There is over fifty years of Conan the Barbarian comics published under different companies (Marvel, Dark Horse, Titan, etc.) and different titles (The Savage Sword of Conan, King Conan, etc.). If comics are more your style, I’d recommend starting one of two places:
1. Titan Comics: This series began in 2023 and is a great jumping on spot. In fact, it was this comic series (and the acclaim I read about online) that led me to the character. So far, there have been fourteen issues released, or for easier reading you can buy the three trade paperbacks:
Conan the Barbarian: Bound in BackStone (Issues 1-4)
Conan the Barbarian: Thrice Marked for Death (Issues 5-8)
Conan the Barbarian: The Age Unconquered (Issues 9-12) *Coming in October 2024*
2. Dark Horse Comics: Published between 2004 and 2017, Dark Horse began with Conan as a youth and filled in the blanks around Robert E Howard’s original stories, which they also adapted as part of the series. The series ran for 240 issues, and I’ve read about 130 of those issues and have loved every moment. From my research, the artwork begins to dip and doesn’t quite hold up with the storytelling, but overall, this was a great way for me to introduce myself to the Hyborian Age with some imagery that has translated into my reading of the original stories.
If you dig into the comics a bit deeper, you will not doubt learn about Marvel Comics and Roy Thomas. In a nutshell, Roy Thomas wrote the first Conan the Barbarian comic in 1970. The book was a success, and this led to Marvel creating an imprint to create a new Conan comic called The Savage Sword of Conan. The Savage Sword of Conan was printed in a magazine format and because it wasn’t a traditional comic book, it didn’t have to adhere to the comic book code of the time, which had restrictions on sex and violence. This made it a very appealing read for folks and no doubt increased the popularity of the Conan character. I’ve yet to dive into any of the Marvel Conan stories, but I plan to in the near future.
It should be noted that Titan Comics also publishes A Savage Sword of Conan book. So far, three issues have been released (all in 2024) and they are released on every couple of months. Like the original Marvel Savage Sword, Titan’s Savage Sword comics are published in a larger magazine size book, and each story is a self-contained story. So, it’s really easy to pick up and enjoy.
If you don’t care about keeping up with a monthly comic nor want long-term storytelling, I’d recommend grabbing Titan’s Savage Sword of Conan. It’s a great way to get a little Conan story without much commitment.
This post is part of a series of posts for Cimmerian September, a small movement for bloggers and vloggers to share their love for our favorite barbarian.