Conan the Barbarian: Marvel’s $200 Comic Gamble & Roy Thomas
Explore how Roy Thomas and Marvel Comics secured Conan the Barbarian for just $200, a desperate 1970 business deal that transformed the pulp hero into a legend.
Best quote from Conan the Barbarian: Marvel’s $200 Comic Gamble & Roy Thomas
It’s wild to think that a $50 difference and a bit of social awkwardness on Roy Thomas's part basically birthed the sword-and-sorcery craze in American comics.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
Evolution and popularity of Conan the Barbarian comics
Frequently Asked Questions
In 1970, Marvel associate editor Roy Thomas pursued the rights to Conan the Barbarian after fans requested adaptations of classic pulp characters. Despite initial concerns that the license would be too expensive due to the success of Lancer paperbacks, Thomas reached out to agent Glenn Lord. The deal was eventually authorized by Marvel publisher Martin Goodman for a modest sum, marking a pivotal moment in Marvel Comics history.
Before securing Conan the Barbarian, Roy Thomas and Stan Lee were considering a character named Thongor the Barbarian. Stan Lee reportedly liked the name, but the deal stalled when Thongor’s agent requested more than the $150 per issue budget authorized by publisher Martin Goodman. This financial disagreement led Thomas to pivot his focus toward licensing Conan instead, despite the character's high popularity at the time.
Roy Thomas was the driving force behind bringing Conan the Barbarian to Marvel Comics. Working as an associate editor under Stan Lee, Thomas noticed a high demand for pulp character adaptations. He navigated restrictive distribution deals and budget constraints set by Martin Goodman to secure the license. His decision to pursue Conan over other characters like Thongor helped establish the barbarian as a household name beyond the original stories.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
