Most people think Kull is a cheap knockoff of Conan. "Conan-lite." But did you know Robert E. Howard, the guy behind Kull and Conan, actually created Kull first? Yep, Kull was his first stab at a sword-and-sorcery hero. The only reason the character was never successful in his lifetime is because Howard was so far ahead of his time.

He took his last Kull story, which never sold, and re-wrote it into the first Conan story. So Kull is Conan's literary ancestor. Some people even think Howard intended Kull to be Conan's thousand-times-great-grandfather!

Kull and his descendant definitely have some things in common. They're both big, muscular dudes whose favorite pastime is wearing scanty loincloths and kicking ass. But the similarities end there.

King Kull is not like King Conan, wishing for his lost freedom and independence. For Kull, there's no such thing as freedom. Unlike Conan, he needs to be king, because there's a little imp constantly whispering in his ear, "you're not worthy, you're not worthy". The more Kull attains, the louder and more insistent the imp becomes. Which only adds to Kull's drive.

Kull's also much more of a thinker than Conan. A philosopher-warrior. Conan doesn't think. He acts. I always get the sense Conan has no past–and no future, really. He lives in the present. We don't know very much about Conan's upbringing, because it's not important. Conan just sort of explodes onto the scene in Hyboria all of a sudden, like a demi-god.

As for Kull, Howard tells us all about his personal history–he was a galley slave, an outlaw, a gladiator, a soldier, and then, finally, a king. He even wrote what I consider Kull's "origin story," "Exile of Atlantis."

It's because understanding Kull's past is the only way to understand his character. The past is constantly threatening to drag him down into despair and insanity. And he does lose his grip on sanity from time to time. Howard killed himself when he was 30 years old. It's been said Kull is the closest he ever came to putting himself into his stories.

So Kull isn't just a rip-off, or an abortive, failed attempt at a fantasy hero. He's as interesting, as deep, and as tormented as the guy who wrote him.

-- Arvid Nelson

More comfortable with a sword than a scepter, Kull has recently crowned himself king and seeks to unite the once-proud and powerful land of Valusia. Only Count Areyas stands between Kull and a reunified kingdom--and the obstinate Count waits patiently in his Iron Fortress, the land's oldest and most formidable castle. Horrors lurk in the shadows of Kull's newly won throne, and slithering foes stalk his every move. Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi) scripts this series, which will adapt Robert E. Howard's story "The Shadow Kingdom," with art by Will Conrad (Serenity) and José Villarrubia (Conan).
Joe Kubert (Sgt. Rock, Enemy Ace) delivers a special Kull 1 cover, which--along with his Conan the Cimmerian 1 and Solomon Kane 1 covers--marks the first time Kubert's visions of these Robert E. Howard heroes have seen print. Renowned fantasy artist Andy Brase provides regular series covers to this bracing, bloody fantasy series.

Publication Date: November 05, 2008
Format: FC, 32 pages
Price: $2.99


Writer: Arvid Nelson
Penciller: Will Conrad
Colorist: José Villarrubia
Cover Artist: Andy Brase
Genre: Action/Adventure, Fantasy