In the early 1990s acting legend James Earl Jones, who had played Thulsa Doom in the first film adaptation, Conan the Barbarian, purchased this privately bound, three-volume collection of Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian comic books. He eventually sold it back to Gaston Dominguez of Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles. Housed within are issues 1 though 36, with twelve issues in each volume. The condition of the bound comics are impeccable.
This set includes numerous Key Issues, including:
#1: 1st Appearance of Conan the Barbarian; 1st Cameo of King Kull; Barry Windsor-Smith art begins
#2: 2nd Appearance of Conan the Barbarian in comics
#3: 1st Appearance of Borri, the Grey God
#4: Classic Story “The Tower of the Elephant”
#5: Adaptation of R.E. Howard’s “Zukala’s Hour”
#6: 1st Appearance of Fafnir & Blackrat (unauthorized versions of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser)
#7: 1st Cameo Appearance of Thoth-Amon; 1st Mention of Set, the serpent god
#8″ Adaptation of R.E. Howard’s “The Keepers of the Crypt”
#9: Last 15-cent Issue; Adapts R.E. Howard’s “The Garden of Fear”
#10: Giant Size Issue; King Kull back-up story
#11: Giant Size Issue; Classic Story “Rogues in the House”; Letter from cartoonist Fred Hembeck
#12: 1st 20-cent Issue; Cover by Gil Kane; Inks by Bernie Wrightson
#13: “Web of the Spider-God” plot by author John Jakes
#14: 1st Appearance & Cover of Elric; 1st Cameo of Kulan Gath
#15: 1st Full Appearance of Kulan Gath; 2nd Appearance of Elric; Letter from William Stout
#16: Classic Story “The Frost Giant’s Daughter”
#17: Cover by Gil Kane & Frank Brunner; 2nd Appearance of Fafnir; Letter from writer JM DeMatteis
#18: Adapted from R.E. Howard’s “The Gods of Bal-Sagoth”; Letter from Hugo Award winner, Ted White
#21: Adapted from R.E> Howard’s “The Black Stone”; 1st Conan work by P. Craig Russell
#22: 1st Reprint of Conan #1 with new Barry Windsor-Smith pin-up
#23: 1st Appearance of Red Sonja
#24: 1st Cover and 2nd Appearance of Red Sonja
#25: 1st John Buscema art on Conan; Adaptation of R.E. Howard’s “The Mirrors of Tuzun Thone”
#26: 1st Ernie Chan art on Conan
#27: 1st Appearance of Turghol and Suwaan of Khitai; Adapts Howard’s “The Blood of Belshazzar”
#28: Adapted from R.E. Howard’s “Moon of Zembabwei”
#29: Adapted from R.E. Howard’s “Two Against Tyre”
#30: Adapted from “The Hand of Nergal” a story by R.E. Howard and Linn Carter
#32: Adaptation of “Flame Winds” by Norvell W. Page
#33: 3rd Appearance of Red Sonja
#34: Finishes Adaption of “Flame Winds” by Norvell W. Page
#35: Adaptation of R.E. Howard’s “Fire of Asshurbanipal”
#36: Marvel Value Stamp Series A #10 Luke Cage, Power Man
This is a unique collectible. Similar privately bound Library Editions have sold recently at Heritage Auctions for tens of thousands of dollars.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT by William Stout
