King Conan Omnibus: Complete Guide
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Table of Contents
King Conan represents an older Conan moving towards the end of his journey (but still far from it!) – and no longer a wandering barbarian, but ruler of Aquilonia and dealing with treachery, politics, and the weight of a crown.
It’s a different Conan. And to be completely honest? I think these omnibuses are fun, but they’re not essential. If you’re new to Conan comics, start elsewhere.
That being said, if you’re a completist or you’ve already devoured Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword, then King Conan absolutely offers something different. And it’s still Conan – essentially the king of sword & sorcery.
What is King Conan?
King Conan was a Marvel Comics series that ran from 1980 to 1989 (55 issues), telling stories of Conan’s reign as king. Parts of it are based loosely on Robert E. Howard’s only Conan novel, The Hour of the Dragon, and the closing chapters of his life that Howard sketched but never fully wrote.
The series picks up where the main Conan the Barbarian chronology ends – Conan has seized the throne of Aquilonia and now faces threats from sorcerers, neighbouring kingdoms, and conspirators within his own court.
The Omnibus Editions
Titan Comics is collecting the complete King Conan run in three oversized hardcover volumes.
| Volume | Contents | Release Date | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | King Conan #1–19 | June 2025 | $125 |
| Vol. 2 | King Conan #20–38 | November 2025 | $125 |
| Vol. 3 | King Conan #39–55 | May 2026 | $150 |
That’s the complete run in three books. Clean and simple. That I really do appreciate!
I’ve also found you can pick up the omnibuses below the RRP pretty often. Amazon seems well-priced in the US and Forbidden Planet is great in the UK. I’m in Germany and my favourite shop is definitely Comics Bugle. They have the DM editions and their packaging is the best!
There’s also a guide to the original Conan omnibuses here and the Savage Sword omnibuses here.
What You’ll Find in the Conan King Omnibuses
An older, more wizened Conan. He’s not climbing towers or raiding ships (quite as often, anyway). He’s ruling a kingdom, managing advisors, and facing enemies who use politics as often as sorcery. He’s also goes tramping about different parts of the kingdom now and then.
A different tone; the desperate survival adventure of young Conan is replaced by something more stately. There’s still plenty of action, but it’s more often royal intrigue action. In some ways we move more towards a Kull type of character – more thoughtful and prone to brooding.
By the way, if you’ve never read Kull before you really should – and here’s the complete Kull reading order. He’s often described as ‘the thinking man’s Conan’ which I don’t completely agree with – I think Conan is more than a match for pure intelligence BUT Kull is definitely one-up on the philosophical side of things.
You can also expect sublime artwork. John Buscema handled much of the series, and his royal Conan is as striking as his barbarian one.
Prince Conn. Conan’s son appears throughout. The father-son dynamic adds emotional stakes the earlier comics didn’t have. Some people love it, some not so much.
My Take: Fun, But Not Essential
I own these (the first two anyway, and I’ll pick up the third as soon as it’s released.) I’ve read them. They’re enjoyable and I definitely want them in my collection.
But if someone asked me where to start with Conan comics, King Conan wouldn’t make my top three recommendations. In the comics I think the character works best as a wanderer, a thief, a mercenary, a corsair – not a king holding court (at least for more than a few stories at a time).
That said, if you’ve already fallen in love with Conan through the main series and Savage Sword, King Conan offers satisfying closure. You get to see where it all leads.
There’s something rewarding about watching the barbarian who once had nothing end up ruling the greatest kingdom of the Hyborian Age.
Are the King Conan omnibuses worth it?
Yes, if:
- You’ve read the main Conan the Barbarian omnibuses and want more
- You want to see how Conan’s story ends
- You’re a completist building the full Titan collection
- You love John Buscema’s art (and who doesn’t?)
Maybe not, if:
- You’re new to Conan – start with CTB Vol. 1 or Savage Sword instead
- You prefer young, wandering Conan to royal Conan
- Your shelf space or budget is limited
Comparison to Other Lines
| Aspect | King Conan | Conan the Barbarian | Savage Sword |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volumes | 3 | 10 | 18 |
| Tone | Royal intrigue | Adventure epic | Dark anthology |
| Conan’s age | Older | Young to older | Various |
| Essential? | Nice to have | Essential | Essential |
| Best for | Completists | New readers | Howard purists |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read Conan the Barbarian first?
It helps but isn’t required. King Conan stands alone well enough. You’ll miss some context about how Conan became king, but the stories don’t require that knowledge.
Is King Conan based on Robert E. Howard’s work?
Partially. Howard wrote The Hour of the Dragon featuring King Conan, plus a few other stories set during his reign. The comics expand on this foundation.
Why is Volume 3 more expensive?
At $150 vs $125, it’s slightly pricier – likely due to the additional material needed to complete the series or variant cover editions.
Are there King Conan stories in Savage Sword too?
Yes! Several Savage Sword issues feature King Conan tales.
How does the new Titan ongoing series relate to King Conan?
Jim Zub’s current Conan the Barbarian series has been building toward King Conan content, including the painted “The Nomad” story in issue #25. These are new stories, separate from the classic material collected in the omnibuses.
