World Famous Comics: Conan: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Savage Barbarian
Conan: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Savage Barbarian
By: Roy Thomas Publisher: DK Publishing Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: DK Publishing Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 162 Publication Date: September 04, 2006
Product Description: For more than 70 years, fantasy fans have followed the exploits of Conan through novels, comic books, and movies. This book, the first-ever illustrated guide to Robert E. Howard's most beloved character, is a genuine treasure chest of Conan lore, following Conan through the ages, through his different careers, as he meets friends and foes and travels across the Hyborian continent.
Click through on the images below to see sample pages from Conan: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Savage Barbarian:
Includes a foreword by Todd McFarlane. Created in full cooperation with Conan Properties International, LLC. Features character profiles, maps, art from original paperbacks, comic books, video games, and more.
"Conan of Cimmeria remains as vital today as he did when he first emerged from the pages of Weird Tales three quarters of a century ago to trample the jeweled crowns of earth under his sandaled feet. This gorgeous new volume, lavishly and beautifully illustrated, is a testament to his enduring popularity, a treasure for fans of Robert E. Howard, and a splendid introduction to the Hyborian Age for new readers. If you don't know Conan, you don't know fantasy." --GEORGE R.R. MARTIN, author of #1 New York Times bestseller A Feast for Crows
"Robert E. Howard dreamed Conan the Cimmerian for himself, and set him free to roam the world of his own Hyborian soul; but first in his years at Marvel Comics and now with this encyclopedic culmination, Roy Thomas dreamed him for all of us, and made that world come vividly to life within our own." --MICHAEL CHABON, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and Wonder Boys
"No one has done more to popularize Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian than Roy Thomas, whose thrilling stories and brilliant editing propelled the world's favorite barbarian to the list of Marvel Comics' best-sellers for more than a decade. And now Roy has brought his knowledge and skills to bear in this ultimate guide, a fan's dream come true." --STAN LEE, creator of The Amazing Spider-Man and The Fantastic Four
Disappointing I'm in the minority here, but I thought this book was really flawed and I was disappointed. At first glance it looks great... nicely designed with quality reproduction of the artwork... but there are problems with the book as a whole.
For one thing the text doesn't state clearly which Conan story you are reading about on any given page or pages. The subtitle of the book calls it the "Ultimate Guide" so it should guide the reader at least a little! I don't mind so much that it includes lots of non-Robert E. Howard stories from the comic books, but let the reader know in each case what they're looking at... and include an index.
Another thing that really bothered me was the failure to credit the artists for all the illustrations. Every page is illustrated... it's the raison d'etre for the book... but who drew or painted all this stuff? There's virtually no indication. All the way in the back of the book the author briefly thanks some (not even all!) of the artists, but nowhere can you look up who created any particular illlustration.
If you just want a pretty looking Conan coffee table book this fits the bill... but otherwise you might want to skip it.
AOC & Conan (also this book) always loved graphic novels,Savage sword,Red Sonja.the new Age of Conan MMO has rejuvenated me,I bought the game but haven't played it yet,first going back & learning about Conan & ofcorse R.E.Howard,when I was young it was more about just the superficial content?. just received my copy of Born on the Battlefield & WOW!,so happy to have re-discovered such amazing work.
CONAN - ROY THOMAS - ROBERT E HOWARD=SOUL & INSPIRATION This book is excellent because it pertains to comics by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema. It also contains Dark Horse Comics. You'll really enjoy this book. Back during the Seventies Roy Thomas at Marvel obtain the rights of Conan. Barry Windsor Smith drew the first Conan comic. Now it's currently done by Dark Horse and it's even better! Also during the seventies Marvel printed up Black & White magazines on Conan, Soloman Kane, Kull & more about 68 pages. There's a lot of neat stories, articles, and information about REH = Soul & Inspiration.
Also recommended: Two Gun Bob, One Who Walked Alone, Blood & Thunder,The Life&Art of REH, The Last of the Trunk, Black Stranger Lord of Samarcand, Collected Letters Vol 1-3 and Poetry of REH, The Never Ending Hunt, Dark Horse Kull, Bran Mak Morn, Soloman Kane (Vampire killer), Cormac Mac Art, Crimson Shadows I & II The Best of REH, The Black Stranger that has a story scarier than Poe, Hitchcock, & Lovecraft entitled Pigeons From Hell, Conan - Dark Horse Comics which is superb and on the last page they have sayins of REH called Two Gun Bob. Check out the REH Foundation and Forum!
Conan lovers, this is for you... First of all id like to say that the delivery of this product was on time and in perfect condition. Having that said, now about the book. I have been a Conan enthusiast and lover since i was a little boy when i first saw "Conan The Barbarian". Since then i have picked up numerous "new" conan stories written by numerous authors, every Conan DarkHorse comic up to date, and the McFarlane toys that were released. I must say that the new release paperbacks of Robert E. Howards original Conan stories are utterly amazing and should be read by all lovers of this fantastic Barbarian. As i was browsing through Amazons book section i stumbled across this, encyclopedia if you will, and HAD to have it. As of now I cant put the book down. This book has everything ever mentioned in the books, comics and lore of Conan as well as pictures and descriptions of gods that have been talked about in his stories. If you want a serious inside look of the Age of Conan then you MUST pick up this book.
Great addition to my collection! This book is fantastic! The detail and artistry make this a must have for any serious Conan collector.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
