Conan the Barbarian cones to Dark Horse

By John Freeman on November 6, 2002

Dark Horse Comics have today announced a new publishing program featuring the legendary adventures of Conan the Barbarian. The monthly ongoing series — which will launch in mid-2003 — will include all new stories based on the classic Robert E. Howard character and also incorporate adaptations of his original Conan tales.

“I am very honored and excited to bring this classic character back to the comics world,” commented Dark Horse Comics President Mike Richardson. “We will be working closely with Fredrik Malmberg of Conan properties to ensure the highest quality stories and art to do this legendary character justice.”

First introduced as “Conan the Cimmerian” in the 1930’s, Robert E. Howard’s character quickly garnered an enormous following the world over. Over the past 70 years the barbarian hero has been brought to life in books, comics, television, and film. Recently rumoured to be in the works is a new Conan feature film.

“Conan has been a major comics franchise for many years,” Fredrik Malmberg remarked. “Dark Horse was our number one choice when we looked for a new licensee and we are extremely pleased with the creative approach they are planning.”

Marvel Comics originally had great success with their Conan comic, which was written by Roy Thomas — who stayed with the book for 10 years — and initially drawn by Barry Windsor Smith.

• Additional details will be posted on Darkhorse.com as they become available.

• Read a history of the Marvel Conan comic on The Greatest Comics site: Go and more about Conan comics on Nikel’s Conan page.

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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.