CONAN THE BARBARIAN #27 / Script by JIM ZUB / Art by FERNANDO DAGNINO / Colors by DIEGO RODRIGUEZ / Letters by RICHARD STARKINGS & COMICRAFT’S TYLER SMITH / Covers by NICK MARINKOVICH, DOUG BRAITHWAITE, JUAN JOSÉ RYP & FEDERICO SABBATINI / Published by TITAN COMICS

There are few challenges that Conan of Cimmeria will not face. However, he is aware of his limits, and believes himself born for the battlefield. Yet he has little choice but to answer the call when the King of Aquilonia summons him to be honored in person for his deeds of bravery. The “Wolf of War” has survived many conflicts in his day, but can he navigate the treacherous noble courts of Tarantia?

While serving as the second chapter of Jim Zub’s ‘The Conquering Crown’ saga, Conan the Barbarian #27 is surprisingly accessible to new readers. This is unusual enough in a modern comic I feel it worth noting. Too many comic writers forget the dictum that periodic literature should be written as if every issue were going to be someone’s first issue.

Beyond that, Zub poses an interesting challenge for the Cimmerian in this issue. While Conan is not usually imagined as a political hero, he showed surprising savviness in his dealings with a potential coup in his first appearance in ‘The Phoenix on the Sword’. We see elements of that here, as Conan tries to watch and learn in an unfamiliar and hostile environment. While he may be a man of action, he is no fool, and a survivor first and foremost.

The Titan Comics’ Conan the Barbarian run has been blessed with consistently excellent artwork. This continues to be the case in this issue. Fernando Dagnino has a detailed and visceral style that well suits the sword and sorcery genre. His character designs and backgrounds are well-completed by the subtle coloration applied by Diego Rodriguez. The final effect is curiously reminiscent of the old Prince Valiant comics, though Conan is far more muscular despite sporting a similar page-boy haircut.

The current Conan the Barbarian series continues to be one of the best comics on the stands. Not merely one of the best fantasy comics or action/adventure comics. It is a great comic and well worth reading if you are any fan of the medium.

Conan the Barbarian #27 arrives in comic shops on December 17, 2025.