*Vintage Magazine-Sized Comics: We reach the Grand Finale of our Hither Came Conan event this week. Marvel’s comic book interpretation of Robert E. Howard’s barbarian warrior had proved so popular that by 1974, Marvel decided to have Conan as a lynchpin of its fledgling black & white magazine range. Savage Sword of Conan, as a magazine, was exempt from the constraints of the Comics Code Authority, and therefore could present more ‘mature’ stories and themes (translation: ‘giblets n’ boobies), though, to be fair, very few of the creators took this to excess, and most of the stories from SSOC could have been reprinted in the colour comic with minimal changes – in fact, a few actually were, When Deadlines Crunched! SSOC was also the longest-lived Marvel Magazine by far, running until 1995 and its 235th issue, when all of its stablemates were but a distant memory. We are chuffed to have acquired a substantial run of Savage Sword of Conan – not a full run, by any means, but closing in on 200 copies (allowing for a few duplicate issues in differing grades) of mighty-thewed barbarian fantasy action, including the scarce first issue, and, if anything, the even scarcer final issue. Pictured are Savage Sword of Conan #1 FN £30 and the final issue #235 VF £25. The others, in a variety of grades to suit all budgets, are listed in our online catalogue.