Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy" discussion

I can't say that I've seen much accurate Conan art, ever. Has anyone ever seen an illustration of Conan where he's got a normal amount of hair for an adult proto-Celt male? How about Conan in plate armor? It's kind of getting annoying that 80+ years of Conan art had produced a bunch of waxed naked men. I used to like Frazetta, but frankly he just pisses me off as a Conan illustrator, especially since he draws his own 'Death Dealer' in full armor. I think he squarely draws my ire for starting the naked barbarian trope, which I have never found 'cool'. Verisimilitude is cool, wuxia and cliches that make characters look brain dead are obnoxious.

I mean, real barbarians (Germans, Mongols and Macedonians, take your pick) did not run around naked, despite stupid myths in Roman propaganda. The ones who were unarmored had no choice.

Bloody Crown of Conan has Conan in armor on the cover. I've also seen a very reasonable picture of young Conan in full chainmail, though I can't recall where I've seen it. I agree that Frazetta is not my favorite Conan. I am rather fond of the Conan and Kull comics from Savage Sword of Conan. I really love John Severin's depictions.

Michael wrote: "Bloody Crown of Conan has Conan in armor on the cover. I've also seen a very reasonable picture of young Conan in full chainmail, though I can't recall where I've seen it. I agree that Frazetta i..."

'Bloody Crown's cover is one of my favorite pictures of Conan. I challenge any artist who understands how plate aemor looks to draw him in it - and it's explicitly Western (indeed, French) style Cavalier full plate with a visored helm. None of that open-faced Turanian stuff.

Yeah I would have to agree Michael that some of the best art for an armored Conan definitely came from the Savage Sword of Conan. Some pretty good stories too to boot. Sad thing that they didn't start reprinting the entire series in PB before I had collected all the issues in the run LOL!