Nov 06
It’s a Two-fer Tuesday Gnome Press Conan Special
Good Show Sir Comments: Before Frank Frazetta got a hold of him, 1950s Conan was a more happy-go-lucky, fun guy.
1. “Ha ha” [Nelson from The Simpsons voice]
2. “I’m the original Dick Blade!”
Published 1955, 1957
Thanks to Larry for the covers!
November 6th, 2018 at 10:41 am
1: “Biggus Dickus?! Bwahahahaha!!!”
2: “That’ll teach you to mention Steve Reeves in my presence!”
November 6th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
1. Conan crossing the border into fabled Emsh, leaving the terrors of the Unknown Artists Institute far behind.
2. He has a barbarian Hello Kitty shield.
November 6th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
1. Oh sure! Just let Jesse Eisenberg ruin Conan too now.
2. Dean Martin the Barbarian severely pissed off that the martini will not be invented for several thousand years.
November 6th, 2018 at 12:31 pm
1. “Hey look! They have a Hooters!”
2. Bend at the knees, Conan!
November 6th, 2018 at 3:48 pm
The ‘before’ and ‘after’ pics of an unsuccessful audition for the role of Jolly Green Giant.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
When in doubt (for a cover design), rip off Ben-Hur.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:37 pm
1. Conan the Barbarian? Looks more like “Conan the Nicely Coiffed.”
2. I can’t find a signature, but it looks like the work of the great Wallace Wood who did so many classic MAD magazine stories in the 1950s (Superduperman, Flesh Garden, etc.). I guess it takes a genuine master to figure out where to put the scabbards.
November 6th, 2018 at 8:54 pm
@B. Chiclitz – You beat me to it. Wallace Wood was doing MAD magazine in the 50s and Ed Emshwiller’s wife Carol Emshwiller did Spy vs Spy in MAD. I’m not sure if Ed Emsh did any MAD illustrations.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:07 pm
And don’t forget the great Will Elder
November 7th, 2018 at 12:49 am
The first cover is way too genteel. Frazetta aside, it doesn’t correspond to the stories. C the B looks positively civilized! And “ha-ha!” is perfect (I worry about the dagger placement).
It’s mighty bland and tame for Emsh, but so sayeth the signature.
@BC: That art doesn’t need to be much goofier to be in MAD, does it?
Put a ridiculous speech balloon in the empty space for Conan and it’s perfect — maybe use @fred’s Dean Martin/booze quip.
I’m not sure what gives with the bald man down right, or the thingy above him. But the tear in the cover makes it look like there’s room for the thingy to also have a speech balloon.
November 7th, 2018 at 8:44 pm
“To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women. And then to point and laugh.”
@GSS, BC: Possibly that first pic was from the time Conan was the king of Aquilonia (pseudo-medieval France) in a couple of the original stories. I imagine the staff made sure he left the castle wearing more than a fur Depends.
October 30th, 2019 at 10:02 pm
“If you enjoyed this edition of CONAN THE BARBARIAN, you might also want to read our other Conan titles:
CONAN AND THE LEATHER-CLAD CENTURION
CONAN AND THE SWEATY GLADIATORS
CONAN AND THE BIG SHINY SPEARS”
October 31st, 2019 at 2:03 am
Is it just me, or do both of these Conanites look more than a little like Doug McClure?
October 31st, 2019 at 2:13 am
@Hammy: no, I’m sure all three of you do.
But now you’ve said it, I’m imagining the theme from ‘Barbary Coast’ accompanying the second cover. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpTP-QR6fF8
October 31st, 2019 at 2:40 am
@Tat: but where’s The Shat, then?
I miss opening credits with theme songs. Except the “Enterprise” theme song — that was always a dive for the remote to hit the mute button.