Savage Tales

From 1972 to 1980, the Australian publisher K. G. Murray’s Savage Tales delivered 18 issues of raw, sword-and-sorcery adventure, blending reprints and original material. Anchored by frequent contributors Roy Thomas, Robert E. Howard, and David Michelinie, with visceral art from Barry Smith, Ernie Chan, and Gil Kane, the series brought Conan, King Kull, Beowulf, Hercules, and the Claw to life. It stands as a rugged, pre-Heavy Metal showcase for the barbarian genre, capturing the pulp energy that defined early-’70s fantasy comics.