Kull and the Barbarians #1

History

Roy Thomas conceived the title as a companion to Savage Sword of Conan, publishing it through Marvel's Curtis Magazines imprint in the same black-and-white magazine format that had sidestepped the Comics Code. Thomas served as editor with Gerry Conway as associate editor and Marv Wolfman and Len Wein as consulting editors — an unusually deep editorial bench that reflected Marvel's investment in the REH licensing line. The cover painting originated when Thomas purchased a Conan illustration by then-unknown Michael Whelan, and, needing a Kull image for the launch, had Whelan add a scar to the face to differentiate the character. The interior of this first issue leaned heavily on color-comic reprints from Kull the Conqueror #1 and #2 and Supernatural Thrillers #3, supplemented by two pages of new Neal Adams character portraits and a newly scripted adaptation of Howard's 'The Valley of the Worm.'

Trivia · 7 facts

• First printed comics work of fantasy painter Michael Whelan: Thomas purchased a Whelan Conan painting and had the artist add a scar to the face to repurpose it as a Kull cover.
• First appearances of multiple Kull supporting characters: Alecto, Councilor Tu, Ridondo, Baron Kaanuub of Blaal, Commander Enaros, and Count Ducalon of Komahar all debut in the 'A King Comes Riding' story, which also reveals Kull's full origin in flashback.
• The introductory 'Hail the Barbarians!' text piece by Roy Thomas features two pages of new Neal Adams character portraits depicting King Kull, Brule, Bran Mak Morn, Solomon Kane, and Red Sonja — the five pillars of the anthology.
• Interior stories include reprints of 'A King Comes Riding' (from Kull the Conqueror #1, art by Ross Andru and Wally Wood) and 'The Shadow Kingdom' (from Kull the Conqueror #2, art by Marie and John Severin), plus a new adaptation of Howard's 'The Valley of the Worm' (starring Niord/James Allison) with art by Gil Kane and Ernie Chan.
• Edited by Roy Thomas, with Gerry Conway (associate editor) and Marv Wolfman and Len Wein (consulting editors); Thomas also scripted the lead story.
• The series ran for only three issues in 1975, but its third issue delivered the first-ever origin story of Red Sonja, making the anthology directly foundational to that character's mythology.
• Material from this issue has been reprinted in Dark Horse's The Savage Sword of Kull #1 (2010), Marvel Firsts: The 1970s #2 (2012), and both the Kull the Savage and Kull the Destroyer Original Marvel Years Omnibus volumes (2021).

Cast · 23 characters

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