Conan the Barbarian #1 - Barry Windsor Smith art & cover

Conan the Barbarian #1, 1970 - With this first issue, Robert E. Howard's Conan would establish a new genre and become the first major barbarian hero in comics. Artist Barry Smith, still developing his talents, brings a youthful enthusiasm to the series. His cover, in typical fashion, emphasizes the title character. The artist struggles with figure drawing and foreshortening but compensates with an exciting, kinetic layout. Smith's spontaneity continues inside with swiftly paced sequences and bold layouts. Although clearly influenced by Jack Kirby, his drawings hint at an emerging style uniquely his own. Compare this issue with Chamber of Darkness #4, an earlier Conanesque tryout also by Smith. This is number 1 of 20 Conan the Barbarian issues with Smith art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Conan the Barbarian or Smith issues. See also this blog's Smith checklist.
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Smith cover pencils (Dan Adkins inks) = ***
"The Coming of Conan" Smith story pencils (Dan Adkins inks) 20 pages = ***
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