This is an overview article, listing content appearing in multiple Fallout media. For information specific to a given game or TV series, consult the table on the right.
The franchise relates the adventures of the main character, Grognak, in an ancient, fantastical world. His arch-rival appears to be the evil sorcerer Grelok. The series began as a comic book and eventually expanded to other media including video games such as the text adventure Reign of Grelok, the CRPG Grognak & the Ruby Ruins, and the crossover comic series The Unstoppables.
There were at least fourteen issues of the comic book published, ten of which appear in Fallout 4 and Fallout 76. The comics indicate a day and month of release, some issues with duplicate numbers from different months. Many of these periodicals were badly damaged or destroyed by the Great War of 2077. An intact copy, with no missing pages, is considered very rare. The price for a copy was $23.
The world of Grognak includes classic fantasy elements such as dwarves, elves, dark elves, orcs, ghosts, and giant crabs and serpents.
This issue focused on the AntAgonizer trying to get revenge on Grognak and was written by Mr. Neptura.
Heavy, the Oaken Crown
Pre-ordered by Boston Hubris Comics in September 2077.[1]
In the Lair of the Virgin Eater
It was released in November of an unspecified year. An image of this issue is copied onto a slide for the Vault Dweller's Survival Guide. The slide's identifying number is VDSG Plate #188-63.
Revenge of the Man-Saurian
It involves the Man-Saurian, and was released sometime in June 2077.
Grognak's Salute to the Troops
It was most likely war propaganda and was released sometime in July 2077.
An Axe For All Ages
It was released sometime in August 2077.
Blood on the Harp
This issue came out on January 16 of an unknown year.
Cometh the Trickster
This issue came out on February 20 of an unknown year.
Jungle of the Bat-Babies
This issue came out on March 21 of an unknown year.
In the Bosom of the Corsair Queen
This issue came out on April 24 of an unknown year.
Demon Slaves, Demon Sands
This issue came out on May 22 of an unknown year.
Enter Maula: War Maiden of Mars
This issue came out on June 22 of an unknown year.
Fatherless Cur!
This issue came out on July 24 of an unknown year.
Lost in the Snows of Lust
This issue came out on August 24 of an unknown year, pre-ordered by Boston Hubris Comics in August 2077.[2]
What Sorcery This?
This issue came out on December 16 of an unknown year. Based on the issue's cover, this issue featured Grelok the Sorcerer.
Untitled issues[]
An issue where Mastadonald and Skullpocalypse teamed up to fight Grognak.[3]
A limited edition annual edition where Grognak dies and comes back to life, featured in the 2076 Underlane Price Guide as the rarest issue.[4]
Behind the scenes[]
Grognak the Barbarian is a parody of Conan the Barbarian, a low fantasy IP popular in the mid-twentieth century.
The cover of "In the Lair of the Virgin Eater" resembles the cover of the Conan issue "The Lair of the Ice Worm."
The issue "Lost in the Snows of Lust" references "The Frost-Giant's Daughter," one of the early Conan the Barbarian stories written by Robert E. Howard.
The titles "In the Bosom of the Corsair Queen" and "Jungle of the Bat-Babies" allude to the Conan story "Queen of the Black Coast," and the cover parodies those of erotic romance novels.
"Enter Maula: War Maiden of Mars" appears to be a reference to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Martian Circle, specifically The Warlord of Mars and Thuvia: Maid of Mars.
The IP also somewhat parodies the aesthetics and conventions of He-Man.
Grognak's place among the Unstoppables evokes fantasy/scifi comic IPs which were ultimately combined into a shared universe by the corporation that owned them, causing characters designed for fantasy/scifi settings to be re-contextualized as superheroes.
The antagonist in the issue "Cometh The Trickster" is a direct reference to The Trickster from the Thief series. Moreover, the comic is found at the Bus and apartment wreckage, which is a recreation of the childhood home of Emil Pagliarulo, who also worked on the series early in his career.
