Item Report
Bronze Age Marvel Comic Magazine 'The Savage Sword of Conan the Barbarian' No. 14
By: Marvel Comics (cover likely by Earl Norem)
Style: Bronze Age Comic Magazine
Origin: United States
Materials: Paper, ink
Age: circa 1976
Condition: Good (spine wear, visible creasing, corner blunting, not slabbed, some color break on spine; appears to be a raw copy)
Value: $20–$60 (auction estimate, depending on exact condition and collector interest)
Maker's Marks / Writing: Top left: 'THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN', smaller box: 'SEPT. NO 14', '$1', 'SHADOW-GOD OF ZAMBOULA', 'ALSO: KING KULL, SOLOMON KANE!'; signature: 'NOREM' (bottom left corner of the art, indicating cover artist Earl Norem).
Date: 2025-06-11 01:21:22.350150
Description:
This is 'The Savage Sword of Conan the Barbarian' issue No. 14, a black-and-white comic magazine published by Marvel Comics. The cover features art typical of the sword-and-sorcery genre, showing Conan protecting a woman from a monstrous beast. The issue is dated September (no year visible, but No. 14 is from 1976), cover price $1. Notable for its high-impact painted cover, likely by artist Earl Norem, and includes stories such as 'Shadow-God of Zamboula', as well as King Kull and Solomon Kane stories.
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
A collectible example of a mid-1970s Marvel comic magazine with classic sword-and-sorcery appeal. While the issue appears to show moderate wear and minor spine stress, it remains desirable among Conan and Bronze Age Marvel collectors. Value will vary based on interior page condition and absence of major defects.
Individual Images:
- No additional images provided; all observations are based on the main cover image. The visible cover shows general wear along the spine with some color break and small creases
- slight curling at the lower right and top corners
- and a bar code present
- consistent with regular circulation handling for a magazine of this vintage.
Provenance:
No provenance documentation provided; item appears to be a freely circulating collectible.
Condition:
Good (spine wear, visible creasing, corner blunting, not slabbed, some color break on spine; appears to be a raw copy)
Identification Score: 98%
The cover, issue number, publisher, and style are all present and legible, making positive identification almost certain. Slight room for error is due to not inspecting interior contents directly.
Authenticity Score: 95%
Physical aging, correct price box, paper type, and cover art style are consistent with known authentic examples of this magazine. There is no visible evidence of reproduction or facsimile.
Image Memory Note
The item is a full-color comic magazine, approximately 8.5 x 11 inches, titled 'The Savage Sword of Conan the Barbarian', issue No. 14 (Sept, circa 1976), published by Marvel Comics, cover price $1. The painted cover features Conan wielding a sword, defending a scantily clad woman before a monstrous ape or beast, with flames in the background. Bright red 'CONAN' title, yellow subtitle. Other text: 'ALL NEW! SHADOW-GOD OF ZAMBOULA' and 'ALSO: KING KULL, SOLOMON KANE!'. Barcode lower left. The condition shows notable wear: spine stress lines with some color loss, noticeable blunting at upper and lower spine corners, slight waviness and small creases. Cover art signed 'NOREM' at the lower left. No visible tears or major stains. No evidence of restoration or trimming. No interior pages shown, so completeness is not confirmed.
Keywords
The Savage Sword of Conan, Conan the Barbarian, Bronze Age, Marvel Comics, comic magazine, Earl Norem, 1970s, sword-and-sorcery, United States
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