250's for America's 250 · Day 19: Conan the Barbarian #250

Publishing: Monday, June 29, 2026 · Marvel Comics · Cover date: November 1991

Cover art by Steve Lightle

See full issue details on the Grand Comics Database →

The Cimmerian reaches 250 near the end of the original Marvel series, with founding writer Roy Thomas back at the helm.

The issue

"Chaos Beneath Kutchemes" is a landmark anniversary issue. Conan, Red Sonja, and Zula near the end of a quest for untold riches — but first they must battle and defeat the warlord Zug and his bloodthirsty Zugites. The story draws on Robert E. Howard source material, with Roy Thomas weaving Howard's prose into the late run of the long-running title.

Who's in it

• Conan — the Cimmerian barbarian, nearing the end of a treasure-hunting quest as the original Marvel series approaches its finale.
• Red Sonja — the fiery sword-swinger and frequent Conan ally, fighting alongside him against Zug's forces.
• Zula — a formidable warrior companion rounding out the trio.
• Zug and his Zugites — the warlord and his bloodthirsty followers standing between the heroes and their prize.

Behind the book (creators)

• Writer: Roy Thomas
• Pencils: Mike Docherty · Inks: Ernie Chan
• Cover: Steve Lightle
• Colorist/letterer not firmly documented — verify on the GCD.

Meet the creators

Roy Thomas succeeded Stan Lee as Marvel's editor-in-chief in 1972 and, among his many contributions, personally championed bringing Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian to comics in 1970 — a licensing deal that became one of Marvel's most successful non-superhero franchises. He also co-created the Vision and Ultron and wrote long, influential runs on the X-Men before Chris Claremont took over. By 1991 he'd returned to the character he'd introduced to comics two decades earlier for this milestone issue.

Ernie Chan was a Filipino-born artist who came to American comics in the early 1970s as part of a wave of talented Filipino illustrators recruited by DC and Marvel. He became closely associated with sword-and-sorcery material, inking and pencilling extensive stretches of Conan the Barbarian, as well as contributing to Batman titles at DC.

What it's worth

A common early-'90s issue. Raw NM copies typically run $5–$12; CGC 9.8 copies generally land $40–$80 (estimate). The appeal is the anniversary status and the return of founding writer Roy Thomas.

Where to read it (collected edition)

Reprinted in Conan the Barbarian: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 10 (2023), which collects #241–275 — the final volume of the original Marvel Conan run.

Part of "250's for America's 250" — counting 24 milestone #250 comics down to the U.S. 250th on July 4, 2026.