If you were a Conan fan in the early 1970s, most likely you wailed when Barry Smith left the series, no matter how much you liked John Buscema. Where there are a large number of fans who feel Buscema is the superior Conan artist, he was always a strong second choice for me. Barry Smith left the color comic with the Song of Red Sonja, then he returned briefly for the epic Red Nails in Savage Tales. After that, aside from pinups and posters, we never saw Smith on Conan again.
Roy Thomas found another artist—Tim Conrad—who briefly appeared to be Smith’s successor.
Conrad made a splash in the Savage Sword of Conan with a two part Bran Mak Morn story that blew us all away. I kept hoping that Conrad would eventually draw Conan regularly—but all we got was this cover from the Marvel Comics Index series. What happened to Tim Conrad after his Savage Sword stories? I’ve lost track. Nuff said.
Tim Conrad went on to do a bunch of stuff for EPIC Magazine, including an adaptation of Robert E. Howard's novel "Almuric", and an original fantasy story called "Toadswart". No idea what he's up to these days.
Ah, yes, EPIC magazine! I totally forgot about that one, I will have to dig that up. Thanks!
I recall reading that Big John was Roy Thomas' first choice for Conan but he was too expensive so Smith, who was working for virtlually nothing in those days got the job. When Smith moved on and Conan had made it's name John took over. Roy predicted less awards but more sales and that was what happened. As much as John Buscema will always be one of my favourite artists, especially with Tom Palmer inking, I also prefer Smith's Conan. One of my favourites was where he met Elric. I had just read Michael Moorcock's Dorian Hawkmoon and had read a little about Moorcock's albino eternal champion.
Kevin
Contact Tim for serious art collectors and project availability.
Wonderful cover. Tim Conrad's style so reminds me of Barry Windsor-Smith.