Fantagraphics and Marvel Comics are teaming up to celebrate one of comics’ most influential artists with a brand-new archival series, and AIPT has your exclusive first look. Out this week, the publisher is launching The Marvel Creator Collection: Barry Windsor-Smith at Marvel, a three-volume hardcover set spotlighting the legendary creator’s early and defining work.
Barry Windsor-Smith is widely regarded as one of the most adventurous voices in comics history, known for his work on Conan the Barbarian, Weapon X, and the acclaimed graphic novel Monsters. Now, Fantagraphics is diving deep into his Marvel years, beginning with Volume 1, Back to the Savage Land, arriving April 29, 2026.
“I have literally been following Barry Windsor-Smith’s career since 1969 when he debuted at Marvel Comics and immediately became my 2nd favorite artist (after Jack Kirby),” said Fantagraphics publisher Gary Groth. “So, it is a distinct pleasure to have the privilege of finally presenting all the work he did for Marvel (with the exception of Conan) in a gorgeously produced 3-volume hardcover series.”
The first volume focuses on Windsor-Smith’s earliest Marvel work, showcasing stories from The Avengers, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and X-Men, along with contributions to Chamber of Darkness, Tower of Shadows, and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.. It also features his standout run on Ka-Zar in Astonishing Tales, including an ambitious Savage Land storyline that hints at the scope and imagination he would later bring to Conan.
From his debut in 1969, Windsor-Smith quickly evolved from a Jack Kirby-influenced newcomer into a singular artistic voice. His work blends detailed realism with a lush, almost dreamlike quality, pulling from art nouveau and Pre-Raphaelite influences to create something entirely his own.
Future volumes will continue tracing his career through key milestones like Machine Man and Weapon X, offering a comprehensive look at a creator who helped reshape what comics could look like and feel like.
The Marvel Creator Collection No. 1: Back to the Savage Land arrives April 29, 2026.
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