Conan (comics): Difference between revisions
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*[http://www.conan.com/ Conan official website] |
*[http://www.conan.com/ Conan official website] |
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*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Conan_in-Comics/ Yahoo Group for Conan in Comics ] |
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Revision as of 19:26, 17 December 2007
| Conan | |
|---|---|
 Cover to Conan the Savage #6 (Jan. 1996). Art by The Brothers Hildebrandt. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics Dark Horse Comics |
| First appearance | Conan the Barbarian #1 (1970) |
| Created by | Robert E. Howard Roy Thomas |
| In-story information | |
| Notable aliases | Amra the Lion |
| Abilities | Peak human physical condition, Melee weapons master, Knowledge and experience of fighting the supernatural |
Conan (often referred to as Conan the Cimmerian, from the name of his homeland, Cimmeria) is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard in the 1930s. Howard's Conan appeared as short stories in Weird Tales magazine, a renowned publication of the era. Conan has appeared in comics nearly non-stop since 1970. The comics are arguably, apart from the books, the vehicle that has had the greatest influence on the public mind concerning the character.
Two comic series have been produced with the name "Conan"—one from Marvel Comics and one from Dark Horse Comics.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics introduced a fairly faithful version of Conan in 1970 with Conan the Barbarian, written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Barry Windsor-Smith. He was succeeded after several issues by penciller John Buscema, while Thomas continued to write for many years. Later writers included J.M. DeMatteis, Bruce Jones, Michael Fleisher, Doug Moench, Jim Owsley, Alan Zelenetz, Chuck Dixon, and Don Kraar. Although many artists worked on the different Marvel Conan comic-books at one time or the other, only a few apart from Windsor-Smith and Buscema produced more than a handful of stories. The most prolific include Ernie Chan, Alfredo Alcala, Gil Kane, Rafael Kayanan, Mike Docherty, Val Semeiks, and Gary Kwapisz.
John Buscema, in a 1994 interview, spoke of being Marvel's first-choice for Conan artist: "I was approached by Roy Thomas with the project to do Conan. He mailed a couple of the paperbacks to me and I read 'em and I loved 'em. I told Roy, 'THIS is what I want, something that I can really sink my teeth into....' [A]t the time, Marvel was owned by Martin Goodman, and he felt that my rate was too high to take a gamble [with] on some new kind of [project]. It wasn't a superhero or anything that had been done before. The closest thing to that would be Tarzan. Anyway, he had no confidence in spending too much money on the book, and that's where Barry Smith came in — [he was] very cheap. I know what he got paid, and I'd be embarrassed to tell you how much it was, because I'd be embarrassed for Marvel."[1]
Thomas recalled in 2007 that author Lin Carter's barbarian hero Thongor had been the company's first choice when Marvel decided to published a licensed fantasy character, rather than Conan: Publisher Martin Goodman "authorized us to go after a character. I first went after Lin Carter's Thongor, who was a quasi-Conan with elements of John Carter of Mars, partly became editor-in-chief Stan Lee like that name the most ... I soon got stalled by Lin Carter's agent on Thongor (he was hoping I'd offer more than the $150 per issue I was authorized to offer), and I got a sudden impulse to go after Conan. Later, following on the success of the Conan series Lin Carter allowed Marvel to publish a Thongor comic, which appeared as a miniseries in Creatures on the Loose.[2]
Awards
- 1971 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards
- Best Continuing Feature: Conan the Barbarian
- 1971 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards
- Best Writer (Dramatic): Roy Thomas
- 1973 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards
- Best Individual Story (Dramatic): Song of Red Sonja
- 1974 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards
- Best Continuing Feature: Conan the Barbarian
- Best Penciller (Dramatic): John Buscema
- Superior Achievement by an Individual: Roy Thomas
Core appearances
The original short story was written by Robert E. Howard and first appeared in a 1933 issue of Weird Tales magazine.
- Conan the Barbarian (1970–1993), 275 issues
- Savage Tales (1971–1975), first 5 issues
- The Savage Sword of Conan the Barbarian (1974–1995), 235 issues
- Conan the Barbarian Annual (1973–1987), 12 issues
- Giant-Size Conan (1974–1975), 5 issues
- The Savage Sword of Conan the Barbarian Annual (1975), 1 issue
- Newspaper Strip (September 4 1978-April 12 1981), ?? strips.
- King Conan/Conan the King (1980–1989), 55 issues
- Handbook of the Conan Universe (1985), 1 issue
- Conan the Adventurer (1994–1995), 14 issues
- Conan (1995–1996), 11 issues
- Conan the Savage (1995–1996), 10 issues
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
- Conan the Barbarian vol. 2 (1997), 3 issues
- 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: Vol. 1 #13 Conan briefly appears in the modern world and walks past Peter Parker and Mary Jane.
- What If: Vol.1 #43 In the sequel to What If? 13, Conan fights Captain America.
- What If: Vol.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. he appeared with Doom 2099, Giant Man, Capt. Marvel, Black Panther, Thor, Iron Man, Jocast, Capt. America, Triathalon, She-Hulk and other Avengers.
- Dr. Strange #11 (volume 3, 19??) versus Varnae
- Dr. Strange #26 (volume 3, 19??) apparently a panel versus a werewolf
- Excalibur #47 with Satyrnine.
- Fantastic Four #405 fighting Ant-man, Iron Man 2020, and Zarko.
- Tomb Of Dracula #27 (19??) no info available
- Incomplete Death's Head #11 where he appears in one panel with Rocket Raccoon, Dr. Doom, Thor, Death's Head, Human Torch and others.
- Green Goblin #10 What appears to be a robot of Conan fights Green Goblin in Arcade's Murderworld. But the robot acts like the real deal (Conan is pictured on the cover with Hulk, Colossus, Green Goblin, Captain America, the Thing and others).
- Paradise X:Heralds #1 What may be a reincarnated Conan (and Red Sonja) by Kulan Gath appears (sensu the current Red Sonja/Spiderman series where Gath brings back Red Sonja in Mary Jane) and is apparently killed by Hyperion before issue 2 begins.
The following occur in the Hyborean age:
- Thor Corps 3 Conan appears with an astronaut.
- What If: Vol.1 #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) Obviously, he fights Rune.
- Conan #4 (1995) Also fighting 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.
Miscellaneous appearances
- Conan the Barbarian – Movie Special (1982), 2 issues
- Conan the Destroyer – Movie Special (1985), 2 issues
- Marvel Age, issues 1, 2, 8 and 13
Reprints
- Conan the Barbarian (1978 to 1979), six paperback-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), 1 issue
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics began their take on Conan in 2003. Currently publishing the comic series, written by Kurt Busiek then Tim Truman and pencilled mostly by Cary Nord. This series is 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 is also publishing 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.
Awards
- 2004 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
- Best Single Issue or One-Shot: Conan #0: The Legend
- 2004 Eagle Awards
- Favourite new comicbook: Conan
Core appearances
- Conan #0: The Legend (2003)
- Conan (2004+), 44+ issues
- Conan and the Daughters of Midora (2004), 1 issue
- Conan and the Jewels of Gwahlur (2005), 3 issues
- Conan and the Demons of Khitai (2005–2006), 4 issues
- Conan: Book of Thoth (2006), 4 issues
- Conan: Free Comic Book Day Edition (2006), 1 issue
- Conan and the Songs of the Dead (2006), 5 issues
- Conan and the Midnight God (2007), 5 issues
Collections
- The Chronicles of Conan
- Volume 1: The Tower of the Elephant and Other Stories (2003). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 1–8.
- Volume 2: Rogues in the House and Other Stories (2003). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 9–13, 16.
- Volume 3: The Monster of the Monoliths and Other Stories (2003). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 14, 15, 17–21.
- Volume 4: The Song of Red Sonja and Other Stories (2004). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 23–26, and Red Nails, originally published in Savage Tales.
- Volume 5: The Shadow in the Tomb and Other Stories (2004). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 27–34.
- Volume 6: The Curse of the Golden Skull and Other Stories (2004). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 35–42.
- Volume 7: The Dweller in the Pool and Other Stories (2005). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 43–51.
- Volume 8: The Tower of Blood and Other Stories (2006). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 60–63, 65, 69–71.
- Volume 9: Riders of the River-Dragons and Other Stories (2005). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 52–60.
- Volume 10: When Giants Walk the Earth and Other Stories (2006). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 72–77, 79–81.
- Volume 11: The Dance of the Skull and Other Stories (2007). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 82-90.
- Volume 12: The Beast King (2007). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 91, 93-100.
- Volume 13: Whispering Shadows and Other Stories (November 2007). Reprints Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian, issues 92, 101-108.
- Conan
- Volume 1: The Frost Giant's Daughter and Other Stories (2005). Collects issues 0–6 and fourteen pages from issue 7 of the ongoing series Conan.
- Volume 2: The God in the Bowl And Other Stories (2005). Collecting issues 7, 9–14 of the Dark Horse series.
- Volume 3: The Elephant Tower and Other Stories (2006). Collecting issues 16–17, 19–22 of Dark Horse series.
- Volume 4: The Hall Of The Dead and Other Stories
Creative teams
- Kurt Busiek (writer 2003–2006) and Cary Nord (artist 2003+)
- Tim Truman (writer 2006+) and Cary Nord (artist 2003+)
Miscellaneous or parody appearances
- National Lampoon (May 1972)
- Mad Magazine date unknown: 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 and Yogi the Bear and Frosty the Snowman.
- UHF in a dream sequence titled Conan the Librarian (1989).