Dark Horse Comics has announced the first in a series of busts of Robert E. Howard's most famous creation, Conan the Barbarian.  The first bust in the series, entitled Conan the Slayer, depicts the Cimmerian swordsman at the peak of his maturity. Jeffery Scott, who has won acclaim for his work at Gentle Giant Studios, created the elaborate eight-inch sculpture. The hand-painted bust details many fine points of Conan's costume and complexion including the scars of battle, which are apparent on his flesh as well as on his sword, and the textures of the leather straps, bone necklace, and the Cimmerian's weathered skin.  The bust will be packaged in a full-color collector's box and will be hand-numbered.  The size of the edition has not yet been determined, but it will be limited to a one-time production run.  The Conan the Slayer Bust has a suggested retail price of $49.99 and is scheduled for a September, 2003 release.