Bronze Age American Comic Book: Conan the Barbarian King-Size Special #1 (Marvel, 1973)
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Item Report
Bronze Age American Comic Book: Conan the Barbarian King-Size Special #1 (Marvel, 1973)
By:Marvel Comics; writer Roy Thomas; cover/interior art Barry Windsor-Smith
Style:Bronze Age American Comic Book
Origin:United States
Materials:Color offset inks on newsprint; two-staple, saddle-stitched comic book
Age:1973 (Bronze Age)
Condition:Fine/VF (bright cover, minor spine ticks and light corner wear; raw/ungraded; back cover/pages not shown)
Value:$25–$80 (auction estimate for a raw mid-grade copy; higher grades can realize more)
Maker's Marks / Writing:Printed cover elements: “MARVEL COMICS GROUP,” “SPECIAL ISSUE!,” “KING-SIZE,” price 35¢, Comics Code Authority seal; circle reads “Special Academy Award Issue! Two of the greatest Conan sagas ever told!” Artist’s printed signature “Barry Smith” bottom left.
Date:2025-10-31 15:59:29.162403
Description:
Original Marvel Comics Group King-Size Special #1 (1973), 35¢ cover price. Cover art by Barry Windsor-Smith featuring Conan standing over fallen foes; circular callout reads “Special Academy Award Issue! Two of the greatest Conan sagas ever told!” Trade dress includes “MARVEL COMICS GROUP,” “SPECIAL ISSUE!,” Comics Code Authority seal, and diagonal “KING-SIZE” banner. Writer Roy Thomas; classic sword-and-sorcery content reprinting early Conan stories.
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
Identifies as Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian King-Size Special #1 (1973) with Barry Windsor-Smith cover—an attractive Bronze Age Conan reprint special. The presented front cover shows strong color and gloss with minor spine stress and light corner wear; back cover and interior not shown, so full grading is limited. A word about fakes.. In comics, modern facsimiles and undisclosed restoration are the main risks; check the indicia date, paper toning, staple placement, and any color touch/whitening under blacklight. Nothing in the photo suggests a modern facsimile (no barcode/modern pricing banner), but verification of the interior indicia is advised. Overall, a desirable Conan Bronze Age special with steady collector demand. {chavatar_catchphrase}
Individual Images:
none
Provenance:
No documentation provided (appears to be a raw copy).
Condition:
Fine/VF (bright cover, minor spine ticks and light corner wear; raw/ungraded; back cover/pages not shown)
Identification Score: 98%
Distinctive cover art and trade dress clearly match Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian King-Size Special #1 (1973), including 35¢ price, KING-SIZE banner, Comics Code seal, and Barry Windsor-Smith signature.
Authenticity Score: 74%
Front cover details and period trade dress look correct for a 1973 original; paper/aging appear appropriate. However, only the front cover is shown—no indicia, staples, or interior—so we reserve caution for potential facsimile/reprint or restoration.
Image Memory Note
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Keywords
Conan the Barbarian, King-Size Special #1, Marvel Comics, Bronze Age comic, Barry Windsor-Smith, Roy Thomas, 1973, United States, sword and sorcery, 35¢ cover, Comics Code Authority
The report was edited after initial Artmink draft. Original AI draft preserved in Artmink audit history.
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