It’s interesting: I first encountered Kull (and Conan) in Finnish collections with excellent forewords explaining the characters’ histories. They argued, and I can’t really disagree, that Kull was the more nuanced and philosophical figure, and probably for that reason never gained the mass popularity he deserved. So REH went back to the drawing board and created a more streamlined version focused on the visceral aspects of the character.
I readily admit my preference for Kull over Conan is a minority opinion.
With Conan, Howard tapped an heretofore unserved audience who wanted a primal hero unrestrained by mores and, using your word, visceral. That Conan also more closely aligned with Howard's own psyche gave the character an effective one-two punch --author AMD audience affinity--Kull decidedly lacked.
I prefer Kane to all the rest of REH's stable creations, possibly due to collecting the Marvel adaptations in my impressionable yoof. My submission for B&BM embraced the more savage side of S&S, possibly to my detriment, since it didn't get picked up. I still like the story, though, and I'm still shopping it around. RP calls are a great inspiration.
It’s interesting: I first encountered Kull (and Conan) in Finnish collections with excellent forewords explaining the characters’ histories. They argued, and I can’t really disagree, that Kull was the more nuanced and philosophical figure, and probably for that reason never gained the mass popularity he deserved. So REH went back to the drawing board and created a more streamlined version focused on the visceral aspects of the character.
I readily admit my preference for Kull over Conan is a minority opinion.
With Conan, Howard tapped an heretofore unserved audience who wanted a primal hero unrestrained by mores and, using your word, visceral. That Conan also more closely aligned with Howard's own psyche gave the character an effective one-two punch --author AMD audience affinity--Kull decidedly lacked.
As you say, interesting. Thanks for reading!
I prefer Kane to all the rest of REH's stable creations, possibly due to collecting the Marvel adaptations in my impressionable yoof. My submission for B&BM embraced the more savage side of S&S, possibly to my detriment, since it didn't get picked up. I still like the story, though, and I'm still shopping it around. RP calls are a great inspiration.