I love both Conan series, Marvel and Dark Horse. However, upon reflection both had flaws. Marvel was a little too dependent upon DeCamp at times, Dark Horse had a chronology that got kinda confusing around the middle and failed to fully develop the license in later years. Some of them also had.....weird elements at time. So I've decided to try and take the best of both worlds, and flesh out my own take on the series, combining both elements with some of my own observations. This includes some plot elements from both runs alongside Howard.

So without further ado, here goes Series 1

Issue 0: Conan the Legend: This would be unchanged. It really was a perfect introduction to Conan that was sadly dropped later on.

Issues 1-7: This would be the Hyperborea arc, but a few changes (I'd make it clear that the Aerie is fucked up even by Hyperborean standards). Conan would endure love and loss here, and it would be one of his first real tragedies.

Issue 8: Born on the Battlefield Part 1: This would be the way to introduce Conan's past. It wouldn't be an exact retread but the general idea (Conan has an adventure per issue) would be the same.

Issues 9-14: This would be the God in the Bowl Hanumar Road arc. I'd change Hanumar to another location, and I wouldn't QUITE reveal Janissa's past. However there's a subtle regret in her words that makes Conan wary. As such he rejects the Bone Woman's attempt to recruit him before leaving.

Issue 15: Born on the Battlefield Part 2: Continuing above, this would be a flashback of Conan on an adventure.

Issues 16: Uskath Hill: This is the first dark horse issue I ever read and honestly I think it's a good un. It can stay as is.

Issues 17-18: We see Conan making his start as a thief. He learns what a fence is for instance, and starts making a minor name for himself.

Issue 19: I'd replace the Helm with a story of Conan working with the thief from Black Colossus. He teaches Conan some more tricks of the trade, helping Conan get stronger.

Issues 20-22: Tower of the Elephant Adaptation: Again, Dark Horse hit it right out of the park with this one.

Issue 23: Born on the Battlefield Part 3: We continue to develop Conan as a young man, though he is growing.

Issues 24-30: Hall of the Dead adaptation: I'd cut the filler story of the Prince and instead focus on moving straight into Halls of the Dead; the filler in the middle of DH kinda killed momentum at times so I'm gonna try to get rid of it as much as possible.

Issue 31: Born on the Battlefield Part 4: Same as above but we meet Aquilonia at the end, as they start muscling in.

Issues 32-37: Conan and Nestor adaptation; We see Conan and Nestor bond a little more as well which makes his death all the more tragic and heartbreaking. Atalis also takes Nestor's corpse at the very end.

Issues 38-39: Born on the Battlefield Part 5-6: The end of Conan year 1. Conan notably seduces the commander's daughter to get access to battle plans, which allows the tribes to curb stomp Aquilonia. Conan leaves the daughter and her father alive, but they part on bitter terms (she's none too happy that Conan used her.)

Issues 40-44 Yaralet arc; it would also end the Ineri storyline and set the stage for Khossus when Ereshka gives Conan a favor; he also meets Strabonus, which starts the rivalry between the two.

Issues 45-50: I'd place this back before the Yaralet Arc. It's a homecoming arc that shows how far Conan's come and makes him realize that he's just not cut out for life in Cimmeria. However, he doesn't quite want to return South. Instead he'll head....East. Issue 50 would be a double sizer

Series 2: The Cimmerian

Issue 0: This would show Conan getting in trouble in the East; he'd be given the option of either joining the Turanian army or getting executed. He chooses the later.

Issues 1-7: This would be Conan in the Turanian army. He'd learn skills like archery, and he would also take part in wars of conquest (in a tip of the cap to Marvel Conan is part of the raiders who helps take the city of Makkalet). Conan starts to see more of how civilized warfare is rather hypocritical (the young Queen of Makkalet is bundled off to Yildiz's seraglio, which makes Conan feel rather uneasy). Things get worse when his new commanding officer Reshit (named after one of the more minor but still significant villains of the Armenian Genocide) is a colossal asshole. Conan ultimately decides that enough is enough when Reshit tries to massacre a tribe under a flag of truce. Conan warns the tribe, which allows them to turn the tables on Reshit and kill him. With nowhere to go Conan joins the tribe.

Issues 8-14: Conan amongst the Hyrkanians. Conan learns more of the Hyrkanian ways, taking part in adventures......which sours when Janissa returns. Janissa, under orders from her mistress, manages to manipulate them into launching an attack as a diversion for her to steal a powerful artifact. She also tells Conan more about her past while they are working together. However, things ultimately go balls up and the tribe is wiped out. Janissa flees, but feels bad about it, since Conan and her did reach a kind of understanding. The Bone Woman also accidentally reveals that she offered Janissa up to Conan; the realization that Conan had refused out of respect, and that her service to the Bone Woman made her hurt the one person who really treated her with decency causes Janissa to decide enough is enough and she turns on her mistress.

Issues 15-20: Black Colossus: This would also cover the buildup to the story; we see Conan amongst the army bonding with them. Thoth is shown to be keeping tabs on Conan like he was before.

Issues 21-23: Conan's relationship with Yasmela slowly deteriorates due to the fact that at the end of the day they're vastly different people. This is especially when she meets Prince Julion, an old friend. Conan decides to call in his favor to Ereshka to spring Khossus, in the process humiliating Sergius (I liked what Marvel did there; Sergius fell from status when Conan and the others save Khossus from under his nose.) Conan and Khossus return, and Conan is stripped of command (but not executed.) Conan leaves at this point.

Issues 24-25: Conan in Argos: Conan reaches Argos; he gets in trouble and flees after killing the judge.

Issues 26-28: Conan meets Belit; he agrees to join provided Belit spare the few survivors, which Belit agrees to. We see Conan bond with the crew (one of the few things Wood did right)

Issues 29-30: Belit's origin: We get the lowdown of most of Belit's past (N'Yaga was the man who raised her and he's the only one she really listens too.)

Issues 31-38: Some time has passed and Conan's star has risen when who should he run into again but.....Kalanthes. Kalanthes is after a dangerous artifact in the Well of Skelos and he needs help retrieving it. Conan and Belit reluctantly agree (the promise of treasure is also a rather enticing lure). They manage to gain the artifact after a heated clash with Thoth's agents, and Kalanthes puts a blessing on them to protect them from reprisal from Thoth's agents. Thoth doesn't like this and tries to sic the Stygian Navy on them to get rid of them THAT way. Conan and Belit retaliate by burning the Stygian fleet in the dock.

Issues 39-45: The first three issues would be an adaptation of the Death Arc (since unlike most of Wood's bad ideas this one was actually solid). The next four issues is them dealing with the fallout, and facing their doubts in the sack of Abombi. Conan faces his doubts and kills the chieftain. His brother Shits his pants and flees in terror. Conan and Belit reconcile.

Issues 46-48: Light hearted pirate adventure. Conan and Belit tangle with Thuthmekri over some treasure and come out on top.

Issues 49-50: Death on the Black Coast; Issue 50 is a double sizer. Issue ends with Conan vanishing into the jungle.


At this point I'd make a brief detour, and instead focus on King Conan; that was another thing Marvel did right. They made it an ongoing series rather than a collection of miniseries. I'd keep a framing device, but instead it is the Prince and Wazir again.