Conan reprints by Dark Horse

[Roquefort Raider]

I've just picked up the latest Dark Horse Conan trade. The company has been reprinting and recoloring the early issues of Marvel's Conan the barbarian, and has just finished covering the Windsor-Smith period (including the story Red nails that was originally published in the second and third issues of the B&W magazine Savage tales).

I guess no one will disagree that these comics fully deserve the epithet "classic", despite their uneven quality. As such, I'm glad they were made available again. Each of the four volumes published to date includes a commentary by Roy Thomas, in which the rascally one dispenses with the industry-friendly chatter usually associated with such text pieces and gives us a welcome insight into the making of these great pieces of work. It's the kind of article you'd read in Comic Book Artist.

The coloring is unfortunately either merely average or frankly awful (especially in volume 2, where it hides the Smith artwork or distracts from it by the overuse of flashy photoshop effects or maladroit attempts at shading with color). Superior technology, in this case, did not deliver a superior product; in fact, having seen these stories in many, many formats by now I'd say that they looked better in black and white. Ah, well.

A very high point in the series though is volume #3 and a story illustrated by Gil Kane. I honestly believe that this is one of Kane's most beautiful pieces of work, and in this case the coloring works. That alone is worth the price of admission. Treat yourselves and take a look if you have the chance!

Dark Horse intends to continue reprinting Conan into the early Buscema days (for as long as they sell, I guess) and that too is welcome news. The first 100 issues of the title really deserve to be seen again.

That book died too early, by Crom!


- Ben

Dead but not forgotten.

[founder81]

I have the first trade I do agree that the new coloring isn't always better then the old.

I am really glad to be able to get ahold of many of the older issues. I found most of the run VERY cheap, but smith's run has eluded me (oh, I can find it, just can't aford it).

At least I thought. Most of the first 20 issues are reprinted in annuals and giant size issues. Is the Red Nails story worth buying the trade for just that?

[Shawn Hoke]

I've wanted to pick these up because of my interest in the stories, most of which I've never read, but I've heard so many complaints about the color.

Next time I go tot the shop, I plan on flipping through them and seeing for myself. I really would like to have these stories, but not with garish or overused colors.

How many issues are in the volumes?

[Roquefort Raider]

At least I thought. Most of the first 20 issues are reprinted in annuals and giant size issues. Is the Red Nails story worth buying the trade for just that?

I would say yes, because it is certainly the best Conan that Windsor-Smith ever drew. The amount of detail in each page is amazing.

My only complaint (there are always complaints!) is that the coloring on Red Nails is a bit overwhelming. Oh, and since the story was originally published in a magazine and not a comic, the pages are wider than usual... and so had to be shrunk to fit into the comic-sized trade. It doesn't look bad, but when you know how big the original pages were it's a bit disconcerting.

Red Nails has been reprinted twice: in the first Conan Tresury Edition (where size was not a problem) and in a comic-sized special in the mid-80s. Maybe you could look those up; they're probably not that expensive.


Good reading!


- Ben

[Roquefort Raider]

Next time I go tot the shop, I plan on flipping through them and seeing for myself. I really would like to have these stories, but not with garish or overused colors.

How many issues are in the volumes?


That's a good plan. In my opinion, colors are all right in the first book, hideous in the second, and acceptable if too intense in the third and fourth.

There are about 8 issues per volume:

#1 to 8 in volume 1;
#9-13 and 16 in volume 2 (issues 10 and 11 are double-sized);
#14-15, 17-21 in volume 3;
#23, 24, 25, 26 and Red Nails (from Savage tales 2-3) in vol. 4.

14-15 were kept together as they're one continuing story, and
#22 was omitted since it was a reprint.

If you don't like the coloring of the first books, you may be able to track down the Conan classics series from the early-mid 90s. It reprinted part of the original Smith run. There is also the Conan Saga series; that one reprinted the whole thing (and more) in black and white magazine format, with new (and gorgeous) Windsor-Smith covers.


Good hunting!


- Ben

[founder81]

I'll have to look the next time my Conan box isn't buried but...

Alot of the Smith run was reprinted in the Annuals and Giant-size conan comics of the day. These are good because the coloring is still the classic style and not computer rendered. As soon as I can get to the comics, I'll give you issue numbers.

Red Nails has been reprinted ...in a comic-sized special in the mid-80s. Maybe you could look those up; they're probably not that expensive.

Thanks, I'll have to look for that. I already have most of the last trade. Its just eh elusive Red Nails story I can't find. Do you know what Savage Tales #'s the story is in?

[Roquefort Raider]

I already have most of the last trade. Its just eh elusive Red Nails story I can't find. Do you know what Savage Tales #'s the story is in?


Savage Tales (volume 1) # 2 and 3. I think they had a very low print run, though.

Good luck!


- Ben

[Shawn Hoke]

That's a good plan. In my opinion, colors are all right in the first book, hideous in the second, and acceptable if too intense in the third and fourth.

There are about 8 issues per volume:

#1 to 8 in volume 1;
#9-13 and 16 in volume 2 (issues 10 and 11 are double-sized);
#14-15, 17-21 in volume 3;
#23, 24, 25, 26 and Red Nails (from Savage tales 2-3) in vol. 4.

14-15 were kept together as they're one continuing story, and
#22 was omitted since it was a reprint.

If you don't like the coloring of the first books, you may be able to track down the Conan classics series from the early-mid 90s. It reprinted part of the original Smith run. There is also the Conan Saga series; that one reprinted the whole thing (and more) in black and white magazine format, with new (and gorgeous) Windsor-Smith covers.


Good hunting!


- Ben

Hey Ben, thanks for the info. I have a handful of the Conan Saga magazines, love that format in black and white, I'll have to see which issues they are.

[Brad Curran]

I got the comics-sized Red Nails off of E-Bay last year fairly cheeply. Smith really did do an amazing job there, and the story was thrilling to boot. I've also been reading a collection of Howard's original Conan stories recently, which is why I've held off on picking up the latest Conan stuff from Dark Horse (he's a character I can only take so much of). I probably will give these trades (and the new Busiek run) a look pretty soon, though, if for no other reason than that the behind the scenes stuff with Roy Thomas sound interesting.

[Deathstroke]

What did #22 reprint?

[InfoBroker]

If I'm remembering right, issue #22 reprinted the first issue.

Sixteen was also a reprint (of sorts) of "The Frost Giants' Daughter" from Savage Tales #1. It also reprinted a short Smith/Thomas pre-Conan barbarian tale that ran in Tower of Shadows or Chamber of Darkness.

It was meant to be the try-out tale for the Conan series itself.


- jb the ib

[Deathstroke]

If I'm remembering right, issue #22 reprinted the first issue.

Sixteen was also a reprint (of sorts) of "The Frost Giants' Daughter" from Savage Tales #1. It also reprinted a short Smith/Thomas pre-Conan barbarian tale that ran in Tower of Shadows or Chamber of Darkness.

It was meant to be the try-out tale for the Conan series itself.


- jb the ib

Thanks for the information.

[Hoss]

I love my Essential Conan trade. I wish Marvel had been able to do more of the series. Conan is definitely a "reading" "fun" rough and tough book and while I appreciate Dark Horse's attempt to pretty it up, the news trades just seem like putting a prom dress on a cimmerian.

[founder81]

... like putting a prom dress on a cimmerian.

lol :)

hmmm...Conan going to the Prom

[Sir Tim Drake]

lol :)

hmmm...Conan going to the Prom
You're lucky that Conan doesn't actually exist. If he ever saw that picture, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes!

[Allen Smith]

I keep intending to get those Dark Horse Conan books, haven't done it yet. I especially want the Gil Kane stories, although Barry Windsor-Smith is of course a very good Conan artist also. I have the Essential Conan volume from Marvel, but even poor color, in some instances, is superior to black and white. Still, I'd think that Red Nails, if it was intended to be in black and white, might be better seen that way.

Allen Smith

[founder81]

You're lucky that Conan doesn't actually exist. If he ever saw that picture, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes!

Thank goodness for small favors.

then again...

***runs and hides just in case***

[Roquefort Raider]

I have the Essential Conan volume from Marvel, but even poor color, in some instances, is superior to black and white. Still, I'd think that Red Nails, if it was intended to be in black and white, might be better seen that way.



Allow mw to eat some crow, here. I re-read the last two volumes this weekend and I think I was a bit harsh on the colorists. Volume 2 is still (in my opinion) a disaster color-wise, but volumes #3 and 4 look much, much better. Sure, the intensecolors can be diastracting but I would still wholeheartedly recommend both books.


- Ben

[Rob Allen]

Hi, everybody! I've been away on business. Did anything happen while I was gone? :p

A parenthetical note for fans of Smith's early Conan art - in that same time period, Barry was drawing the Ka-Zar strip in Astonishing Tales. I think he continued until Conan went monthly. I recently looked at these issues for the first time in decades and was blown away! You can still see a little of the strong Kirby influence that Barry's earliest Marvel work had - not surprising, since he took over Ka-Zar directly from Kirby - but mostly it looks like a blond Conan with a tiger. I'd imagine that these issues are a lot less expensive than the Conan comics he was drawing at the same time.

A quick trip to the GCD reminds me that Astonishing Tales had some awesome artwork in those early years - Kirby did Ka-Zar in issues #1 and 2, then Barry Smith in #3 thru 6, Herb Trimpe in #7 and 8, John Buscema in #9, Smith returns in #10, and then the art chores seem to rotate between Gil Kane, John Buscema and Rich Buckler (with half an issue by Neal Adams thrown in) until Dan Adkins starts a three-issue run in #17. The first four issues also have Dr. Doom by Wally Wood; George Tuska takes over in #5 and 6, then Gene Colan in #7, and #8 has two Doom stories, one by Tuska and one by Colan. Issues #9 thru 20 are full-length Ka-Zar stories.

[Chris CCL]

I love my Essential Conan trade. I wish Marvel had been able to do more of the series. Conan is definitely a "reading" "fun" rough and tough book and while I appreciate Dark Horse's attempt to pretty it up, the news trades just seem like putting a prom dress on a cimmerian.

Hoss, hold on to that book. Marvel has reprinted every Essential except for the Conan one, something about copyright law and the rights holders. I'm not exactly sure. I found a signed copy on eBay once but I failed to bid on it. It sold for $7.00. I'm still kicking myself.

Chris CCL

[InfoBroker]

Savage Tales (volume 1) # 2 and 3. I think they had a very low print run, though.

Actually, Savage Tales 2 and 3 pulled in very good numbers. Marvel had a long publishing pause between 3 and 4 because they wanted to see just how well an S&S B&W magazine would sell. It outsold the three horror books, which is why, when Savage Tales #4 came back, it was soon accompanied by the Savage Sword and even a Kull and the Barbarians.

The Spring of 1974 was pretty wild for Conan material. Besides Savage Tales, and Savage Sword, the Giant Size Conan made its debut.

...volume #3 and a story illustrated by Gil Kane. I honestly believe that this is one of Kane's most beautiful pieces of work, and in this case the coloring works.

I concur. Issue #17 and 18 are masterpieces. A lot of people associate Gil Kane to Green Lantern and call that his definite material. While I think he deserves gobs of credit for defining the silver-age Green Lantern, I consider his work post GL far superior. He went through a dynamic infusion, influenced by Kirby's material and from 1967 onward his work had a power and expressiveness that made his GL material seem tame by comparison.

Beside these two comics, I loved his work on the Hour of Dragon adaptation. He was also doing a significant amount of exciting material in non-Conan books along with Roy. One neglected masterpiece is Astonishing Tales #11, which featured the retelling of the origin of Kazar and Zabu.

And like you, I have eased up a bit on my reactions to the coloring of the Dark Horse reprints. I still am not too wild about the rust-colored borders around the Red Nails material, but the collected volumes are still very well done and worth buying, especially for those out there who have yet to read these classic comics.

- jb the barbaric ib :cool:

[InfoBroker]

The first four issues also have Dr. Doom by Wally Wood; George Tuska takes over in #5 and 6, then Gene Colan in #7, and #8 has two Doom stories, one by Tuska and one by Colan. Issues #9 thru 20 are full-length Ka-Zar stories.

Had Marvel not abandoned the 52 page format, Dr. Doom would have remained a back up feature beyond issue #8. The bulk of the material that would have been the Doom story for issue #9 was shuffled and reworked into the pages of Sub-marienr #47 and 48 Of which, #48 sports a fantastic cover by Gil Kane, with Bill Everett inks. A masterpiece.

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/1874/200/1874_2_48.jpg

-jb the Imperius-rexed ib :cool:

[kramden]

I've wanted to pick these up because of my interest in the stories, most of which I've never read, but I've heard so many complaints about the color.

Next time I go tot the shop, I plan on flipping through them and seeing for myself. I really would like to have these stories, but not with garish or overused colors.

How many issues are in the volumes?

dont worry about the colors.i read the first volume and enjoyed the stories very much.they were written really well, something an adult can enjoy. i never even noticed the color because i was into the story.you know how comic book readers always complain and moan about things that really dont mean anything.i defy anyone to say that the coloring of these conan reprints were so bad thay couldent read the thing, and im not talking about preferring color over black and white ala Marvel essentials, which even in that case i have heard people say they cant read those because they are not in color which dont make sense.go buy the book and enjoy

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

dont worry about the colors.i read the first volume and enjoyed the stories very much.they were written really well, something an adult can enjoy. i never even noticed the color because i was into the story.you know how comic book readers always complain and moan about things that really dont mean anything.i defy anyone to say that the coloring of these conan reprints were so bad thay couldent read the thing, and im not talking about preferring color over black and white ala Marvel essentials, which even in that case i have heard people say they cant read those because they are not in color which dont make sense.go buy the book and enjoy

I'm with you.

heck, by the third trade it's so down pat it looks great.
Of course, I'd only read a few issues of the original conan (Classic Conan) and never felt the need to compare.
Not having any memories of the orignal made it easier I'm guessing.

On the Kane issues though, and this might be conisdered blasphemy by some of you, BUT, I felt he was completly over shadowed by Windsor-Smith - particuarly as the next issue of the series after Kane's was the start of the war arc, and Windsor-Smith's work was just outta sight in those issues - particuarly that opening splash page of Conan on the boat.
Kane, to me in this case, felt like a bit of a (rude?) interuption coming between the Elric arc and the War one.
That said, even a rude interuption from Kane is better than a great one from other people.

[Roquefort Raider]

I'm with you.
On the Kane issues though, and this might be conisdered blasphemy by some of you, BUT, I felt he was completly over shadowed by Windsor-Smith - particuarly as the next issue of the series after Kane's was the start of the war arc, and Windsor-Smith's work was just outta sight in those issues - particuarly that opening splash page of Conan on the boat..

Blasphemy is good for the soul, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I really love those two Kane issues now, but at the time I was a bit chagrined to see Smith move away.

I totally agree with your appreciation of the quantum leap in Smith artwork in "Hawks from the sea". It's simply flabbergasting that the man would develop so much as an artist in just two months. The opening scene on Yezdigerd's ship are probably my favorite Conan pages ever.

[Ryan K]

Is anybody else kind of ticked Dark Horse is being forced to omit issues that feature Red Sonja now from the collections? #66-68 were omitted from Chronicles of Conan #9.

So can Dynamite reprint these issues in their Adventures of Red Sonja reprints? Or are they barred from using Conan? If so does Conan appear in a lot of the Red Sonja solo stuff?

A lot of questions, I know.

[Shellhead]

20 years ago, I had nearly a complete run of the first 100 issues of Conan, but the condition of the comics was only Fair or worse, considering that some of the covers were torn and one issue had some taped pages. Since then, I acquired both Marvel's Essential Conan and Dark Horse more recent collections. I'm glad that I got both, because Barry Windsor-Smith's artwork looks great in black and white, but the stories are also enjoyable in color. Since it's been so long since I had the actual comics, I didn't notice any problems with the colors in the Dark Horse collections, except that of course certain details are easier to see and enjoy in black and white.

[Sir Tim Drake]

Is anybody else kind of ticked Dark Horse is being forced to omit issues that feature Red Sonja now from the collections? #66-68 were omitted from Chronicles of Conan #9.

So can Dynamite reprint these issues in their Adventures of Red Sonja reprints? Or are they barred from using Conan? If so does Conan appear in a lot of the Red Sonja solo stuff?

A lot of questions, I know.

Conan appeared in Red Sonja vol. 1 #6, which was a crossover with Conan the Barbarian #66-68. I don't know of any other Red Sonja solo stories that guest-starred Conan, but there may well be others. It's a shame that these stories can't be reprinted with the rest of the Conan canon. (Heh, I made an anagram. :))

Luckily, the original issues are still very affordable. At least I think they are, though I still don't have Conan #66 or #68.

[Deathstroke]

Is anybody else kind of ticked Dark Horse is being forced to omit issues that feature Red Sonja now from the collections? #66-68 were omitted from Chronicles of Conan #9.

So can Dynamite reprint these issues in their Adventures of Red Sonja reprints? Or are they barred from using Conan? If so does Conan appear in a lot of the Red Sonja solo stuff?

A lot of questions, I know.


I was kind of ticked off when I read that info on the back cover of the 9th trade.

I have all 275 regular issues of the Conan series, but I've been buying the trades because none of my comics are in the best of condition, and the trades make it easier to store the run. However, before I take the comics and put them aside, I have to open them up and check to make sure there isn't anything missing from the trades that ran in the original comics. If there is something extra I end up keeping the original comic and file it with the trade.

So it looks like #66-#68 will be in the save pile.

[Ryan K]

Conan appeared in Red Sonja vol. 1 #6, which was a crossover with Conan the Barbarian #66-68. I don't know of any other Red Sonja solo stories that guest-starred Conan, but there may well be others. It's a shame that these stories can't be reprinted with the rest of the Conan canon. (Heh, I made an anagram. :))

Luckily, the original issues are still very affordable. At least I think they are, though I still don't have Conan #66 or #68.

I went out and bought #66-68 at $3 a pop at the local store yesterday. Not bad, but I was fairly ticked they had to be left out.

Has DH said how long they will continue the Chronicles? I heard through Buscema's run once, but I don't know if that was just speculation. When did Buscema leave?

[MilkManX]

I havent picked these up yet. I have the Treasury Edition Red Nails and I liked the color on that one. I flipped through the trade and noticed it has been redone.

[Roquefort Raider]

I havent picked these up yet. I have the Treasury Edition Red Nails and I liked the color on that one. I flipped through the trade and noticed it has been redone.

Which is a pity since the Treasury Edition had been colored by Barry Smith himself, if I'm not mistaken.

[founder81]

I went out and bought #66-68 at $3 a pop at the local store yesterday. Not bad, but I was fairly ticked they had to be left out.

Has DH said how long they will continue the Chronicles? I heard through Buscema's run once, but I don't know if that was just speculation. When did Buscema leave?

I know issue #115 was the last Thomas/Buscema issue. Buscema stayed longer, i want to say he stopped somewhere in the mid 120's.

[MilkManX]

Which is a pity since the Treasury Edition had been colored by Barry Smith himself, if I'm not mistaken.

I think you are right. He is an excellent colorist. I loved his coloring on his Weapon X book.

[Ryan K]

I know issue #115 was the last Thomas/Buscema issue. Buscema stayed longer, i want to say he stopped somewhere in the mid 120's.

Thanks. And thank you Sir Tim Drake for the earlier info.

[Roquefort Raider]

I know issue #115 was the last Thomas/Buscema issue. Buscema stayed longer, i want to say he stopped somewhere in the mid 120's.

He did, but that was for a short respite; Big John was replaced by Gil Kane for a brief stint starting with issue 127, but was back in the saddle for issue 136. Big John's final issue was #190.

The man sure had stamina!

[terryallenuk]

I went out and bought #66-68 at $3 a pop at the local store yesterday. Not bad, but I was fairly ticked they had to be left out.

Has DH said how long they will continue the Chronicles? I heard through Buscema's run once, but I don't know if that was just speculation. When did Buscema leave?

Announced at Wondercon

" -The Conan collections of earlier Marvel work have proven to be so
successful that there is currently no end in sight for the program;
rather, the collections will only end when Dark Horse runs out of
material to reprint. Even then, Wood said, there are plans for King
Conan collected editions, and possibly Savage Sword of Conan volumes.

- Asked if Dark Horse would be publishing comic adventures of any
other Robert E. Howard characters, Wood said maybe, and that he
wouldn’t be surprised to see an announcement soon "

Terry

The Robert E Howard Comics Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheREHcomicsgroup/

Contribute to the Cross Plains Fire Relief Fund . Further details at http://www.rehupa.com

[Ryan K]

Wow. Excellent news. Thanks for the heads up.