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King Conan No. 1

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Marvel Comics
Description
King Conan was a comic book published by Marvel Comics, changing titles to Conan the King after the 19th issue. Overall, the comic ran for 55 issues, from 1980-1989.
In 1970, Marvel Comics began publication of the comic book Conan the Barbarian. The series, Marvel's first to feature author Robert E. Howard's muscular hero, became one of the company's most popular titles, lasting for 23 years and 275 issues. Inspiring countless imitators, Marvel helped propel Howard, and the "sword and sorcery" genre he created, into the mainstream of American popular culture.
Conan first hacked his way into reader's hearts in Howard's 1932 story, "The Phoenix on the Sword," published in the pulp periodical, Weird Tales. 16 more adventures followed, with more published after Howard's death. Strong, cunning and decisive, Conan's adventures are set in the brutal "Age of Hyboria" a mythical landscape populated with wicked sorcerers, evil demons and ferocious despots.
Following the success of Conan the Barbarian, Marvel released more titles featuring the character, notably King Conan/ Conan the King (1980-1989) and the black and white magazine Savage Sword of Conan (1974-1995.) In the early 2000s, Dark Horse acquired the license for Conan, developing several well-received Conan titles between 2003-2017, after which Marvel required the property.
Since Marvel's popularization of Howard's character, the sinewy swordsman has been the subject of novels, video games, animated television series and feature films, including 1982's Conan the Barbarian. Directed by John Milius, the film starred Arnold Schwarzenegger in the title role, helping launch the Austrian born weightlifter's, and future Governor of California's, Hollywood career.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of George R. Zug
1973
1974
1975
1976
1972
1977
1978
1979
1980
ID Number
2013.3039.245
nonaccession number
2013.3039
catalog number
2013.3039.245
Object Name
comic book
Physical Description
paper (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 6 3/4 in x 10 1/4 in; x 17.145 cm x 26.035 cm
place made
United States: New York, New York City
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
National Museum of American History
Subject
Comics
Fantasy
Record ID
nmah_1450133
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-efda-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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