Wednesday, February 29, 2012

CONAN - EIGHTEEN AND OUT...



March 1st, 1975. That was the day that MARVEL UK released two new additions to their regal roster of rampaging weekly publications. You've seen the first three covers of one of them - THE SUPER-HEROES - in a previous post, but now comes the time to turn the spotlight on its companion mag, SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN.


SSOC, as it was affectionately known (in my house anyway), only
lasted for eighteen issues, and I still happen to have my original copies. Therefore, it's not exactly a stretch to dig 'em out and scan the covers for all you rabid fans out there of ROBERT E. HOWARD's Cimmerian warrior, CONAN THE BARBARIAN.


As well as Conan, the mag also featured KULL THE CONQUEROR
as a back-up feature, along with (on occasion) KA-ZAR, LORD OF THE HIDDEN JUNGLE and THONGOR OF LEMURIA. It was quite a decent little mag on reflection, and it really should have lasted longer than it did. When it faded from the scene, it was absorbed by another British weekly
publication, THE AVENGERS. (By the way, Look at the cover above.
Due to the colouring of the grey god's bracelet, at first glance Conan
looks as if he has a reptilian tail.)


Although the weekly was relatively short-lived, the title was eventually revived as a monthly in 1977, lasting for ninety-three issues before coming to an end in 1985. However, that's a whole other story - for now, sit back and savour the first six covers of the weekly title from the '70s.


Remember to keep your eyes peeled for Part 2 sometime soon, when we'll feature another six covers from the series.



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