Marvel Comics #1000 may boast an impressive 80 pages by 80 different creative teams, but the 80th anniversary issue is getting even larger with the inclusion of Conan the Barbarian.
Writer Ralph Macchio and artist Marco Checchetto will collaborate on the Conan story, commemorating the important role Robert E. Howard's character has played in Marvel's storied history.
“If Crom had shown any interest in human matters, he would surely be as excited as we are to see Conan included in Marvel Comics #1000,” Cabinet Entertainment's Jay Zetterberg said in a statement.
“This is by far the most complex and complicated and difficult book I’ve ever had to assemble,” Executive Editor Tom Breevort told the New York Times. The way Marvel decided on the creators for the comic came down to paying close attention to which stars in other forms of entertainment shared their love for Marvel, with names including Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas, filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and more.
Marvel Comics #1000 will start from 1939 and work its way to the present day, with each page correlating to one year in Marvel's history. Along with celebrity contributors are also names from Marvel's storied past -- George Perez, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Kurt Busiek, Walter Simonson and more.
Marvel recently announced an extra issue, Marvel Comics #1001, which promises to reveal more secrets regarding the Eternity Mask and its mysterious owner, and will include another star-studded creative lineup.