Savage Tales featuring Conan the Barbarian ##1
Marvel Comics (Curtis Magazines) • Savage Tales Vol. 1
Writer
Roy Thomas
Interior Artist
Barry Windsor-Smith
Cover Artist
John Buscema
Publication Date
May 1971
Cover Variant
Regular
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Features the story 'The Curse of the Undead-Man.' It is a magazine-format black and white anthology. Significant for being the second major appearance of Conan in comics and the first appearance of the Night-Stalker (not the later Kolchak or Blade entity).
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Good (CGC 4.0)
Condition Details
Moderate color-breaking spine stress, visible corner rounding/blunting, surface wear and dimpling, minor staining on the bottom right edge, and potentially slight tanning of the covers.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $150 - $225; Graded (4.0): $250 - $325
Recent Sales
High-grade copies (9.0+) sell for over $1,500. Mid-low grade copies like this one currently trade between $150 and $250 depending on structural integrity.
Grading Recommendation
Recommended if seeking to preserve the book for long-term collection. A professional clean and press might push the grade to a 5.0, but the visible spine damage limits high-end investment returns.
Notable Features
Bronze Age Mega-Key. First issue of Savage Tales. Features mature content not restricted by the Comics Code Authority. Iconic John Buscema cover.
Authentication Notes
The 75-cent price point and 'Curtis' imprint logo are consistent with the 1971 first printing. Print registration on the 'Conan' logo looks authentic to period lithography.