Description

The Essential Conan – Volume 1                    Trade Paperback
Cover by: John Buscema & Marie Javins

A huge Marvel trade paperback, about one inch thick, collecting the first 25 issues of the Conan Marvel comic written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith & John Buscema. Reprinted in Glorious Black and White (the original Marvel Conan comics were in color) is a mix of original stories by Roy Thomas as well as Robert E. Howard adaptations such as “The Tower of the Elephant” “The Frost Giant’s Daughter” and “Rogues in the House”. We are also treated in seeing the first comics’ appearance of Red Sonja and an interesting story with Michael Moorcock’s character, Elric. Although, Marvel’s Conan was somewhat of a departure from Robert E. Howard’s savage barbarian warrior depicted in the pulp writings of the 1930’s, Marvel certainly played a crucial role in revitalizing Conan’s role as a literary character with a 30+ year run in the Conan the Barbarian comics, King Conan comics and the B & W magazine Savage Sword of Conan…as well a few other Conan titles. Now with this volume of the Essential Conan one can relive those glorious times of yesterday and re-experience all over again the awe of Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian.  A true must have for any serious Conan fan!

Table of Contents:
The Coming of Conan!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Dan Adkins. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Conan battles at Vanaheim and sees his future. Tara returns to her dimension. 1st comic book appearance of Kull (cameo). The letters page contains a map of Conan’s world of the Hyborian Age drawn by Windsor-Smith (based on Robert E. Howard’s own version) and a short essay on The World of Conan. Reprinted from Conan the Barbarian (October 1970) Issue #1. Marvel Comics

Lair of the Beast-Men!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Sal Buscema. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Conan leads humans in a revolution against their ape-masters. Conan kills a snow-lion. Conan’s first time in chains. Letters to the editor from writers Harlan Ellison, Dick Lupoff, August Derleth, and Ted White; comics historians Don and Maggie Thompson; and Glenn Lord. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (December 1970) Issue #2. Marvel Comics

The Twilight of the Grim Grey God!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Sal Buscema. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Adapted from the non-Conan story, The Grey God Passes by Robert E. Howard. Conan converses with God Borri, participates in a great and bloody battle, and kills Malachi. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (February 1971) Issue #3. Marvel Comics

The Tower of the Elephant!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Sal Buscema. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Adapted from Robert E. Howard’s story, “The Tower of the Elephant”. Conan scales Elephant tower, kills lion & giant spider, and saves Yag-Kosha by killing him at his request. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (April 1971) Issue #4. Marvel Comics

Zukala’s Daughter
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Frank Giacoia. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Conan frees villages of Zukala’s control, saves Zephra from a demon, and defeats Zukala–who disappears with his daughter Zephra. Adapted from the poem “Zukala’s Hour” by Robert E. Howard. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (May 1971) Issue #5. Marvel Comics

Devil-Wings over Shadizar
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Sal Buscema. Letterer: Mike Stevens. Editor: Stan Lee.

In Shadizar, Conan meets the beautiful waitress Jenna. She is however kidnapped by religious fanatics and taken to be sacrificed to the mysterious night god. The god no-one has ever seen is revealed to be a gigantic bat-like creature. Conan saves Jenna from the bat creature, while Jenna in her turn saves Conan from the priestess Hajii. Jenna then steals all his gold and leaves. First appearance of Fafnir and Blackrat. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (June 1971) Issue #6. Marvel Comics

The Lurker Within!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inkers: Dan Adkins & Sal Buscema. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Adapted from the story The God in the Bowl by Robert E. Howard. Lady Aztrias betrays Conan. Conan burgles a merchant’s building, is accused of murder, fights and kills a serpent-man, saves Demetrios’s life and sees Thoth-Amon. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (July 1971) Issue #7. Marvel Comics

The Keepers of the Crypt
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inkers: Tom Sutton & Tom Palmer. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Adapted from a synopsis by Robert E. Howard. Conan battles a giant lizard and Undead creatures. Jenna and Conan flee the village on a horse at the end of the story. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (August 1971) Issue #8. Marvel Comics

The Garden of Fear
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Sal Buscema. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Adapted from Robert E. Howard’s short story “The Garden of Fear”. Conan saves Jenna and kills the sole survivor of an ancient winged race. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (September 1971) Issue #9. Marvel Comics

Beware the Wrath of Anu!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Sal Buscema. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Conan teams with Burgun in thievery. Burgun is betrayed and hung. Conan avenges his death by killing Aron and a priest. Jenna leaves Conan for Igon. Red Bull is freed and becomes the stars. 5-page King Kull back-up, The King and the Oak, adapting the poem by Robert E. Howard. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (October 1971) Issue #10. Marvel Comics

Rogues in the House
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Sal Buscema. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Adapted from Robert E. Howard’s story “Rogues in the House”. Conan is drawn into a feud between a priest and a nobleman in Corinthia, and ends up trapped in a house and hunted by a beast. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (November 1971) Issue #11. Marvel Comics

The Dweller in the Dark
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Barry Windsor-Smith. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Conan becomes Captain of the royal guard in the small city-state of Zahmahn as well as the lover of Queen Fatima. When the Queen catches Conan with the servant girl Yaila in a delicate situation, she leaves them in the dungeon to be devoured by the Dweller in the Dark. They manage to escape, however, and Conan throws the Queen to the monster. According to tradition, Zahmahn can only be ruled by a female sovereign, so Conan nominates Yaila as the new queen. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (December 1971) Issue #12. Marvel Comics

The Blood of the Dragon!
Tales of the Hyborian Age!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Gil Kane. Inkers: Gil Kane, Tom Palmer, & Bernie Wrightson. Letterer: Artie Simek. Editor: Stan Lee.

This story is set in Conan’s Hyborian in the kingdom of Aqilonia. Kalligor desires to marry the Baron’s daughter and so he rides to kill the Hydragon and win her hand. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (December 1971) Issue #12. Marvel Comics

Web of the Spider-God
Writers: Roy Thomas & John Jakes. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Barry Windsor-Smith. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Conan is delirious in the desert, Thanix saves his life. Conan fights Omm (giant spider), Tork destroys Yezud and leaves for Shadizar with Lea. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (January 1972) Issue #13. Marvel Comics

A Sword Called Stormbringer!
Writers: Roy Thomas, Michael Moorcook, & Jim Cawthorn. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Sal Buscema. Letterer: John Costanza. Editor: Stan Lee.

First comic book appearance of Elric of Melnibone in A Sword Called Stormbringer. Conan saves Zephra’s life, fights against and later with Elric. Conan fights to save Hyborea and Melnibone from Queen Xiombarg. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (March 1972) Issue #14. Marvel Comics

The Green Empress of Melniboné
Writers: Roy Thomas, Michael Moorcook, & Jim Cawthorn. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inkers: Sal Buscema & Barry Windsor-Smith. Letterer: John Costanza. Editor: Stan Lee. Elric of Melnibone created by: Michael Moorcock.

Conan and Elric have an un-easy truce while they ride to the sunken city known as Yagala. Once there they have to face Xiombarg, Prince Gaynor the Damned, Kulan-Gath and Terhali. When their combined power is not enough to defeat them Arkyn must join the fight to help them. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (May 1972) Issue #15. Marvel Comics

The Frost Giant’s Daughter
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Barry Windsor-Smith. Letterer: Artie Simek. Editor: Stan Lee.

Adapted from Robert E. Howard’s story “The Frost Giant’s Daughter”. Conan chases Atali across the snow, slays her two frost giant brothers, and catches her. Her father, Ymir, then takes her from Conan. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (Marvel, 1970 series) Issue #16 (July 1972)

The Sword and the Sorcerers
Starr the Slayer kills a Wizard, then travels to the ‘real’ world and kills his writer. Reprints Chamber of Darkness (April 1970) Issue #4. Marvel Comics

Also in this issue: a full-page reprint of the Hyborian Age map from Conan #1.

The Gods of Bal-Dagoth
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Gil Kane. Inker: Ralph Reese. Letterer: John Costanza. Editor: Stan Lee.

Adapted from the non-Conan (Turlogh O’Brien) story by Robert E. Howard. Fafnir appearance. Conan saves Kyrie and restores her as the queen of Bal-Sagoth. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (August 1972) Issue #17. Marvel Comics

The Thing in the Temple!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Gil Kane. Inker: Dan Adkins. Letterer: Artie Simek. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Adapted from the non-Conan story, The Gods of Bal-Sagoth by Robert E. Howard. Fafnir appearance. Conan and Fafnir slay demons and flee from Bal-Sagoth as a volcano destroys the island. They are picked up in the Sea by Yezdigerd. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (September 1972) Issue #18. Marvel Comics

Hawks from the Sea!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Dan Adkins. Letterer: John Costanza. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Conan works for the Turanian military and lays siege to Makkalet. The Legend of the Living Tarim is told. Conan makes an enemy of Balthaz. Fafnir is wounded by a flaming arrow. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (October 1972) Issue #19. Marvel Comics

The Black Hound of Vengeance!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Dan Adkins. Letterer: John Costanza. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Fafnir loses his arm and is thrown overboard by Balthaz to drown. Conan infiltrates the Temple of Tarim and kills a black hound. Conan kills Balthaz and flees Yezdigerd’s ship. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (November 1972) Issue #20. Marvel Comics

The Monster of the Monoliths!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inkers: Dan Adkins, Sal Buscema, P. Craig Russell, Val Mayerik, & Mark Kersey. Letterer: Artie Simek. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Adapted in part from the story “The Black Stone” by Robert E. Howard. Conan is taken captive in Makkalet when he defects from the Turanian army. Conan joins and is betrayed by Makkalet forces. Conan fights a giant toad-god. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (December 1972) Issue #21. Marvel Comics

The Coming of Conan!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Dan Adkins. Letterer: Sam Rosen. Editor: Stan Lee.

Conan battles at Vanaheim and sees his future. Tara returns to her dimension. 1st comic book appearance of Kull (cameo). The letters page contains a map of Conan’s world of the Hyborian Age drawn by Windsor-Smith (based on Robert E. Howard’s own version) and a short essay on The World of Conan. Reprinted from Conan the Barbarian (October 1970) Issue #1. Marvel Comics

The Shadow of the Vulture!
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inkers: Dan Adkins, Sal Buscema, & Chic Stone. Letterer: Artie Simek. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Adapted from the non-Conan story by Robert E. Howard featuring a female warrior, Red Sonya. First appearance of Red Sonja in The Shadow of the Vulture. Conan delivers a message from Makkalet to Pah-Disha. Red Sonja saves Conan’s life twice. Conan kills Mikhal Oglu (vulture) and sends his head to Yezdigerd. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (February 1973) Issue #23. Marvel Comics

The Song of Red Sonja
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith. Inker: Barry Windsor-Smith. Letterer: Artie Simek. Editor: Roy Thomas.

First full Red Sonja story, The Song of Red Sonja. Conan and Red Sonja start a bar-fight, bathe in a fountain, scale temple walls, break in and steal a snake-tiara, and fight a magical snake. In the end, Sonja tricks Conan and leaves for Pah-Dishah. The Red Sonja story continues in Savage Sword of Conan 1. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (March 1973) Issue #24. Marvel Comics

The Mirrors of Kharam Akkad
Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: John Buscema. Inkers: Sal Buscema & John Severin. Letterer: Artie Simek. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Two-page Kull flashback; Akkad; Prince Yezdigerd prepares to storm Makkalet. Guest appearances by Kull and Brule the Spear-Slayer. Pages 4 and 5 are based on the Robert E. Howard, King Kull short story “The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune”. Reprints Conan the Barbarian (April 1973) #25. Marvel Comics

Trade Paperback reprints/collects: Conan the Barbarian (1970-1973) Issues #1-25.  Marvel Comics

Trade Paperback is bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Edition
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Publication Date: July 2000
Format: BW, 530 pages, SC, TPB, 10″ x 6.5″
ISBN-10: 0785107517
ISBN-13: 9780785107514

Collectible Entertainment note: Trade Paperback is in Fine + condition.  Very Nice!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Conan collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Highly Recommended. 

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