Robert E. Howard's Conan had been out of print since his pulp days but for some small press hardcovers in the fifties. In '66, Lancer brought the character to a mass audience once again, adorned with a Frank Frazetta cover. The books set Frank on his way to being the acclaimed fantasy artist he became and inspired Roy Thomas to push Marvel to license the character (which the would do 4 years later).
The book is a landmark achievement in so many ways. I was giddy when I found a copy of it several months ago. That image of Conan is charred into my brain, classic stuff. I love the copy on the reverse which references Tarzan and Tolkien to put Conan into perspective. Nowadays of course Conan is the reference point.
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Robert E. Howard's Conan had been out of print since his pulp days but for some small press hardcovers in the fifties. I
ReplyDeleteDon't forget Skull-Face and Others, published in 1946!