Conan the Barbarian starring in Savage Tales ##1
Marvel Comics • Savage Tales Vol. 1
Writer
Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway
Interior Artist
Barry Windsor-Smith, John Buscema, Gray Morrow
Cover Artist
Barry Windsor-Smith
Publication Date
May 1971
Cover Variant
Regular/A Cover (Magazine Size)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
A landmark anthology magazine. Features the first appearance of the Man-Thing (Ted Sallis). It also includes a Conan story 'The Frost Giant's Daughter' by Smith and Thomas, and the debut of the 'Black Brother' feature.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Fine- (FN-) 5.5
Condition Details
Visible spine stress marks with color breaks, minor corner blunting on the top and bottom left, slight edge wear along the bottom right, and potential tanning on the peripheral edges of the back cover and interior pages based on age. Surface shows some shelf wear/scuffing typical for magazine-sized books.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $250 - $350; Graded (CGC 5.5): $400 - $500
Recent Sales
High-grade copies (9.0+) sell for $1,500-$2,000+. Mid-grade copies like this (5.0-6.0) consistently move in the $250-$400 range depending on eye appeal.
Grading Recommendation
Worth grading if the goal is preservation or maximizing ROI for sale. A professional press could potentially improve this to a 6.0/6.5 by flattening spine ticks. As a major bronze age key, slabbed copies are highly liquid.
Notable Features
First appearance of Man-Thing. Magazine format (no UPC, higher price point for the era). Painted cover. Key bronze age Marvel magazine launch.
Authentication Notes
Appears authentic. Correct 50-cent cover price for 1971. The aging of the paper at the edges and the specific ink saturation of the Barry Windsor-Smith art are consistent with original copies from the early 1970s print run.