Conan (Dark Horse comic)
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Conan is a Dark Horse comic series about the famous character Conan the Cimmerian, who was created by writer Robert E. Howard. So far it has run for 38 issues, and more than 4 miniseries. The comic's unconventional art consists of only color and pencilwork, with no inkwork, providing a painterly aesthetic.
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[edit] Background
Dark Horse Comics began their take on Conan in 2003. This series is a fresh interpretation, original material and stories based on the works of Robert E. Howard, with no connection to the large Marvel run or other post-Howard material. Each issue also contains "The Adventures of Two-Gun Bob (True Stories from the Life of Robert E. Howard) by Jim & Ruth Keegan.
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.
[edit] Awards
2004 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
Best Single Issue or One-Shot: Conan #0: The Legend
2004 Eagle Awards
Favourite new comicbook: Conan
[edit] Nude cover
Starting at issue #24, Tony Harris became the permanent cover artist. One of the first pieces of art Harris submitted to Conan editor Scott Allie was a fully nude version of the cover of #24. Allie inserted the artwork in a blurb at the back of Conan and the Demons of Khitai #3. This displeased some comic store owners, and Conan and the Demons of Khitai #3 was reprinted with the real cover in the blurb. Even so, 4000 copies of Conan #24 were printed with the nude cover, and distributed through the Diamond Dateline retail newsletter shrink-wrapped in black plastic.[1][2]
[edit] Core appearances
- Conan #0: The Legend (2003), 1 issue.
- Conan (2004+), 36+ issues. (ongoing)
- 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.
- Dark Horse 20 Years: Conan Pin-Up (2006), 1 page.
- Hyborian Adventures: SDCC Free Giveaway (2006), 1 issue.
- Conan and the Midnight God (2007), 5 issues.
[edit] Creative Teams
Kurt Busiek (writer-2003-2006) & Cary Nord (artist-2003+)
Tim Truman (writer-2006+) & Cary Nord (artist-2003+)
Born on the Battlefield filler issues: Kurt Busiek (writer) & Greg Ruth (artist)
[edit] Main Series
- Issue #0: Conan: The Legend*: Written by Kurt Busiek, Penciled & Cover by Cary Nord.
- Issue #1: Out Of The Darksome Hills: By Busiek & Nord, Original Cover by Joseph Michael Linsner, Variant Covers by Cary Nord; J. Scott Campbell.
- Issue #2: The Frost Giant's Daughter: Written by Robert E. Howard, Adapted by Busiek, Penciled by Nord, Cover by Linsner.
- Issue #3: At The Back Of The North Wind: By Busiek & Nord, Cover by Linsner.
- Issue #4: The Gates Of Paradise: By Busiek & Nord, Cover by Linsner.
- Issue #5: Ashes And Dust: By Busiek & Nord, Cover by Linsner.
- Issue #6: Day of Farewell: By Busiek & Nord, Cover by Linsner.
- Issue #7: Blood for Blood: By Busiek & Nord, Cover by Linsner.
- Issue #8: Born On the Battlefield**: Written by Busiek, Penciled & Cover by Greg Ruth.
- Issue #9: Two Nemedians Walk into a Bar: Written by Busiek, Penciled by Nord and Thomas Yeates, Cover by Leinil Francis Yu.
- Issue #10: The Temple of Kallian Publico: Written by Robert E. Howard, Adapted by Busiek (from The God in the Bowl), Penciled by Nord and Yeates, Cover by Yu.
- Issue #11: The God in the Bowl: Written by Robert E. Howard, Adapted by Busiek, Penciled by Nord and Yeates, Cover by Yu.
- Issue #12: The Hanumar Road: Written by Busiek, Penciled by Nord and Yeates, Cover by Yu.
- Issue #13: The Devil Within: Written by Busiek, Penciled by Nord and Yeates, Cover by Yu.
- Issue #14: The Ibis & the Serpent: Written by Busiek, Penciled by Nord, Tom Mandrake and Yeates, Cover by Yu.
- Issue #15: Wolves in the Woods**: Written by Busiek, Penciled & Cover by Ruth.
- Issue #16: Horror on Uskuth Hill: By Busiek & Nord, Cover by Cary Nord and Dave Stewart.
- Issue #17: The City of Thieves: By Busiek & Nord, Cover by Cary Nord and Dave Stewart.
- Issue #18: Helm***: Written by Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza, Art by John Severin. Conan's Favorite Joke+: Written by Kurt Busiek, Art by Bruce Timm. Cover by Cary Nord & Dave Stewart.
- Issue #19: The Thing in the Temple: By Busiek & Nord, Cover by Cary Nord and Dave Stewart.
- Issue #20: The Tower of the Elephant: Written by Robert E. Howard, Adapted by Kurt Busiek, Penciled by Cary Nord, Cover by Ladrönn.
- Issue #21: The Tower of the Elephant (The Prince of Thieves): Written by Robert E. Howard, Adapted by Kurt Busiek, Penciled by Cary Nord, Cover by Ladrönn.
- Issue #22: The Heart of Yag-Kosha: Written by Robert E. Howard, Adapted by Kurt Busiek (from The Tower of the Elephant), Penciled by Cary Nord, Cover by Ladrönn.
- Issue #23: The Battle of Brita's Vale**: Written by Kurt Busiek, Penciled by Greg Ruth, Cover by Greg Ruth.
- Issue #24: The Magistrate's Wife: By Busiek & Nord, Cover by Cary Nord and Dave Stewart.
- Issue #25: The Hand of the Mighty: By Busiek & Nord, Cover by Tony Harris.
- Issue #26: Seeds of Empire (A Tale of Princes - and, perhaps, of Kings!)*+: Written by Kurt Busiek, Penciled by Tim Truman, Cover by Tony Harris.
- Issue #27: The Blood-Stained Crown (A Tale of those who tread The Path of Kings!)*+: Written by Kurt Busiek, Penciled by Tim Truman, Cover by Tony Harris.
- Issue #28: Storyteller+: Written by Kurt Busiek, Penciled by Eric Powell, Cover by Tony Harris.
- Issue #29: The Toad: Adapted by Mike Mignola (from Robert E. Howard synopsis "The Hall of the Dead"), Penciled by Cary Nord, Cover by Tony Harris.
- Issue #30: The Serpent: Adapted by Mike Mignola (from Robert E. Howard synopsis "Hall of the Dead"), Penciled by Cary Nord, Cover by Tony Harris.
- Issue #31: The Hall of the Dead: Adapted by Mike Mignola (from Robert E. Howard synopsis "Hall of the Dead"), Penciled by Cary Nord, Cover by Tony Harris.
- Issue #32: Wild Cimmerian Bull**: Written by Kurt Busiek, Penciled by Greg Ruth, Cover by Greg Ruth.
- Issue #33: Dogs of the Hills: Written by Tim Truman, Penciled by Cary Nord, Cover by Tony Harris.
- Issue #34: The Sons of Bel: Written by Tim Truman, Penciled by Cary Nord, Cover by Tony Harris.
- Issue #35: They Shall Be Lords Again+: Written by Tim Truman, Penciled by Paul Lee, Cover by Tony Harris.
- Issue #36: Silent to the Sea+: Written by Tim Truman, Penciled by Paul Lee, Cover by Tony Harris.
- Issue #37: Rat's Den: Written by Tim Truman, Pencils and Cover by Cary Nord
- Issue #38: The Maze: Written by Tim Truman, Pencils and Cover by Cary Nord
*Note: Story is about the Prince and the Wazir reading the stories rather than about Conan.
**Note: These issues are the "Born on the Battlefield" storyline, a six-part journey through the life of Conan as a young boy, acting as fill-in issues when the regular artist needed time to keep up. Written by Kurt Busiek, it is set to continue, when needed, after he leaves the comic (and is a clause in his exclusive contract with DC Comics).
***Note: This story follows on from Conan's lost helm on the final page of issue 3, and follows its journey.
+Note: This story is out of order, showing future events in Conan's life.
[edit] One-Shots
- Conan and the Daughters of Midora (2004): Written by Jimmy Palmiotti, Art by Mark Texeira, Cover by Mark Texeira.
[edit] Mini-Series
- Conan and the Jewels of Gwahlur (3 issues): Written by Robert E. Howard, Adapted & Drawn by P. Craig Russell.
- Conan and the Demons of Khitai (4 issues): By Akira Yoshida and Paul Lee.
- Conan: Book of Thoth (4 issues): Written by Kurt Busiek & Len Wien, Art & Cover by Kelley Jones.
- Conan and the Songs of the Dead (5 issues): Written by Joe R. Lansdale, Art by Timothy Truman, Cover by Dave Stewart.
- Conan and the Midnight God (5 issues): Written by Josh Dysart, Art by Will Conrad.
[edit] Adaptations
The original short story was written by Robert E. Howard in 1932 and was not published during his brief lifetime.
The main series adapts these stories:
- The Frost Giant's Daughter: Issue #2.
- The God in the Bowl: Issue #10 & #11.
- The Tower of the Elephant: Issue #20 - #22.
- The Hall of the Dead (synopsis only): Issue #29 - 31.
The mini-series and one-shots adapt:
- Jewels of Gwahlur: Conan and the Jewels of Gwahlur (3 issues).
[edit] Dark Horse Collections
Collections Dark Horse's ongoing Conan series unless noted.
- Volume 1: The Frost Giant's Daughter and Other Stories (2005). Collects #0 - 6 and #7 (14 pages) series Conan. Also includes a 3 page, black and white, original Conan story written by Kurt Busiek, and penciled by Cary Nord, never to be concluded.
- Volume 2: The God In The Bowl And Other Stories (2005). Collects #7 (remaining 8 pages) and #9 - 14.
- Volume 3: The Tower Of The Elephant and Other Stories (2006). Collecting #16 - 17, and 19-22 of Dark Horse series.
- Volume 4: The Hall Of The Dead and Other Stories (to be published May 9, 2007).
- Conan and the Jewels of Gwahlur (2005). Collecting the mini-series of the same name.
- Conan and the Demons of Khitai (2006). Collecting the mini-series of the same name.
- Conan: Book of Thoth (2006). Collecting the mini-series of the same name.
[edit] Marvel Collections
The Chronicles of Conan (Collects Conan the Barbarian (Marvel Comics), unless noted.)
By Roy Thomas & Barry Windsor-Smith (unless noted.)
- Volume 1: Tower of the Elephant and Other Stories (2003). Reprints issues 1-8.
- Volume 2: Rogues in the House and Other Stories (2003). Reprints 9-13,16.
- Volume 3: The Monster of the Monoliths and Other Stories (2003). Reprints issues 14,15,17-21. (Also by Gil Kane.)
- Volume 4: The Song of Red Sonja and Other Stories (2004). Reprints issues 23-26, and Red Nails, originally published in Savage Tales 2 & 3.
By Roy Thomas & John Buscema (unless noted.)
- Volume 5: The Shadow in the Tomb and Other Stories (2004). Reprints issues 27-34.
- Volume 6: The Curse of the Golden Skull and Other Stories (2004). Reprints issues 35-42. (Also by Neil Adams.)
- Volume 7: The Dweller in the Pool and Other Stories (2005). Reprints issues 43-51.
- Volume 8: The Tower of Blood and Other Stories (2006). Reprints issues 60 - 63, 65, 69 - 71.
- Volume 9: Riders of the River-Dragons and Other Stories (2005). Reprints issues 52-60. (Also by Val Mayerik.)
- Volume 10: When Giants Walk the Earth and Other Stories (2006). Reprints issues 72 - 77, 79-82. (Also by Howard Chaykin.)
[edit] References
- ^ {{cite web |url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?threadid=53201 |title=Dark Horse Clears Up Conan's Naked Cover Issue |accessdate=2007-02-22
- ^ CONAN #24. Mania Comics. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
