The Savage Sword of Conan: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus, Vol. 1

The Savage Sword of Conan: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus

by Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith (Illustrator), John Buscema (Illustrator)

Unfettered by the Comics Code, experience Conan at his most visceral in the original epic comic magazine The Savage Sword of Conan ! The dark and gritty tales within are perfect for Conan fans looking for that extra bit of bloody violence!

Crom! This inaugural volume ushers in a line of definitive Savage Sword of Conan collections. Full-color covers, letters pages, pinups, extensive articles and reviews on Conan, his world and his creator — everything’s included and no one is spared the vengeance of Conan! After the breakout success of Conan’s color comic, the legendary sword-and-sorcery saga of Robert E. Howard’s hero expanded into the oversized black-and-white magazine format. In lushly illustrated novel-length adventures with all the drama, violence and allure the comic book medium can offer, writer Roy Thomas and greatest artists of the era craft a host of Conan classics like Barry Windsor-Smith’s “Red Nails” and John Buscema’s “Black Colossus” and “A Witch Shall Be Born” featuring the infamous Tree of Death.

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Adventure, Classics, Horror

1040 pages, Hardcover

First published April 6, 1976

About the author

Roy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.

Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is massively magnificent! It’s about 600 lbs! I recommend to all Conan lovers!





I went ahead and added some pics of the book on Amazon below 😉⬇️

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/review/1...

Happy Reading!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Drew Canole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of the stories are scripted by Roy Thomas.

My favourite stories are the straight adaptations of REH's stories done by Roy Thomas with John Buscema and Alcala or BWS. Red Nails, Black Colossus and Iron Shadows in the Moon are the best stories here.

Savage Tales 1 ✓ - a reprint of Barry-Windsor Smith's The Frost Giant's Daughter. Perhaps the greatest short Conan tale.

Savage Tales 2,3 ✓ - BWS takes on Red Nails, another classic tale.

Savage Tales 4 ✓ - Night of the Dark God with Gil Kane + Neal Adams and a reprint of BWS's Dweller in the Dark from the color comics. BWS is great. Not a big fan of Gil Kane's art and Neal's inks while good don't make up for it.

-Savage Tales 5 - The Secret of Skull River with Jim Starlin on art. This doesn't really feel like a Conan story but Starlin's art is fantastic tons of dynamic angles and panelling.

Savage Sword of Conan 1 ✓ Curse of the Undead-Man with Buscema+Marcos, a fun done-in-one story with Red Sonja

Savage Sword of Conan 2 ✓ Black Colossus. The first real epic Buscema did! With Alcala on inks. When I think "Savage Sword" this is what I'm thinking of. The lush illustration and barbarian figures of Buscema matched with the billion ink lines by Alcala. It's actually quite short at only 40 pages, so perhaps not an "epic", but it feels epic anyways.

Savage Sword of Conan 3 ✓ At The Mountain of the Moon-God with Buscema+Marcos

Savage Sword of Conan 4 ✓ Iron Shadows in the Moon Buscema and Alcala. Another classic. The splash pages with Alcala's millions of ink lines are wonderful.

Savage Sword of Conan 5 ✓ A Witch Shall Be Born Buscema and "The Tribe". Classic.

Savage Sword of Conan 6 ✓ The Sleeper Beneath the Sands with Sonny Trinidad. Also the epic People of the Dark by Alex Nino! This is one of the most unique Conan stories ever. The illustration is wonderful too. Nino crushes it, and shows why he's a Hall-of-Fame inductee.

-Savage Sword of Conan 7 Citadel at the Center of Time with Buscema and Alcala. This one is a wild ride, a bit silly and ends with Conan killing a time travelling T-Rex.

Savage Sword of Conan 8 ✓ A bunch of short stories including The Forever Phial with the brilliant Tim Conrad, Corsairs Against Sygia with Gil Kane

-Savage Sword of Conan 9 Curse of the Cat Goddess with Pablo Marcos, very short.

Savage Sword of Conan 10 ✓ the final chapter of Hour of the Dragon, continued from the Giant Size Conan color comics. Not really worth reading unless you have the rest of the stories (which I believe are done by Gil Kane)

Savage Sword of Conan 11 ✓ Abode of the Damned with Buscema

-Savage Sword of Conan 12 The Haunters of Castle Crimson freely adapted from a REH story with Buscema and Alcala. The ending as an Edgar Allan Poe feel to it.

Super Annual Special 1975 ✓ 'Beware the Wrath of Anu' and 'Web of the Spider-God' by BWS both reprinted in B+W from the Conan color comics.

[Philip James Ahlschlager · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lesson in graphic fiction, with incredible art and story.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool stories and art. But I think I prefer the original color comics to the black and white magazines. Yes, they do have a bit more graphic violence and show a little more skin. But the full-color comics have an amazing cheese factor that makes it more endearing to me. Sometimes these versions of the classic Conan stories take themselves more seriously, and that's nice except we lose out on the original stories that include crossovers with Elric and Kull and some of those goofy monsters that Thomas dreamed up with the help of John Buscema and Gil Kane. I just really got a kick out of the original stories more than the predictable Howard adaptations (I'm sure most afficionados will disagree with me but this is just my own dumb taste).

There are a couple of other glaring problems with the collection in that it is mostly Conan-centric. Almost all the other stories featuring other characters (with a couple of notable exceptions) have been omitted. I get why they did this, some of the issues are licensing. Red Sonja stories are only included if they include Conan and Kull is completely omitted. I get it, but I don't like it. Sure, maybe Marvel will not get permission to print these stories for a long time if ever and I should be happy for what I got. But they don't warn us of this. I thought when I got this that I was getting the entire magazines, but I'm not and no mention is made of this.

Now the Soloman Kane stories will be available in a separate omnibus and that's great. And we may never see Blackmark, Red Sonya, or King Kull unless Marvel works this out. Instead, we got the Man-Thing which has already been reprinted a couple of times and the Frost Giant's Daughter printed twice. I think if I want to read any more of the Savage Sword issues, I can find the original yellowing magazines for $5-$10 each with everything included. Here's to hoping the characters that currently own these other characters will allow Marvel to print them again, but that might be like expecting to see Rom again.

[Greg (adds 2 TBR list daily) Hersom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun. Hope to do a full review soon

[Francisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spectacular volume, much like that for the color Conan The Barbarian series, this collects the first issues of Savage Tales and then the first 12 issues of Savage Sword of Conan, preserving articles and letter pages as well as the amazingly rendered Conan tales from those issues. It is unfortunate that many of the other stories (Kull and Red Sonja for example) aren't collected as those characters are owned by other companies, but still what you get is amazing totalling over 1000 pages in hardcover.

This is the first volume on what will certainly be at least 10 huge volumes of some of the best art in comics, I can't wait for more to come out. The talent here is exceptional, you get some of the last Barry Windsor-Smith Conan tales and then you get a lot of John Buscema, the highlight being the stories pencilled by him and inked by Alfredo Alcalá, amazingly intricate stuff that looks more like Gustave Doré's illustrations than anything else in comics at the time.

The stories you get here are also huge, some of the single issue stories reach some 70 or 80 pages all of which are just beautiful. An amazing, if somewhat expensive, volume that is worth every cent you spend on it.

[Dave Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This features some of the best art you will ever see in a comic book, period. Lashings of toxic masculinity drawn beautifully by some of the best artists of the 70’s like John Buscema, Neil Adams, Alfredo Alcala and Barry Windsor Smith. Fantastic stories fantastically told that are timeless and full of heart and soul. These omni’s are hard to find and I feel incredibly privileged to have them, by Crom!

[Greg (adds 2 TBR list daily) Hersom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brings back memories of adventure

Reading these comics takes me back, to when mom used to tell me with a little sneer, "You always like that weird stuff,". She was right and 4 1/2 decades later I still do.
But how can you not? This is the stuff of a young boys dream. High adventure, freedom, and beautiful women!
They don't make them like this anymore.

[Alan Hume · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to collect those magazines as a kid
good to read it again

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://magicandmeteors.wordpress.com...

Savage Sword of Conan Volume 1: The Original Marvel Years by Roy Thomas offers readers a rich exploration of the diverse peoples, technologies, cultures, and complex relationships within the Hyborian Age. Conan’s world is a vast, multifaceted realm where kingdoms and tribes exist in a constant state of tension, each defined by their distinct approaches to power, survival, and the forces that shape their destinies.

Conan himself is not merely a barbarian hero; he is an outsider who experiences all of these cultures, kingdoms, and peoples from the perspective of a wanderer who never quite belongs anywhere. His interactions with the civilizations he encounters reveal the complexities of his world. He comes from Cimmeria, a primitive land where the people rely on their physical strength and cunning to survive. Their tools and weapons, while functional, are far less advanced than the high-tech creations of more "civilized" societies. The Cimmerians are strong, hardy, and direct in their approach to life, but their world is harsh and unforgiving, and they value survival above all else. Their technology is basic and centered around practicality, whether it’s forging weapons, building simple structures, or navigating the brutal environment they call home. Their values are deeply rooted in personal honor and the code of the warrior, but their social structures are more fluid than those of the more established kingdoms.

In contrast, the kingdom of Aquilonia represents the height of civilization in the Hyborian Age. It is a kingdom built on the ideals of nobility, chivalry, and honor, but beneath its regal surface, corruption and political intrigue run deep. The people of Aquilonia have developed advanced military technologies, including highly refined weapons and armor, and their soldiers are among the finest in the known world. Aquilonia’s large cities are filled with impressive architecture—grand castles and towering walls that protect its citizens from external threats. However, the technological sophistication of Aquilonia comes at a cost. Its political systems are fragile, with nobles vying for power and a king whose authority is often undermined by internal dissent. The sophisticated culture of Aquilonia is defined by the grandeur of its court and the wealth of its cities, but this culture is threatened by the same corruption that has plagued so many empires before it. Aquilonia’s reliance on organized military might contrasts sharply with Conan’s more direct, personal form of combat, making it clear that no matter how advanced a civilization may appear, it is never immune to decline.

The technological and cultural advancements of Stygia, another key civilization in Conan's world, are largely centered around mysticism and sorcery. Stygia is a land of dark gods, ancient rituals, and powerful magic, and the Stygians are not concerned with the mechanical technologies that define kingdoms like Aquilonia. Instead, they focus on the occult, using forbidden arts to craft weaponry and protect their cities. Their understanding of magic allows them to produce strange and mystical tools and artifacts that are as deadly as they are awe-inspiring. Stygia's people are deeply entrenched in religious practices, and their devotion to their gods manifests in everything they do, from their architecture to their governance. Their power lies not in technological innovation but in their mastery of sorcery, which they use to control both their enemies and their own people. The kingdom’s rulers, steeped in ancient religious traditions, maintain their hold through the fear and awe they inspire.

The Picts, another significant group in Conan’s world, are a tribe living deep within the forests and jungles of Hyboria. Their culture is far removed from the sophisticated cities of Aquilonia or Stygia, yet they possess a deep spiritual connection to nature and the supernatural. The Picts are a primal people, living in close-knit clans, relying on their knowledge of the land and their survival skills.

Their technology is rudimentary compared to that of the more advanced civilizations, but they possess a deep understanding of the natural world and how to use it to their advantage. The Picts' culture is centered around their tribal customs and shamanistic practices. They worship ancient gods tied to the earth and the spirits of animals, and their rituals are deeply entwined with their everyday lives. The Picts’ way of life is an expression of survival in its purest form—where every action is motivated by the need to hunt, defend, and protect their own. This connection to the land gives them a distinct edge in combat, as their warriors are not just skilled fighters but also deeply connected to the natural forces around them.

In the East, the Khitai and Turanian peoples present different technological and cultural approaches to power. Khitai, with their focus on ancient wisdom, martial arts, and mysticism, are a civilization that blends philosophy with warfare. Their warriors are highly disciplined, and their understanding of strategy and combat is rivaled only by their ability to wield and understand magic. The Turanians, on the other hand, are more pragmatic. They are a nomadic, warlike people who value strength and valor, and their society is structured around warrior traditions. Their technology is geared toward their military capabilities, including their advanced skills in mounted combat and siege warfare. They are a people who pride themselves on their tactical knowledge and their ability to conquer and maintain control over vast territories. Turania’s interactions with other cultures often revolve around trade and diplomacy, but it’s clear that their primary strength lies in their ability to engage in battle and crush their enemies.

Throughout the volume, the varied peoples of Hyboria interact with Conan in different ways, and these interactions often reveal the underlying tensions between civilization and barbarism. Conan, as a wanderer who does not owe allegiance to any kingdom or cause, becomes both a disruptor and a force of nature within this world. His presence forces others to confront the flaws in their own societies. He sees the corruption and decadence of the so-called “civilized” world, and yet he also realizes that the barbarian tribes, despite their simplicity and strength, are not immune to the same kinds of corruption, albeit in a different form. Conan himself embodies a strange blend of both—he is a barbarian by birth, but his intellect, cunning, and strategic mind allow him to operate within and manipulate the systems of power around him.

The technological advancements of these civilizations provide Conan with both challenges and opportunities. In Aquilonia, he faces armies equipped with advanced weapons, but he also finds ways to use his strength and experience to overcome them. In Stygia, he must confront twisted sorcery, relying on his own physical prowess and battle-hardened instincts to navigate the mystical dangers that threaten him. The Picts, with their primitive ways, are no less dangerous, relying on the natural environment to create traps and ambushes that challenge Conan's survival skills. Each culture, with its unique combination of technology, magic, and tradition, contributes to the complexity of Conan's journey.

In these stories, the vast, diverse world of Hyboria becomes more than just a backdrop for Conan’s adventures—it is a living, breathing entity, shaped by the interactions of its peoples, cultures, and technologies. Every kingdom, tribe, and civilization has its own identity, and each plays a part in shaping Conan’s understanding of power, survival, and what it means to be a hero in such a turbulent world. Through his encounters with these peoples, Conan learns not just about them, but about himself—his place in a world that is ever-changing, ever-brutal, and ever-demanding. His journey is as much about navigating the complexities of civilization and technology as it is about the physical battles he faces, making his adventures as much philosophical as they are action-packed.

From the very outset and made very clear is that Savage Sword of Conan Volume 1 is as much about the world Conan inhabits as it is about the character himself. It’s a world where technology, culture, and power constantly collide, and where Conan, the barbarian outsider, must navigate these turbulent forces. Through his interactions with these different peoples, the volume illustrates that, while civilisations may be advanced in some respects, they are also fragile and require care —susceptible to decay and corruption. Conan, in his raw simplicity and survival instinct, often comes to represent the one thing these civilizations have forgotten: the relentless drive to live, regardless of the cost.

[Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nuff said

[Clint · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Savage Sword of Conan was the comic that fired my young imagination as a child. I discovered Dungeons & Dragons at age 9 and quickly became wrapped up in anything that spoke “D&D”. I still remember the first time I found an issue on the magazine rack at a grocery store. My mother was grocery shopping, and I was made to tag along. I would always go straight to the wire comic book rack, find a comic, and beg her to buy me “just one”. That day, I spied an issue of SSoC on the magazine rack, it being too large for the wire comic rack. I do not remember the issue number, but I remember it was too expensive and she wouldn’t buy it for me.

I didn’t get to read too many of these growing up, but each one I managed to get my hands on was a treasure that I would read over and over. It wasn’t until Dark Horse started collecting these in multi-volume books that I had the chance to read them. I own and read several of these in the Dark Horse format, not all, but many. I still have those on my shelf.

Almost, I did not start collecting the Marvel Omnibus editions of SSoC. I have many, but not all of the Dark Horse prints. I didn’t want to spend the money; however, when I heard that these were lavishly produced and even included the Savage Scrolls letter columns, I couldn’t resist.

I am glad I buckled. These are a treasure. The artwork pops on the high-quality paper. The stories, while I’ve read them before, are still fantastic. Roy Thomas produced some of my favorite Conan pastiche. Best yet, the introductions, letter columns and many extras tell a story of a comic magazine that almost wasn’t. It’s a tale familiar to me through various other sources but reading it in the massively heavy tome is an experience.

The only negative criticism I have, not all of the original features of each issue are reproduced. For instance, if an issue contained a Kull or Solomon Kane tale, those are missing. In some cases, I think the decision was made to keep those separate for their own special treatment; in other cases, I believe copy-right issues were involved. I would love to have each issue complete, but each feature that could be reproduced, is reproduced. Overall, I'm satisfied.

The Savage Sword of Conan started life as Savage Tales. It was going to be an anthology comic magazine in lavish black and white art meant for mature readers. The Comics Code Authority rules of the day kept Roy Thomas from penning the Conan stories of great mirth and melancholy that he wanted to pen. Savage Tales was to solve this. It was intended as a book shared by Conan and Ka-Zar, with up to three more features per issue. It was cancelled nearly immediately after issue #1. Issue 2 did not appear on stands until nearly three years later. Eventually, after five issues and false starts, Savage Tales morphed into The Savage Sword of Conan and found a solid and rabid fan base.

I won’t say much about the stories, or the art. Chances are, your decision is made. I will state that if, like me, you were on the fence about adding these to your collection, get off the fence. You want these. They are expensive, but they are worth it.

Since I bought this book, Conan moved from Marvel to Titan. I’m glad to see that Titan is reprinting these books and I hope that continues as I own volumes 1 and 2 of the series and volumes 1-5 of its sister color book Conan the Barbarian. I want them all.

The dates of my reading this book is accurate. I spent four years rationing an issue to myself here and there. It is a massive book, but I could have read it in a much-abbreviated time.

[OmniBen · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 4.5/5
A masterpiece that eluded me for years, having every single Savage Sword and Original Years omnibus but this one. Well, it was worth the wait, I guess.
Roy Thomas shows why he is one of the true greats of this industry. Stan Lee may have created more characters and taken far more of the fame (and the money), but Roy Thomas curb stomps him in sheer talent and ability ten times over. If you know of any finer sword and sorcery stories (besides other Conan stories penned by Thomas), then I'd like to know. Somehow I doubt it though, as this stuff would be mighty hard to beat.
Aided in no small part to the literal god tier art on display, mostly thanks to John Buscema and Alfredo Alcala, whose masterful use of inks makes the very idea of adding colour to these pages seem a most heinous crime. Again, if you can find me a consistently more beautiful looking book, I'd like to hear it, because this is nigh on perfection from all concerned, and some of the greatest comics ever released. Essential. 4.5/5


OmniBen.

[Jay Rox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conan vol.1 issues 1-12 , 6.5/10

Great art Buscema & Alfredo Alcata with some solid classic stories. The extras are great they really explain the thought for panel layouts & ideas they had . The extras gave a great behined the scenes look to the point were you either felt like you were there back when these books were beeing released or if you were there it will take you back to those times. I bought the digital copy & a big chunk of the pages were blank or not downloaded for whatever reason , I would say close to 200 pages which is the reason for my low score the physical copy would be the way to go. 6/10

[Scotty Putty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be great for a Conan fan. I think new readers will find the black and white and dialogue an obstacle, but long time fans of this will love this collection. Took me a while to read through, the stories can be a bit repetitive and blend together if you dont take a break. Guys this is big John Bucema at his best. The artwork is great and you get a bit of Barry Windsor Smith aswell with the Frost Giants Daughter and Red Nails.

[Kurt Vosper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular collection of the early days of Savage Sword. This was one of my favourite magazines as a youth and my memory was correct. Well adapted Conan tales with some of the most realistic art in comics then or now. I tried to read one collected magazine every few weeks since April but I had a few times I moved ahead. Well worth the buy folks!

[Amanda Majasaari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally Hyborian masterpiece <3
I have already all these tales published by Dark Horse prints, but the layout are not so good with DH. In this book there is also all cover pictures, maps, swords & scrolls letters from readers and answers by Roy and many more tales of Hyborian age and world.
I do totally thank Marvel for starting to republish these SSC mags in fabulous format <3

[John Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic Conan has he should be seen with some of the absolute best stories and stunning art that is beautiful. A must read for all Conan fans.

[Steve Howells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read and amazing art work.

[Rock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me weeks to finish this giant book. Simply amazing was the art of John Buscema, if there was one black and white comic to pick, definitely this series.