CONAN #0

Cover shows sharp corners, strong gloss, and clean color with no visible creases, spine stress, or edge chipping. The book is protected in a plastic sleeve which limits full assessment of surface texture. Interior and back cover were not assessed, and slight glare from the sleeve may obscure minor defects.

Conan #0 served as the scene-setting prelude to Dark Horse Comics' 2003 relaunch of the Conan the Barbarian franchise, following the company's acquisition of the Robert E. Howard comics license. Writer Kurt Busiek and artist Cary Nord, later joined by inker/finisher Dave Stewart on colors, used this zero issue to reintroduce Conan to a modern readership ahead of the numbered series proper, emphasizing a return to Howard's original prose sensibility rather than the Marvel-era interpretation of the character that had dominated comics for decades.

As a Modern Age newsstand issue printed in significant quantity, Conan #0 carries no first-appearance or origin significance and functions primarily as a well-regarded jumping-on point rather than a recognized key. Demand is driven almost entirely by completists building the Busiek/Nord Conan run and by CGC census collectors chasing top-census slabs; certified population remains modest relative to other 2000s Dark Horse output, and sales at the 9.8 level, while limited in number, have been consistent enough to establish a stable if modest ceiling for the grade.

The book trades as a reading-copy and completist item at the raw level, with minimal price differentiation between low and mid grades reflecting ample surviving supply. High-grade CGC 9.8 copies attract a small premium from run-builders and Dark Horse Conan specialists, but this remains an affordable entry point across the grading spectrum, suited to collectors assembling the full Busiek-Nord Conan series rather than investment-driven buyers.