Customer Reviews

Conan the Phenomenon (Conan (Dark Horse Unnumbered))

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book does a great job at telling the tale of Conan, from very early life of ROH (with some rare photos) to Dark Horse... But don't expect to find Conan's life story... The book is more interested (correctly) on discovering the history of the Cimmerian in various media... It divides the subject clearly and successfully... Moreover, you do not only find the history but sometimes the controversy etc... Its' virtual context is also pretty satisfactory... Most of Frazetta's great works can be seen and it even includes covers from all historic Conan books (they're very funny) As a result, I've started to read my Conan comic archive once again... and to be honest, after reading the book, I started to give more credit to Barry Smith's work...

So why 4 stars instead of 5.!? The most important reason (maybe 95 % of the lost star) is that the book covers John Buscema only about a single page... When you say the name "Conan" most of old-school fans of Conan comics would first recall the images pencilled by Buscema... I mean, "Big John" (RIP) had set the benchmark image of Conan... He deserves at least (if not more) as much coverage as those like Lord, de Camp, Carter, Thomas and Frazetta... In fact if I could, I would rate the book 3.5 stars just because of this... and my brother thinks the book is almost "worthless" since it did not cover Buscema enough...

Another minor reason that I cut off a star is, the book covered the Conan movies too much... For me, the series deserve only some respect for attempting to carry Conan to the silver screen... but the films themselves (especially "The Destroyer") were a disgrace to the Barbarian as they departed from the original saga and turned into some travesty... At least they could dye Arnold's hair black... all conan stories begin with the famous prologue that says "Hither came Conan the Cimmerian. Black haired, sullen eyed...".. Whatever, this is not the place to criticize the film but the book...

As a summary, if you are less sensitive than me about Buscema and "Conan the Moviestar" issues, then it will be a great book to have...

I've been a Conan reader and fan (books first, then comics, then any and all of the "pastiche" books out now by Roland Green, De camp, etc.) since the mid 60's. Started with the Lancer sets, then Marvel's Barry Smith comic version, then collecting the early Gnomes, so, while I may not be a Conan "expert", I've sure been there (and still am, to a great extent, although I have diversified quite a bit!).

This is a great Conan chronology, including the writer, Robert E Howard, and his life and influences. Not a biography of Howard, you can get much more comprehensive information about him in other places, but a nicely detailed progression and biography of sorts of the Conan character in prose and art. (there are a pics of Arnold as Conan...too many in my opinion... and, while I do consider him the quintessential Conan of the Movies, I can certainly take him or leave him in "real" life! there are also movie stills of the other characters in the Conan movies, including Grace Slick..)

There is much detail, but not overwhelming, and enough to inspire one to find out more on Howard and his life.

But the ART! That's what this one is really about...Loads of images of the Conan character by the best fantasy artists of the century, many full page and two page spreads...and a lot of info on the progression of Conan from the "Weird Tales" years to the later non-Howard stories.

A great addition to the Conan library, and issued at about the same time as the oversize "Conan the Ultimate Guide..." by Roy Thomas, which I also highly recommend because it takes you into the World of Conan and highlights the geography and peoples of the Cimmerian's surroundings. (art in this one is fantastic as well)

One word description: "Enjoy!"

No true REH fan can pass this book up! It's got a history of everyone from writers to artists that have been involved with Conan; Arnold, Glen Lord, Roy Thomas, John Buscema, Frank Frazetta, and the list goes on and on. The art is awesome and there are some neat surprises!

Must reads: One Who Walked Alone,The Beast from the Abyss,Two Gun Bob,The Last of the Trunk, Blood & Thunder-The Life&Art of REH, Selected Letters of REH, Bran Mak Morn, Soloman Kane, Corman Mac Art, Kull, Lord of Samarcand, Crimson Shadows I & II - The Best of REH, The Black Stranger has the scariest story ever called Pigeons From Hell. Tell others about REH - (1906-1936).

If you know of Frank Frazetta, it is mostly thru his artwork, that has often graced the covers of many fantasy books and magazines. This book is a little different. Here, Frazetta appears also as a co-author. Unfortunately, I couldn't discern where his written contributions differ from those of Sammon. So maybe after all, Frazetta's main contribution are those colour plates drawn by him.

The book offers a multi-decade overview of Conan. You get to step back from any given Conan book, and many of these are still in print. The broader perspective is given, and analysed. Showing the contributions of artists like Frazetta himself, that have helped fix a canonical imagery of Conan. And also of course, the new Conan books, that keep getting written. In totality, the Conan library is perhaps not as prodigious as the Star Trek books, or even the Star Wars ones. But enough Conan material has been written that this book is long overdue.

This book turned out to be an excellent read. Much better than anticipated. It contains essential information not only on the mythos and evolution of Conan from inception up to today but also is a great source of reference material on Howard himself. The format is eyecatching and the information flows so smoothly you find yourself hooked right away. This is just an essential book for any Howard or Conan fan. You can not be dissapointed. Excellence in every page.

The writer clearly respects and admires the suibject matter here.

This book is an astonishing coffee table book. The images are breathtaking, by all the most celebrated Conan artists ever. You hava all the information needed to know about this character's journey, since his inception by gifted pulp ficiton writer Howard (who sadly committed suicide at the ridiculous young age of 31), through all the apstiches eventually published, the movies, the different series of comics, etc.

This book is so good, that you do not need to be a Conan fan that read absolutely everything that was eve released about him. Much on the contrary. this book will make you want to know Conan more!

It's a shame, however, that the new COnan movie is such an obnoxious feature.

Many will be attracted to this book for its spectacular illustrations, which range from Conan's first pulp magazine cover appearances through to the comics of the present day. Certainly, key pieces by all the great Conan artists are gathered here: Margaret Brundage, Barry Windsor-Smith, John Buscema, Ken Kelly, Cary Nord, and of course, Frank Frazetta. But the book is more than a feast for the eyes. Paul Sammon has also done a great service to fans of REH's most famous creation by laying out the complex publication and reception history of the Conan character, in a scholarly but readable way.

Sammon does not pick sides in the debate between "Howard" purists and fans of the many later pastiche works by L. Sprague de Camp, Lin Carter, and many others - but he does provide a clear account of when and where different Howard manuscripts were first published, and the degree to which they were revised by other hands, thereby making an invaluable contribution to Conan's messy bibliographic history. Sammon also provides an informative narrative of the process whereby everyone's favorite Cimmerian came to conquer all media - from the comics to movies to video and role-playing games.

The highest compliment I can pay this work, however, is that it made me eager to revisit the original pulp tales. Sammon's knowledge and enthusiasm for his subject is infectious.

All in all, a great gift for a Conan fan, and an ideal primer for anyone who may just be discovering Robert E. Howard's work.

I got this book awhile back. And I really enjoyed it. It's not a book about just Conan but it's about Robert E. Howard (the creator of Conan) and many of the other creative forces behind the Conan genre. And Conan is a genre of it's own. The character is big. Who doesn't know of him?

Anyway... the pics were excellent. The writing was informative. And I found it to be a great addition to my collection:)

Sammon worked on CONAN THE BARBARIAN -- which I don't hold against him -- and has, in this book, written a truly entertaining look at everything Conan -- from REH's life to the movies and beyond. It isn't the longest book (I read it in an hour) but it covers the character in a broad and entertaining style. Other books may cover aspects in greater detail -- Mark Finn's BLOOD AND THUNDER comes to mind -- he covers the entire spectrum. Alot of this I was aware of, having been a REH fan since 1969 and I was fifteen -- getting to know Sprague de Camp, Lin Carter,August Derleth, Glenn Lord, Karl Wagner et al. The pastiches ... the late Don Wandrei once referred to them as "Conantics". As Lin Sprague de Carter are no longer alive and cannot defend themselves, I'll say nothing -- be kinda like shooting fish in a barrel with a machine gun. The movies? Entertaining but Howard's Conan it ain't. When CONAN; CROWN OF IRON died a well-deserved death, I was one who heaved a sigh of relief. Perhaps LIONSGATE, Nispel and Jason Momoa can breathe new life into his silver screen incarnation. For someone who wants to know what has made this character tick and his nearly 80 year history, this is a good place to start. Slick with tons of artwork from Frazetta, the comics and more. A great addition to any Howard library! On a scale of 1-10, it's a solid 9.999! I can't recommend it any higher.

always loved graphic novels,Savage sword,Red Sonja.the new Age of Conan MMO has rejuvenated me,I bought the game but haven't played it yet,first going back & learning about Conan & ofcorse R.E.Howard,when I was young it was more about just the superficial content?. just received my copy of Born on the Battlefield & WOW!,so happy to have re-discovered such amazing work.