Sword and sorcery and heroic fantasy comics
At first, this list was supposed to be more narrowly focused. I wanted to compile a list of comics in the sword and sorcery genre: low fantasy, pulpy in tone, and action-oriented. This style is, of course, best exemplified by the comic book adaptations of Conan. The huge popularity of Marvel Conan comics during the Bronze Age has spawned a slew of imitators and, for a time, established the figure of an underclothed barbarian warrior as the quintessential fantasy comic book hero.
However, the problem with researching sword and sorcery fiction on the web is that many well-meaning people are unaware that it’s a distinct genre with quite specific characteristics, and accordingly treat it simply as a synonym for any old faux-medieval fantasy. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that French-language sources tend to use a catch-all term of “l’heroïc fantasy”, which does not differentiate between proper Conanesque stuff and high fantasy narratives. And the Franco-Belgian bandes dessinées are not to be overlooked, since this tradition has produced some of the most remarkable fantasy works in the comics medium.
There is also the issue of changing trends and sensibilities. While classic sword and sorcery remains a niche with a devoted fan base, it must appear quaint and old-fashioned to the general public. The standards for what passes for “fantasy” in the popular eye were shaped by the shifting visibility of various large properties such as The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Dungeons & Dragons, and World of Warcraft. Since the waning of the “barbarian era,” fantasy comic books and graphic novels have drawn from a vast repertoire of tropes and conventions, frequently moving towards more epic, world-saving high fantasy storylines.
As a result, the following list can be best described as “sword-and-sorcery-centric”. It focuses on everyone’s favorite moody lone warriors putting themselves in violent and morally ambiguous situations, but many titles that would make genre purists squirm are also well-represented. Some of the included works are comedies or parodies, and several of the more recent items boldly blend different genres, often departing from the familiar medievalesque setting assumptions.
In any case, the list demonstrates how well the heroic fantasy genre is represented in the medium of sequential art, particularly if one is willing to venture into the territories of American Bronze Age comics and European graphic novels.
The Savage Sword of Conan
by Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith, John Buscema, and others
(1974–1995)
Magazine-format ongoing series · 235 issues
5 figs out of 5
Conan (Dark Horse)
by Kurt Busiek, Cary Nord, and others
(2003–2018)
Several series, mini-series, and one-shots · 240 issues in total
5 figs out of 5
The Cimmerian
by Jean-David Morvan and others
(2018–)
Bande dessinée · 13 volumes
5 figs out of 5
Bone
by Jeff Smith
(1991–2004)
Limited series · 55 issues
5 figs out of 5
Berserk
by Kentaro Miura
(1989–)
Manga · 41 volumes
5 figs out of 5
Red Sonja (Marvel)
by Roy Thomas, Frank Thorne, and others
(1973–1995)
Multiple titles and guest appearances
4.5 figs out of 5
Red Sonja (Dynamite)
by Michael Avon Oeming, Gail Simone, and others
(2005–)
Multiple series
4.5 figs out of 5
Elric
by Julien Blondel, Didier Poli, and Robin Recht
(2013–2021)
Bande dessinée · 4 volumes
4.5 figs out of 5
Elric: Stormbringer
by P. Craig Russell
(1997)
Limited series · 7 issues
4.5 figs out of 5
Elric of Melniboné
by Roy Thomas, P. Craig Russell, and others
(1983)
Limited series · 6 issues
4.5 figs out of 5
Sláine
by Pat Mills and others
(1983–)
Magazine stories collected as graphic novels
4.5 figs out of 5
Rat Queens
by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Roc Upchurch
(2013–)
Ongoing series
4.5 figs out of 5
Monstress
by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda
(2015)
Ongoing series
4.5 figs out of 5
Warlord
by Mike Grll
(1976–2010)
Ongoing series · 133 issues and 6 annuals (original volume) + additional volumes
4.5 figs out of 5
Thorgal
by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosinski
(1977)
Bande dessinée · 40 volumes
4.5 figs out of 5
Birthright
by Joshua Williamson, Andrei Bressan, and Adriano Lucas
(2014–2021)
Ongoing series · 50 issues
4.5 figs out of 5
The Quest for the Time-Bird
by Serge Le Tendre and Régis Loisel
(1983–1987)
Bande dessinée · 4 volumes + a continuation series
4.5 figs out of 5
The Last God (The Fellspyre Chronicles)
by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Riccardo Federici
(2019–2021)
Ongoing series · 12 issues
4 figs out of 5
Lanfeust of Troy
by Christophe Arleston and Didier Tarquin
(1994–2021)
Bande dessinée · 9 volumes + multiple spin-offs
4 figs out of 5
Mouse Guard
by David Petersen
(2006–)
Series of limited series · Multiple issues
4 figs out of 5
Head Lopper
by Andrew MacLean
(2013–)
Ongoing series of miniseries · 15 issues
4 figs out of 5
Kull (Marvel)
by Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, Bernie Wrightson, Marie and John Severin, and others
(1971–1985)
Three series
4 figs out of 5
Kull (Dark Horse)
by Arvid Nelson, Will Conrad, and Jose Villarrubia
(2006–2012)
Three mini-series
4 figs out of 5
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser
by Howard Chaykin, Mike Mignola, and Al Williamson
(1991)
Mini-series · 4 issues
4 figs out of 5
Cerebus
by Dave Sim
(1977–2004)
Limited series · 300 issues (only the first 111 are considered essential)
4 figs out of 5
The Black Moon Chronicles
by François Froideval, Olivier Ledroit, and Cyril Pontet
(1989–)
Bande dessinée · 21 volumes + spin-offs
4 figs out of 5
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
by Hayao Miyazaki
(1982–1994)
Manga · 7 volumes
4 figs out of 5
DIE
by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans
(2018–2021)
Ongoing series · 20 issues
4 figs out of 5
Groo the Wanderer
by Sergio Aragonés
(1982–)
Multiple series
3.5 figs out of 5
Coda
by Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara
(2018–2019)
Ongoing series · 12 issues
3.5 figs out of 5
Demon Knights
by Paul Cornell, Robert Venditti, and others
(2011–2013)
Ongoing series · 24 issues
3.5 figs out of 5
Dungeons & Dragons
by John Rogers and others
(2010–2012)
Ongoing series · 15 issues
3.5 figs out of 5
Chninkel
by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosinski
(1986–1987)
Bande dessinée · 3 volumes
3.5 figs out of 5
The Autumnlands
by Kurt Busiek and Benjamin Dewey
(2014–2017)
Ongoing series · 14 issues
3.5 figs out of 5
The Lands of Arran (Elves and others)
by various
(2013–)
Bande dessinée · Shared world series · multiple volumes
3.5 figs out of 5
Seven to Eternity
by Rick Remender and Jerome Opeña
(2016–2017)
Ongoing series · 17 issues
3.5 figs out of 5
Skullkickers
by Jim Zub and Edwin Huang
(2010–2015)
Ongoing series · 100 issues
3.5 figs out of 5
Artesia
by Mark Smylie
(1999–2009)
Series of limited series · multiple issues
3.5 figs out of 5
Dungeon
by Joann Sfar and Lewis Trondheim
(1988–)
Bande dessinée · Multiple volumes
3.5 figs out of 5
Lament of the Lost Moors
by Jean Dufaux and Grzegorz Rosiński
(1993–1998)
Bande dessinée · 4 volumes
3.5 figs out of 5
Légendes des Contrées Oubliées
by Bruno Chevalier and Thierry Ségur
(1987–1992)
Bande dessinée · 3 volumes
3.5 figs out of 5
John Carter, Warlord of Mars
by Marv Wolfman, Gil Kane, and others
(1977–1979)
Ongoing series · 28 issues + 3 annuals
3.5 figs out of 5
Armies
by Jean-Pierre Dionnet and Jean-Claude Gal
(1977–1988)
Bande dessinée · anthology of 3 volumes
3.5 figs out of 5
Den
by Richard Corben
(1968–1997)
A series of short stories
3.5 figs out of 5
Usagi Yojimbo
by Stan Sakai
(1984–)
Ongoing series · More than 200 issues
3 figs out of 5
Arak, Son of Thunder
by Roy Thomas and Ernie Colón
(1981–1985)
Ongoing series · 50 issues
3 figs out of 5
Nimona
by N.D. Stevenson
(2012–2014)
Graphic novel (originally a webcomic)
3 figs out of 5
Prince Valiant
by Hal Foster
(1937–)
Comic strip
3 figs out of 5
Prophet
by Brandon Graham and others
(2012–2016)
Ongoing series and a mini-series · 51 issues
3 figs out of 5
Weirdworld (classic)
by Mike Ploog, Pat Broderick, and John Buscema
(1977–1986)
Stories in anthology series
3 figs out of 5
Weirdworld (modern)
by Jason Aaron. Mike Del Mundo, and Sam Humphries
(2015–2016)
Secret Wars tie-in + a mini-series · 11 issues
3 figs out of 5
Servitude
by Fabrice David and Eric Bourgier
(2006–2020)
Bande dessinée · 6 volumes
3 figs out of 5
Battle Chasers
by Joe Madureira
(1998–2001)
Ongoing series · 9 issues · Unfinished
3 figs out of 5
Orc Stain
by James Stokoe
(2010–)
Ongoing series · 7 issues · Unfinished
3 figs out of 5
The Hedge Knight
by George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery, and Mike S. Miller
(2003–2017)
Mini-series and a graphic novel
3 figs out of 5
Pathfinder
by Jim Zub and others
(2012–2013)
Ongoing series · 12 issues + spin-offs
3 figs out of 5
Claymore
by Norihiro Yagi
(2001–2014)
Manga · 27 volumes
3 figs out of 5
Fullmetal Alchemist
by Hiromu Arakawa
(2001–2010)
Manga · 27 volumes
3 figs out of 5
Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld
by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn, and Ernie Colón
(1983–1988)
Several limited series and an ongoing series
3 figs out of 5
Claw the Unconquered
by David Michelinie and Ernie Chan
(1975–1978)
Ongoing series · 12 issues
3 figs out of 5
Solomon Kane (Marvel)
by various
(1973–1986)
Guest appearances and a limited series
3 figs out of 5
Solomon Kane (Dark Horse)
by Scott Allie, Mario Guevara, and Dave Stewart
(2008–2011)
Three mini-series
3 figs out of 5
Ravine
by Stjepan Šejić and Ron Marz
(2013–2014)
Graphic novel · 2 issues
3 figs out of 5
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
by James Robinson, Keith Giffen, and others
(2012–2020)
Ongoing series and mini-series · 75 issues
3 figs out of 5
Once & Future
by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora
(2019–20022)
Ongoing series · 30 issues
3 figs out of 5
Northlanders
by Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice
(2008–2012)
Ongoing series · 50 issues
3 figs out of 5
Sojourn
by Ron Marz, Ian Edginton, and Greg Land
(2001–2004)
Ongoing series · 35 issues
3 figs out of 5