About this copy: This copy is in pristine condition. It is unsealed but it has never been read. There may be some mild signs of shelf wear

By the mid-1970s, there was no doubt that Conan the Barbarian was one of comics' top titles, both creatively and in sales. It wast he kind of success nobody had dreamed of when, five years prior, Marvel added Robert E Howard;s sword-and-sorcery savage to a publishing schedule dominated by super-heroes. Roy Thomas and John Buscema has proven that the series' early popularity was no fluke; in fact, their creative pairing- both in adapting material from the Howard canon and in adding their own original storytelling to the mythos - rose to become of the greatest in Marvel history.

At the open of this third Omnibus volume Conan enters a new era, one that had been preordained by Howard, and that Thomas has been licking his chops to adapt. The Cimmerian's wanderings throughout Hyboria would introduce him to a woman he would fight for, steal for, kill for, even die for. She was none other than black-haired pirate-queen of the Black Coast, Bêlit - captain of the Tigress; commander of the sailor-warrior Black Corsairs, and a fighter just as savage as Conan Bêlit and her crew roamed the seas up and down the Hyborian coasts, seeking out prey with a single goal in mind: Building up a stockpile of plunder big enough to fund an all-out war against the Stygians who murdered her father.

From their first meeting, Conan bonded as warrior and lover to the pirate-queen. Their stories, full of action and adventure, add a lustful romance to the proceedings that would define Conan the Barbarian for years to come, culminating in the title's 100th issue. Together, Conan and Bêlit journey deep in to the jungles ruled by the Lord of the Lions, from whom Conan would acquire the name "Amra" in a Tarzan-inflected tale. They also cross their paths - and swords- with Red Sonja, whose unexpected team-up with Conan and Bêlit marks a high point for the series

Iconic artist John Buscema continues his celebrated run in this volume, spelled at times by an all0star cast of guest artists: Mike Ploog, the horror master of Ghost Rider and Man-Thing, draws the prelude to the Bêlit saga: Jim Starlin's work is featured in a story repurposed from an issue of Savage Tales, fully coloured for the first time; and Howard Chaykin, the firebrand artist of the first Star Wars comics and the sci-fi political satire American Flagg! illustrates five epic issues. Ernie Chan also becomes a fixture as series inker, adding a detailed look and polish that many argue is the finest the title would ever have.

Roy Thomas joined Marvel as a writer and editor under Stan Lee, scripting key runs of nearly every title: The Amazing Spider-Man, The Avengers, Daredevil, Dr Strange, The Sub-Mariner, Thor, The X-Men and more. He wrote the first ten years of Marvel's Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword of Conan and launched the Defenders, Iron Fist, The Invaders and Warlock. At DC, he developed All-Star Squadron, Infinity Inc. and related titles, proving instrumental in reviving the Golden Age Justice Society of America. He co-scripted the sword-and-sorcery films Fire and Ice and Conan the Destroyer. Throughout it all, Thomas has edited Alter Ego, contributing heartily to the research and history of the medium

John Buscema (1927-2002) literally wrote the book on being a Marvel artist - namely, How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way - and few were better qualified. His career began in 1948 as a member of the Timely/Marvel Bullpen. He left the field for advertising in the mid '50s but Stan Lee coaxed him back to comics in 1966. Buscema followed a celebrated run on The Avengers with the first Silver Surfer series. He subsequently succeeded Jack Kirby on Fantastic Four, Thor and other titles, By the time of his retirement in 1996, Buscema has pencilled nearly ever Marvel title - including his personal favourite, Conan the Barbarian