Starring Conan the Barbarian!—
Big John Buscema was born Dec. 11, 1927, and was one of the pillars of the House of Ideas. The Marvel mainstay worked on an enormous number of characters and titles but this year I’ve decided to dedicate our 13 COVERS salute to one of his best-known: Conan!
Buscema died in 2002, but his art and legacy very much live on.
(My standard caveat: This is a subjective list and not a ranking of any kind. This is pretty much what I dig and you may feel very differently. So, rather than beef about a cover you don’t see, instead join in the fun and share your own choices in the comments section or in whatever social-media thread you saw this.)
Ernie Chan inks
Chan inks
John Romita inks
Chan inks
Joe Rubinstein inks
Chan inks
Bob Wiacek inks
Romita inks
Mike Esposito inks
Cover images and credits from the fantastic Grand Comics Database.
December 11, 2015
Now isn’t that interesting. I was just thinking and talking (to myself) about Buscema just last night on my late night walk. He was always one of my favorites and his love of things like Conan, opposed to his general disdain for drawing superheroes kind of parallels my own life and some things I have to do in my real job. We both want to do a good job but dream of doing something more to our own liking.
Buscema,…an all time favorite of mine!
December 12, 2015
Some great covers there! I loved CONAN THE BARBARIAN #115. It was double-sized, had a great story and fantastic art! The cover speaks for itself also. John Buscema was a true comic art giant! So glad to have grown up loving his comics!
December 12, 2015
Thank you! And thank you JB!
December 12, 2015
as a kid growing up in a small gulf coast town in Texas in the mid to late sixties I was enthralled by Big John’s art..in 1975 I was one of the young men chosen to attend his first comic art workshop in Manhattan ..to say that was one of the highlights of my life is an understatement…what an icon..
December 13, 2015
Dan, I see that you have a fondness for the era of Conan the Barbarian when our Cimmerian protagonist was sailing the Hyborian seas with the pirate queen Belit. Well, that was a period when John Buscema was doing some of his best work on the title. I’ve been enjoying reading these stories in the Dark Horse trade paperbacks.
December 14, 2015
I have enjoyed the Conan comics for a very long time. I must say it my favorite story.
June 15, 2018
I would also add the covers to Conan #169 and #171 as two of the best and all-time faves 🙂