Item Report
Marvel Bronze Age Conan the Barbarian #1 Comic Book
By: Marvel Comics Group (Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith, Stan Lee, Dan Adkins, Sam Rosen)
Style: Bronze Age American Comic Book
Origin: United States
Materials: Paper, ink
Age: 1970 (October)
Condition: Very Good+ (visible spine wear, stress marks, moderate color break at corners, tanning and light creases; not officially graded)
Value: $800–$2,000 (auction range, ungraded mid to low VF; higher for certified, high-grade examples)
Maker's Marks / Writing: Front cover: 'MARVEL COMICS GROUP', 'Conan the Barbarian', price (15¢), issue number (1), date (OCT), Comics Code Authority stamp. Interior: Full credits at lower frontispiece ('Stan Lee Editor', 'Roy Thomas Writer', 'Barry Smith Artist', etc.). Indicia at bottom provides the full copyright and publication details.
Date: 2025-06-29 04:21:55.254592
Description:
This is the first issue of 'Conan the Barbarian', published by Marvel Comics in October 1970. The comic features Conan in his debut Marvel appearance, written by Roy Thomas, illustrated by Barry Windsor-Smith, and edited by Stan Lee. The cover features Conan battling monsters, with comic book motifs typical of the Bronze Age. It is a highly collectible key issue for both comic and fantasy collectors.
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
A word about fakes.. Comic books, while often reprinted, are less likely to be counterfeited at this era, but facsimiles and reproductions exist—always verify printing details and paper quality. This is a sought-after key Marvel issue introducing Conan; condition is crucial to value. This example appears in good shape with some wear and creasing. Classic art and high desirability make it a cornerstone of Bronze Age collecting.
Individual Images:
- The additional photos show: (1) back cover with moderate yellowing and handling wear
- with coupon present and not clipped; (2) interior title page 'The Coming of Conan!' showing typical Bronze Age paper toning
- no major rips or tears
- and clear
- original creator credits (Stan Lee
- Roy Thomas
- Barry Smith
- Dan Adkins
- Sam Rosen). No clear evidence of restoration.
Provenance:
No explicit provenance provided; appears to be an unauthenticated copy. No sales receipt, prior grading, or documentation shown.
Condition:
Very Good+ (visible spine wear, stress marks, moderate color break at corners, tanning and light creases; not officially graded)
Identification Score: 100%
The title, cover art, publication data, and creator credits confirm this is 'Conan the Barbarian #1', first published by Marvel in October 1970. All features match the known first print.
Authenticity Score: 85%
Authentic 1970 printings typically show medium-cream page quality and offset printing. This copy shows age-appropriate wear, correct 15¢ price, Comics Code stamp, and proper interior indicia. There are modern reprints with similar covers, but this example does not show the typical markers of reprints (no 'facsimile edition' stamp, correct paper aging). The authenticity would jump to 95%+ after verification by CGC or CBCS.
Image Memory Note
The front cover depicts Conan in mid-battle, surrounded by fantasy monsters, colorful and iconic Bronze Age Marvel art. Top left corner: 'CONAN THE BARBARIAN', 15¢, issue #1, October. Comics Code stamp top right. Tagline at top: 'NEW! FIRST TIME IN COMIC-BOOK FORM!' and speech bubble 'TO THE DEATH!' Lower right corner: 'The Coming of Conan!'. Back cover shows a Wallace Brown Christmas card ad, coupon present, yellowing and mild edge wear, no major tears or clipped sections. Interior title page: 'THE COMING OF CONAN!', Conan and a woman with blue hair, credits (Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Barry Smith, Dan Adkins, Sam Rosen), Marvel publication details at bottom. Notable wear: acute corner and edge creases, moderate spine wear, tanning consistent with age on all pages. No restoration, no writing or marks, coupon not clipped.
Keywords
Conan the Barbarian, Bronze Age, Marvel Comics, comic book, first issue, 1970, United States, fantasy, Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith, Stan Lee, collectible
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