Kull the Destroyer No. 12: Museum Object and Cultural History
Kull the Destroyer No. 12: date made: 1973. maker: Marvel Comics. Object Name: comic book.
The object in the museum catalogue
Finding their take on Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian popular with readers, the editors of Marvel Comics tried their hand with another of the pulp author's creations, the Atlantean exile Kull, King of Lemuria. The character was given his own comic in 1971: Kull the Conqueror, the title changing to Kull the Destroyer with issue number 11. The comic ran for 29 issues, ending in 1978.
Howard, considered the originator of "sword and sorcery fantasy," introduced Kull prior to his most well -known character, Conan. It is not surprising that the two heroes share many similarities, as Conan's first adventure emerged from a reworking of a failed Kull story. In his lifetime Howard published only three Kull stories, with more of the prehistoric King's adventures released posthumously.
Over time, other writers have interpreted the character in new books and comics. A feature film, Kull the Conqueror was released in 1997, starring actor Kevin Sorbo in the title role.
Materials, dates and provenance
- date made: 1973
- maker: Marvel Comics
- Object Name: comic book
- Physical Description: paper (overall material)
- Measurements: overall: 6 3/4 in x 10 1/4 in; x 17.145 cm x 26.035 cm
- place made: United States: New York, New York City
- Subject: Comics
- Subject: Fantasy
- ID Number: 2013.3039.258
- nonaccession number: 2013.3039
- catalog number: 2013.3039.258
- Credit Line: Gift of George R. Zug
- Data Source: National Museum of American History
Sources and reuse
Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.
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