How good are the "older" Conan's and Kull's comics

[The King]

There were so many Conan comics that it is a true maze to sort out what is good and what should better be forgotten (that which shall not be named), a bit like the pastiche works.

So which is/are the best series? Conan the barbarian (which is being reprinted by dark horse) or Savage Sword of Conan for example?

Are also Kull comics worth the purchase?

 

[VincentDarlage]

I find a wealth of good ideas in the old Marvel comics, both the colour comic and the b/w Savage Sword. The best ones are the ones written by Roy Thomas for the most part, but the others had their moments as well.

 

[The King]

and what about Kull comics?

 

[VincentDarlage]

and what about Kull comics?

I have a few that I picked up when I was completing my Conan collection a few years ago (1993-1996), but I never actually read them that I remember. I don't have enough to make a judgement call on them, anyway.

 

[Soulmage]

I think I've got a bunch of "older" Conan comics laying around. . . assuming you count early to mid 90's as "older." I'll have to check.

 

[Bjorn the Barbarian]

I have almost every one of the old Marvel B&W Savage Sword of Conan (SSOC) magazines (I think I am still missing four of them), and the first two or three were done in color. I think I am missing issues #1, 2, 3, and 7, so if any of you are interested in selling them, let me know! (Wishful thinking, I know. :lol: )

With very exceptions, the artwork was very well done and they had some excellent stories. Ernie Chan's SSOC illustrations are the most popular IMHO.

The earlier issues did a lot of the REH stories. One spread did "The Hour of the Dragon" for many issues. I don't recalll which issues, but Marvel did a very good job on adapting it for the comic.

 

[VincentDarlage]

and the first two or three were done in color.

The first ones were in b/w. The two colour issues were Super Special Editions and not part of the numbering scheme (I own them, so I am speaking from first hand knowledge). There were also a few Treasury Editionsthat reprinted older ones in colour (and oversized).

One spread did "The Hour of the Dragon" for many issues. I don't recalll which issues, but Marvel did a very good job on adapting it for the comic.

That was Giant-Sized Conan, a five issue run. The first four issues did "The Hour of the Dragon." The fifth one was a reprint issue, covering the Conan meets Elric storyline of the main comic.

 

[The King]

I think there are over 600 Conan issues in all if not more and it began in 1970.

Kull's comics are quite few: something like 50 issues in all which began in 1972 but was interrupted and then renewed.

In fact it is quite difficult to make the difference between them all. I only know 2 sites on comics:
- http://www.comicsvf.com/idx/LSUAlpha.php is a French site (with English comics and their translated parts). Though it is great, it is not complete.
- For Kull, I have this one: http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/KULL.HTM

So I think these may be helpful for those who want to finish their collection.

From Kull I only have a special issue which is a story about Riders beyond sunrise (together with a Solomon Kane story). This one is fantastic (it is based on a synopys developped by Lin Carter in a great chase between Kull and Thulsa Doom across the whole continent).

 

[Morakas]

As long as your not looking for Pulitzer Prize material both lines are ok.

 

[Aholibamah]

And you have to love the parody of Kull the Conqueror in "Cerebus".

 

[The King]

Are there some that are not particularly recommended as are Steve Perry's pastiche novels).

 

[DaveNC]

The newer (started in 2004) Conan series by Dark Horse Comics (issue 39 was just published) is fantastic - very much a REH vibe to it and it is written for the more mature reader. The older Marvel series Conan the Barbarian (275 issues) had its ups and downs - I've always liked the first 100 issues or so the best. But a lot of the issues were "monster of the month" with some pretty basic sword and sorcery storylines. Savage Sword of Conan by Marvel (235 issues, I think) were written for a more mature audience and had some great stories mixed with some okay and outright poor ones. It was published at magazine size and featured some fantastic cover art.

If you're looking for a place to start, I'd recommend the current Dark Horse series.

 

[Strom]

I have numerous Kull comics from the original series Kull the Conqueror to Kull the Conqueror. 8) I liked them but it has been years since I read them. I did take Kull the Conqueror #1 (among many other Howard comics) to Howard Days last June and had Roy Thomas sign it.

Here's all the old Kull titles:

Kull the Conqueror 1971
Kull the Destroyer 1973
Kull and the Barbarians 1975
Kull the Conqueror 1982
Kull the Conqueror 1983

[/img] :shock:

 

[The King]

The newer (started in 2004) Conan series by Dark Horse Comics (issue 39 was just published) is fantastic - very much a REH vibe to it and it is written for the more mature reader.

Isn't it what Dark Horse reprinted in book form?

 

[Strom]

Isn't it what Dark Horse reprinted in book form?

There are currently four trades compiling the current ongoing series from Dark Horse. Dark Horse has also compiled the seventies marvel Conan the Barbarian series under the title "The Chronicles of Conan". There are currently 11 of those trades available right now.

Checkout:
http://www.darkhorse.com/search/sea...rtyear=all&endmonth=all&endyear=all&genre=all

And:
http://www.conan.com/invboard/index.php?showtopic=2761

 

[The King]

And what about the King Conan comic?

Does any issue feature the Hour of the Dragon in its entirety?

 

[VincentDarlage]

And what about the King Conan comic?

I have all of those; they are excellent.

Does any issue feature the Hour of the Dragon in its entirety?

Not that I recall. Maybe Dark Horse will publish Giant-Sized Conan as a collected trade paperback someday.

 

[The King]

Thanks all for the help provided.
I'll give it a try with the Dark Horse reprints.

 

[tarkhan bey]

Kull the Conqueror Issue 8 from 1973 had a good adaption of Wolfshead. It made a pretty cool adventure and I used it as a prelude piece to "Tales of the Black Kingdoms".
Kulls fleet is returning from a victorious sea engagements when his ship is separated from the others by a storm. The ship is wrecked on the shore of an unnamed isle which is the domain of a pirate/merchant lord named Dom Vinsala.
The island has a black population lorded over by this Dom Vinsala who appears to be cast in the Barbary Corsair mould,except overweight and somewhat debauched.
He has as part of his retinue a white haired mercenary from an unnamed Thurian kingdom.
The story contains leopard cultists,a tyrannical overlord,a slave uprising, a terrible curse and a hideous were beast. What more could you ask for to set up a conan adventure? :twisted:

 

[The King]

Interesting...

doesn't Dark Horse intend to print or reprint the Kull series?