Marvel's Conan the Barbarian #1, released in 1970, resurrected Robert E. Howard's creation, sparking a new era for the character.
Marvel Comics launched Conan the Barbarian #1 in 1970, bringing Robert E. Howard's character back to his pulp roots. This debut, spearheaded by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith, marked a pivotal moment, reigniting the Cimmerian's popularity and setting the stage for his widespread recognition throughout the 1980s.
Howard, a prolific pulp author, created Conan in the 1930s, penning 21 stories before his death in 1936. His Hyperborean Age, a world of magic, gods, and monsters, inspired countless writers. By 1967, the character's rights went to L. Sprague de Camp, who reprinted old stories and produced new ones, paving the way for Marvel's acquisition.
Roy Thomas, a lifelong fantasy and sci-fi enthusiast, championed the project at Marvel, taking the character back to his monthly pulp magazine origins. He was joined by Barry Windsor-Smith, a young Canadian artist whose evolving style brought Thomas's scripts to life. Their collaboration laid the groundwork for a legendary run.
Conan's move to Marvel, then the industry's dominant force, ensured maximum exposure. Despite the high cost of the license, which influenced the choice of Windsor-Smith over the more expensive John Buscema, the series proved a massive success, running for 275 issues until 1993 and spawning The Savage Sword of Conan magazine.
This comic's success directly led to the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian, which launched Arnold Schwarzenegger's career and cemented the character as a household name. The initial 24 issues by Thomas and Windsor-Smith, followed by Thomas and Buscema's work, established Conan as one of Marvel's most enduring and influential series.
