeared in the pages of Savage Avengers.

King Conan caused controversy when it included a character named Matoaka, the real name of Pocahontas, and with a sexualized design and a backstory similar to that of the actual Native American woman. There was backlash at what was perceived a disrespectful portrayal, so Marvel announced that name would be changed in later issues, reprints and digital editions. Writer Jason Aaron issued an apology, and pointed that "This new character is a supernatural, thousand-year-old princess of a cursed island within a world of pastiche and dark fantasy and was never intended to be based on anyone from history".

Marvel Epic Collections

::data[format=table]

VolumeSubtitleYears coveredIssues collectedPagesPublication dateISBNThe Original Marvel YearsConan ChroniclesKing Conan Chronicles
1The Coming of Conan1970-1972Conan the Barbarian (1970) #1-13 and material from Chamber of Darkness (1969) #4352
2Hawks From the Sea1972-1973Conan the Barbarian (1970) #14-26290
3The Curse of the Golden Skull1973-1974Conan the Barbarian (1970) #27-42; material from Annual (1973) #1336
4Queen of the Black Coast1974-1976Conan the Barbarian (1970) #43-59, Giant-Size Conan (1974) #5 (cover only), material from Savage Sword of Conan (1974) #1360
5Of Once And Future Kings1976-1977Conan the Barbarian (1970) #60-71, Conan Annual #2-3 And Power Records #31 - Conan The Barbarian: Crawler In The Mists.360
6Vengeance In Asgalun1977-1978Conan the Barbarian (1970) #72-88328
1Out of the Darksome Hills2004–2005Conan (2004) #0, #1–19496
2The Heart of Yag-Kosha2005–2007Conan (2004) #20–39504
3Return to Cimmeria2007–2009Conan (2004) #40–50; Conan the Cimmerian #0–7504
4The Battle of Shamla Pass2009-2010Conan the Cimmerian #8-25472
5The Horrors Beneath the Stones2010-2012Conan: Road of Kings #1-12; Conan the Barbarian #1-6456
6The Song of Bêlit2012-2014Conan the Barbarian #7-25472
7Shadows over Kush2014 - 2015Conan the Avenger #1-19448
8Blood In His Wake2015 - 2017Conan the Avenger 20-25, Conan the Slayer 1-12432
1Phantoms and PhoenixesConan and the Midnight God (2007) #1-5, King Conan: The Scarlet Citadel (2011) #1-4, King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword (2012) #1-4, Conan: The Phantoms of the Black Coast (2012) #1-5, material from Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (2006) #1464
2Wolves and DragonsKing Conan: The Hour of the Dragon (2013) #1-6,
King Conan: The Conqueror (2014) #1-6,
Conan: Wolves Beyond the Border (2015) #1-4,
and material from:
Robert E. Howard's Savage Sword #5
::

Awards

Academy of Comic Book Arts Shazam Awards:

1970

  • Best New Talent: Barry Smith

1971

  • Best Continuing Feature: Conan the Barbarian
  • Best Writer (Dramatic): Roy Thomas

1973

  • Best Individual Story (Dramatic): "Song of Red Sonja" from Conan the Barbarian #24 by Roy Thomas and Barry Smith

1974

  • Best Continuing Feature: Conan the Barbarian
  • Best Penciller (Dramatic): John Buscema
  • Superior Achievement by an Individual: Roy Thomas

Dark Horse Comics

Main article: Conan (Dark Horse Comics)

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/ConanTheLegend1415.jpg" caption="Conan]]'' comic adaptation by [[Dark Horse Comics]] featuring the art of [[Cary Nord]] and [[Thomas Yeates"] ::

Dark Horse Comics began their take on Conan in 2003, which ended in 2018 when the rights were repurchased by Marvel.

The first comic series published was written by Kurt Busiek and Tim Truman and pencilled by Cary Nord and Tomas Giorello. This was followed by Conan the Cimmerian, written by Tim Truman and pencilled by Tomas Giorello, Richard Corben and José Villarrubia. This series was a fresh interpretation, based solely on the works of Robert E. Howard and on the Dale Rippke chronology, with no connection to the large Marvel run.

Dark Horse Comics also published digitally re-coloured compilations of the 1970s Marvel Comics Conan the Barbarian series in graphic-novel format, by Roy Thomas (writer), Barry Windsor-Smith, John Buscema, Ernie Chan (artists), and others.

Creative teams

  • Kurt Busiek (writer) and Cary Nord (artist) (2003–2006)
  • Tim Truman (writer) and Cary Nord (artist) (2007)
  • Tim Truman (writer) and Tomas Giorello (artist) (2008)
  • Tim Truman (writer) and Tomas Giorello (artist), Richard Corben (artist 2008), José Villarrubia (colorist) (2008–2018)

Awards

  • 2004 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards :Best Single Issue or One-Shot: Conan #0: The Legend
  • 2004 Eagle Awards :Favourite new comicbook: Conan

Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures

Main article: Conan (Titan Comics)

After Marvel did not extend the Conan license in 2022, Titan Comics took over the license (through Heroic Signatures) to begin publishing new Conan comic series, as well as continuing publication of omnibus collections of the Marvel Conan comics. The first ongoing series Conan the Barbarian, written by Jim Zub, started in May 2023. A limited Savage Sword of Conan series in black and white and magazine-sized format started in 2024.

Other languages

Glénat (French)

In France, the character is under public domain, and on the Franco-Belgian market, the publisher Glénat has, since 2018, published a series of albums with the character, "Conan le Cimmérien", written and drawn by local talent.

Weird Book (Italian)

In Italy, the collective Leviathan Labs publishes a version by the publisher Weird Book.

DQómics (Spanish)

In 2021, the Spanish publisher DQómics Conan de Cimmeria, written by Ángel G. Nieto with drawings by Julio Rod and colors by Esteban Navarro.

Titles

Conan series

::data[format=table]

TitlePublisherIssuesDates
Conan the BarbarianMarvel#1–2751970–1993
Savage TalesMarvel#1–51971–1975
Savage Sword of ConanMarvel#1–2351974–1995
Giant-Size ConanMarvel#1–51974–1975
King ConanMarvel#1–191980–1983
Conan the KingMarvel#20–551984–1989
Conan the AdventurerMarvel#1–141994–1995
Conan the SavageMarvel#1–101995–1996
ConanMarvel#1–111995–1996
ConanDark Horse#0–502003–2008
Conan the CimmerianDark Horse#0–252008–2010
Conan: Road of KingsDark Horse#1–122010–2012
Conan the BarbarianDark Horse#1–252012–2014
Conan the AvengerDark Horse#1–252014–2016
Conan the SlayerDark Horse#1–122016–2017
Conan the BarbarianMarvel#1–252019–2021
Savage Sword of ConanMarvel#1–122019
King ConanMarvel#1–62021–2022
Conan the BarbarianTitan#1–2023–present
The Savage Sword of ConanTitan#1–122024–2025
::

Annuals

::data[format=table]

TitlePublisherIssuesYear
Conan the Barbarian AnnualMarvel#1–121973–1989
The Savage Sword of Conan AnnualMarvel#11975
::
  • Newspaper Strip (September 4, 1978 – April 12, 1981), ?? strips.

Miniseries

::data[format=table]

TitlePublisherIssuesDatesNotes
Conan the Barbarian Movie SpecialMarvel#1–219821982 movie adaptation of the same name
Conan the DestroyerMarvel#1–219851985 movie adaptation of the same name
Conan and the Stalker of the WoodsMarvel#1–31997
Conan the Barbarian–The UsurperMarvel#1–31997–1998
Conan the Barbarian–River of BloodMarvel#1–31998
Conan the Barbarian–The Lord of SpidersMarvel#1–31998
Conan the Barbarian–Return of StyrmMarvel#1–31998
Conan the Barbarian–Scarlet SwordMarvel#1–31998–1999
Conan the Barbarian–Death Covered in GoldMarvel#1–31999
Conan the Barbarian–Flame and the FiendMarvel#1–32000
Conan and the Jewels of GwahlurDark Horse#1–32005
Conan and the Demons of KhitaiDark Horse#1–42005–2006
Conan and the Songs of the DeadDark Horse#1–52006
Conan: Book of ThothDark Horse#1–42006
Conan and the Midnight GodDark Horse#1–52006–2007
King Conan: The Scarlet CitadelDark Horse#1–42011
Conan: Island of No ReturnDark Horse#1–22011
King Conan: The Phoenix on the SwordDark Horse#1–42012
King Conan: The Hour of the DragonDark Horse#1–62013
Conan and the People of the Black CircleDark Horse#1–42013–2014
King Conan: The ConquerorDark Horse#1–62014
Groo vs. ConanDark Horse#1–42014
Conan / Red SonjaDark Horse#1–42015Crossover with Dynamite Comics
Red Sonja / ConanDynamite#1–42015Crossover with Dark Horse Comics
King Conan: Wolves Beyond the BorderDark Horse#1–42015–2016
Wonder Woman – ConanDC Comics#1–62017–2018DC Comics/Dark Horse Comics crossover
Conan – Serpent WarMarvel#1–42019–2020
Conan – Battle for the Serpent CrownMarvel#1–52020
The Cimmerian: Queen of the Black CoastAblaze#1–22019
The Cimmerian: Red NailsAblaze#1–22020
The Cimmerian: People of the Black CircleAblaze#1–32020
The Cimmerian: The Frost-Giant's DaughterAblaze#1–32020-2021
The Cimmerian: Iron Shadows in the MoonAblaze#1–32021
The Cimmerian: The Man-Eaters of ZamboulaAblaze#1–22021
The Cimmerian: Beyond the Black RiverAblaze#1–22021
The Cimmerian: Hour of the DragonAblaze#1–42022
Conan the Barbarian: Battle of the Black StoneTitan#1–42024
::

Conan and the Demons of Khitai #3 featured a spoof nude advert for Conan #24–after complaints a second printing was issued replacing the spoof nude advert with the actual (non-nude) advert for Conan #24, with retailers offering the option to swap copies. (See Recalled comics for more pulped, recalled and erroneous comics.)

One-Shots

::data[format=table]

TitlePublisherDatesNotes
Conan vs. RuneMarvel1995
Conan and the Daughters of MidoraDark Horse2004
Conan: The Weight of the CrownDark Horse2010
Conan the Barbarian: The Mask of AcheronDark Horse20112011 Conan movie adaption
Conan the Barbarian – ExodusMarvel2019
Conan the Barbarian 2099Marvel2019
The Official Handbook of the Conan UniverseMarvel2020The 50th Anniversary Celebration Edition
King-Size ConanMarvel2021The 50th Anniversary Celebration Edition
::

Graphic novels

::data[format=table]

TitlePublisherDatesNotes
The Witch Queen of AcheronMarvel1985
Conan the ReaverMarvel1987
Conan of the IslesMarvel1988
The Skull of SetMarvel1989
The Horn of AzothMarvel1990Based on an early draft of the film Conan the Destroyer
Conan the RogueMarvel1991
The Ravagers Out of TimeMarvel1992
::

Other series

::data[format=table]

TitlePublisherIssuesDatesNotes
Robert E. Howard's Savage SwordDark Horse#1–102010–2015Each issue has at least one Conan story along with other REH character stories
::

Miscellaneous

::data[format=table]

TitlePublisherIssuesDatesNotes
Chamber of DarknessMarvel#41970An early tale of Conan as Starr the Slayer before Marvel got the rights to Conan
Marvel Comics Index: Conan the BarbarianMarvel#21976
Marvel Feature Presents: Red SonjaMarvel#61976Parallel related story in Conan the Barbarian #66 and continues in Conan the Barbarian #67
Marvel Feature Presents: Red SonjaMarvel#71976Continued from Conan the Barbarian #67
A Marvel Comics Super Special – The Savage Sword of ConanMarvel#21977
A Marvel Comics Super Special – The Savage Sword of ConanMarvel#91978
What If: What if Conan the Barbarian Walked the Earth Today?Marvel#131979
A Marvel Comics Super Special – Conan the Barbarian Movie AdaptationMarvel#211982Reprint of the miniseries but in large Savage Sword format
What If: What if Thor Battled Conan the Barbarian?Marvel#391983
A Marvel Comics Super Special – Conan the Destroyer Movie AdaptationMarvel#351984Reprint of the miniseries but in large Savage Sword format
What If: What if Conan the Barbarian were Stranded in the 20th Century?Marvel#431985
The Official Handbook of the Conan UniverseMarvel#11986One Shot - 1st printing
The Official Handbook of the Conan UniverseMarvel#11987One Shot - 2nd printing was sold with Conan Saga #75 + No Date Listed & Reprints the 1986 issue with changes
What If (2nd Series): What if Wolverine Battled Conan the Barbarian?Marvel#161989
Conan the CruelSQP1996Collection of Conan art from numerous artists
Age of Conan Hyborian Adventures Funcom SpecialDark Horse2006Special collectable issue originally released with a copy of Game Pro magazine
Conan – The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Savage BarbarianDK Publishing2006Hard cover
Conan the PhenomenonDark Horse2007Hard cover
Sword's EdgeUnderwood Books2010Hard cover; Paintings inspired by the works of Robert E. Howard (almost exclusively Conan)
Conan – The Newspaper Strips, Vol. 1Dark Horse2010Collection of Conan newspaper strips
CBLDF Presents Liberty Annual 2010Image2010Contains the Conan story "Speak" by Darick Robertson.
Conan: The Phantoms of the Black Coast TPBDark HorseTPB2014Collects Conan: The Phantoms of the Black Coast #1–5 special comics sent to digital comics subscribers and not sold in the market
Dark Horse Presents: Conan the Swamp KingDark Horse#212016
Avengers: No Road HomeMarvel#5–102019
Savage AvengersMarvel#1–282019-2022Team member
Age of Conan – BelitMarvel#1–52019Limited series for the supporting character
Age of Conan – ValeriaMarvel#1–52019Limited series for the supporting character
Belit & ValeriaAblaze#1-52022Spin-off from Ablaze's The Cimmerian (Ongoing)
::

Reprints

::data[format=table]

TitlePublisherIssuesDatesNotes
The Conan SagaMarvel#1–971987–1995All reprints from Savage Sword of Conan and Conan the Barbarian in large, black and white Savage Sword of Conan magazine format
Conan ClassicMarvel#1–111994–1995Reprints Conan the Barbarian #1–11
Marvel Treasury EditionMarvel#4, 15, 19 and 231975–1979Color reprints but in an oversized 10" × 14" tabloid (or "treasury") format
Conan the Barbarian Special Edition – Red NailsMarvel1983Color reprints of Savage Tales #2 & #3
Essential ConanMarvelVol. 12000Collects Conan the Barbarian #1–25 (530 pages, black and white, paperback)
Conan the BarbarianMarvelOne Shot2019True Believers - Reprinting Conan the Barbarian (1970) #1
Tower of the ElephantMarvelOne Shot2019True Believers - Reprinting Conan the Barbarian (1971) #4
Devil-God of Bal-SagothMarvelOne Shot2019True Believers - Reprinting Conan the Barbarian (1972) #17
Swords in the NightMarvelOne Shot2019True Believers - Reprinting Conan the Barbarian (1973) #23
Curse of the Golden SkullMarvelOne Shot2019True Believers - Reprinting Conan the Barbarian (1974) #37
Queen of the Black CoastMarvelOne Shot2019True Believers - Reprinting Conan the Barbarian (1976) #58
What If Conan the Barbarian Walked the EarthMarvelOne Shot2019True Believers - Reprinting What If? (1977) #13
King ConanMarvelOne Shot2019True Believers - Reprinting King Conan (1980) #1
ResurrectionMarvelOne Shot2019True Believers - Reprinting Conan the Barbarian (1986) #187
Secret of Skull RiverMarvelOne Shot2019True Believers - Reprinting Savage Tales (1971) #5
Serpent War: Valley of the WormMarvelOne Shot2020True Believers - Supernatural Thrillers (1973) #3
::
  • Robert E Howard's Conan: The Frost-Giant's Daughter

Adaptations

::data[format=table]

Dark HorseKing Conan#21–24
::

Miscellaneous or parody appearances

  • National Lampoon (May 1972)
  • Mad magazine #235, December 1982, Conehead the by Dick De Bartolo and Don Martin.
  • Mad magazine #340, October 1995 Superhero High School (with Archie's Jughead)
  • Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! (DC, 1982), issue 7. Written by Roy Thomas: Bow-Zar the Barkbarian.
  • What The--?! #12 versus Groo (Goo) among others such as Hot Stuff, Yogi Bear, and Frosty the Snowman.
  • UHF in a dream sequence titled Conan the Librarian (1989).
  • Discworld (novels) by Terry Pratchett, featuring a parody character called "Cohen the Barbarian".
  • The Flesh, a modified Conan the Barbarian action figure

Footnotes

Sources

  • {{citation |last = Lord |first = Glenn |author-link = Glenn Lord |year = 1976 |title = The Last Celt |publisher = Berkley Windhover Books |isbn = 978-0-425-03630-3
  • {{citation |last = Shanks |first = Jeffrey |title = La reina de la Costa Negra: The Mystery of the Mexican Conan Comics |journal = Comic Book Quarterly |issue = 11 |date = Spring 2013 |pages = 3–6 |url = http://www.comiccollecting.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=2039 |access-date = 2013-05-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140312213735/http://www.comiccollecting.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=2039 |archive-date = 2014-03-12 |url-status = dead
  • {{citation |last = E. Howard |first = Robert |year = 2025 |title = Conan The Barbarian: The Complete Collection |publisher = Bauer Books |isbn = 978-1-804-67241-9

References

  1. McMillan, Graeme. (January 12, 2018). "'Conan the Barbarian' Comics Moving Back to Marvel". The Hollywood Reporter.
  2. (June 21, 2022). "Titan Comics Nabs ''Conan the Barbarian'' License (Exclusive)". [[MRC (company)#PMRC.
  3. {{Harvtxt. Shanks. 2013
  4. {{Harvtxt. Lord. 1976
  5. {{Harvtxt. Shanks. 2013
  6. Degg, D. D.. (2019-04-27). "First and Last – Marvel Comic Strips".
  7. Jeremy Blum. (March 3, 2022). "Marvel Changes King Conan 'Pocahontas' Character's Name in Digital and Future Printings". CBR.
  8. (29 March 2022). "Conan the Barbarian Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years - of Once and Future Kings".
  9. "Edelweiss+".
  10. (2022-06-21). "‘Conan the Barbarian’ comics heading to Titan May 2023". aiptcomics.com.
  11. (2023-07-23). "The Savage Sword of Conan Announced: "Gritty and Gruesome"". comicbook.com.
  12. [https://www.bedetheque.com/serie-60536-BD-Conan-le-Cimmerien.html "Conan le Cimmérien"], listing on [[Bedetheque]].
  13. (2018-04-11). "Conan il Barbaro: Leviathan Labs annuncia un fumetto tutto italiano".
  14. "Conan El Cimmerio dqcomics Comprar".

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