American Bronze Age Period Newsprint Comic: Conan the Barbarian King-Size Special #1 (Marvel, 1973)
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Glossary Roundup
Original Presentation Script
Opening Context — Behold the American Bronze Age Period Newsprint Comic: Conan the Barbarian King-Size Special #1, where Marvel’s fiercest Cimmerian wades through a river of foes under a thunderclap of yellow type. It’s an annual—big, bold, and gloriously pulpy. Age and Significance — Dated 1973, this ‘King-Size Special’ (a.k.a. Annual #1) celebrates Conan’s award-winning run, bottling the zeitgeist of sword-and-sorcery’s surge in comics. Materials and Craftsmanship — Offset inks on cover stock with newsprint guts, saddle-stapled; the cover bears Barry Windsor-Smith’s signature and lush crosshatching that defined early Conan. Condition, Damage, and Repairs — From the photo: strong color and gloss with multiple spine ticks and light edge wear; we can’t see back cover or interiors, so page tone, staples, completeness, and any touch-ups remain unknown. Authenticity and Appraisal Summary — All visible trade dress looks period-correct; pending indicia/staple checks, authenticity is likely. I’d peg it around 72% on the authenticity meter, with a conservative auction estimate of $20–$75 in this apparent mid-grade state, with higher outcomes for cleaner, verified copies. Crom would nod approvingly.
Used for this report's TTS and avatar presentation.
Item Report
American Bronze Age Period Newsprint Comic: Conan the Barbarian King-Size Special #1 (Marvel, 1973)
By:Publisher: Marvel Comics. Writer: Roy Thomas. Cover artist: Barry Windsor-Smith (signed “Barry Smith”).
Style:Bronze Age American Comic Book (1970s)
Origin:United States
Materials:Offset lithographic inks on cover stock and newsprint; two-staple saddle-stitch binding
Age:Circa 1973 (first printing)
Condition:Very Good (visible spine ticks and edge wear; raw copy; back cover/interiors not shown)
Value:USD $20–$75 at auction (raw, mid-grade; higher grades can exceed $150)
Maker's Marks / Writing:Cover text: “Conan King-Size 1 1973 02903,” price “35¢,” “Marvel Comics Group,” “Special Issue!,” Comics Code Authority seal, red burst “Special Academy Award Issue! Two of the Greatest Conan Sagas Ever Told!” Signature: “Barry Smith” at lower left.
Date:2025-11-02 14:41:57.559307
Description:
Original 1973 Marvel Comics ‘King-Size Special’ (also known as Annual #1) featuring Robert E. Howard’s Conan. Cover price 35¢; banner reads “Marvel Comics Group – Special Issue!” with Comics Code seal. Red burst: “Special Academy Award Issue! Two of the Greatest Conan Sagas Ever Told!” Dynamic cover art signed “Barry Smith” (Barry Windsor-Smith) at lower left. Saddle-stapled, offset color on cover stock with newsprint interiors; likely reprints of key Barry Smith/Roy Thomas Conan stories.
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
A desirable Bronze Age Marvel annual with an iconic Windsor-Smith battle cover. From the single front-cover photo, it appears to be an original 35¢ first print from 1973 with proper period trade dress and CCA seal. Visible condition suggests a solid mid-grade raw copy: bright color and gloss with multiple color-breaking spine ticks and minor edge/corner wear; back cover and interiors not shown, so page tone, staple integrity, and any restoration remain unverified. A word about fakes.. Bronze Age keys do see modern reprints and undisclosed color touch or cleaning; confirm the indicia reads 1973, check for no barcode, measure for trimming, and use blacklight to screen for color touch. If unrestored and complete, this copy fits a Very Good to Fine bracket and should bring low double-digits to low–mid two figures at auction. {chavatar_catchphrase}
Individual Images:
none
Provenance:
Not provided.
Condition:
Very Good (visible spine ticks and edge wear; raw copy; back cover/interiors not shown)
Identification Score: 97%
Distinctive 35¢ King-Size Special trade dress, 1973 date in the corner box, CCA seal, and Barry Smith signature match Conan the Barbarian King-Size Special (Annual) #1.
Authenticity Score: 72%
All visible markers align with a 1973 first print; however, only the front cover is shown and restoration/reprint status cannot be fully excluded without indicia, staples, and interior inspection.
Image Memory Note
None
None
Keywords
Conan the Barbarian; King-Size Special #1; Annual #1; Bronze Age; Marvel Comics; 1973; Barry Windsor-Smith; Roy Thomas; United States; comic book
The report was edited after initial Artmink draft. Original AI draft preserved in Artmink audit history.
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