CONAN THE BARBARIAN #27 – New Comic Review

Conan the Barbarian #27, by Titan Comics on 12/17/25, trades the blood-soaked battlefields of Poitain for the treacherous halls of Aquilonia’s royal court, where Conan discovers that navigating the intrigue of a mad king is far deadlier than facing Zingaran archers.

Credits:

• Writer: Jim Zub
• Artist: Fernando Dagnino
• Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
• Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
• Cover Artist: Nick Marinkovich (cover A)
• Publisher: Titan Comics
• Release Date: December 17, 2025
• Comic Rating: Mature (gore, nudity)
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 36
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #27:

First Impressions:

The opening pages immediately establish a tension that feels suffocating rather than exhilarating. Conan sits uncomfortably between soldiers and sovereigns, watching King Numedides float on madness while nobles circle like vultures, and there’s a palpable sense that this barbarian is completely out of his element for once. The mood is claustrophobic and paranoid, a far cry from the open battlefield heroics we’ve come to expect, and that tonal shift lands hard.

Recap:

After a simmering war council in Zingara in Conan the Barbarian #26, King Ferdrugo’s forces besiege the city of Culario in Poitain. Conan and the Westermarck Wolves mercenaries arrive to defend the province, but their initial assault fails and their general falls. Cut off from Aquilonian reinforcements, Conan convinces Count Trocero to attempt a daring nighttime raid behind enemy lines. The Cimmerian leads a handpicked band into the Zingaran camp, unleashing carnage and setting fires while freeing a captive. With the enemy camp in chaos, Poitain’s forces break through the gates and seize the moment to rout the besiegers. The Battle of Poitain ends in victory, though at a terrible cost. Conan is hailed as a war hero and the legend spreads to King Numedides, who becomes eager to exploit this barbarian-general for his own purposes.

Plot Analysis:

Conan arrives in the capital of Tarantia at King Numedides’ personal invitation, a rare audience that puzzles everyone involved. Count Trocero warns the Cimmerian that Aquilonia’s mad king views this war hero as both an outsider to manipulate and a curiosity to measure. Upon arrival, Numedides greets Conan publicly with flattery and fanfare, praising the barbarian’s deeds while separating him from his traveling companions. The king insists Conan stay at the castle, where luxury and scheming nobles await.

Over the following days, Aquilonia’s elite descend upon Conan with calculated seduction. Barons and nobles offer their daughters in marriage, wealth beyond measure, and political alliances if the Cimmerian will align himself with their interests. Conan grows increasingly disgusted by their hollow avarice and their blindness to the suffering of ordinary people. Meanwhile, King Numedides speaks privately with Conan about dreams fulfilled and the nature of kingship, revealing himself to be dangerously unhinged. When Numedides mentions the “Woeful Eye,” an ancient and terrible thing tied to dark prophecy, something primal awakens in Conan’s mind, filling him with inexplicable dread.

At a grand feast intended to honor Conan, Numedides makes a shocking proclamation. He declares war on Zingara, vowing to conquer the kingdom and expand Aquilonian power through conquest and subjugation. Conan, watching the room for reactions, sees the assembled nobles freeze in silent horror, knowing the plan is reckless and suicidal. Unable to stomach the madness any longer, the Cimmerian stands and directly challenges the king’s judgment, arguing that seizing land and slaughtering peasants will only beget more enemies and paint Aquilonia’s legacy in blood. Numedides, enraged by such public defiance, immediately brands Conan a traitor and orders his arrest.

In the castle’s depths, guards escort Conan to his cell, and a royal proclamation declares the Cimmerian and his mercenary company enemies of the realm. That night, three assassins arrive in the dungeon to silence the troublesome barbarian. Conan fights them off with brutal efficiency, turning the chains that bind him into weapons. Before guards can arrive, Prospero, a loyal soldier sent by Count Trocero, appears with a prison key already in hand. The two escape through the castle by disguise and chaos, with Conan’s bleeding wounds nearly giving them away. They flee across rooftops and jump into the Khorotas River. By dawn, they meet sympathetic allies with swift horses and make their bid for freedom.

Story

The issue masterfully shifts between three distinct tones: political intrigue, personal dread, and physical action. Jim Zub paces these elements with precision, ensuring no section overstays its welcome. The dialogue crackles with subtext, particularly between Conan and Numedides, where the barbarian’s blunt directness collides with the king’s flowery madness. Transitions from Conan’s discomfort at court to his spiraling moral objection feel organic and earned. However, the middle section describing each baron becomes slightly dense with exposition, and while the character descriptions serve the world-building, they momentarily interrupt momentum. The climactic trial, escape, and proclamation sequence moves with tremendous energy, though the assassination scene could have lingered slightly longer for greater tension.

Art

Fernando Dagnino’s artwork excels at conveying psychological discomfort through spatial composition. Close-ups of Conan surrounded by leering nobles emphasize his isolation, while wide shots of the grand hall showcase Numedides’ grotesque authority. Diego Rodriguez’s color palette is particularly effective, transitioning from the warm golds and reds of royal pageantry to cooler, more sickly tones when Numedides speaks of dark prophecy. The fight sequence in the dungeon is kinetic and brutal, with clear line work that keeps the action readable despite the confined space. The final rooftop escape and river plunge feel dynamic and thrilling, with strong visual staging that propels the reader forward. However, some panel compositions in the crowded feast scene become slightly cluttered, making it harder to track which noble is speaking at certain moments.

Characters

Conan’s character arc here is his most compelling internal struggle yet. He’s not fighting enemies; he’s fighting the realization that greatness in a corrupt system makes him complicit in corruption. His motivation stems from genuine moral conviction, not self-interest, which marks a genuine evolution for the character. Numedides is sketched as a figure of dangerous delusion, and his obsession with the “Woeful Eye” hints at far deeper mythological horrors to come and the previously published stories concerning the Black Stone, making him a multifaceted antagonist rather than a simple tyrant. The nobles blur together somewhat, though that’s partly intentional, reflecting Conan’s view of them as interchangeable parasites. Prospero’s sudden arrival feels slightly rushed, though the loyalty between soldiers makes thematic sense. The Westermarck Wolves’ steadfast support, demonstrated in the climax, reinforces the bonds forged through shared struggle.

Originality & Concept Execution

The core concept of thrusting Conan into court intrigue rather than battlefield heroics is genuinely fresh for this series. Rather than proving himself through might alone, the barbarian must navigate a world where principles matter more than swords. The issue explores the tension between a character of primal honesty and a society built on lies and manipulation. This elevates the premise beyond simple “barbarian fish out of water” comedy. The revelation that Conan’s own legendary status makes him a pawn in a mad king’s games adds thematic depth about the cost of heroism. The cliffhanger involving a popular uprising sparked by Conan’s flight is an excellent escalation, suggesting the story is moving toward larger systemic collapse rather than simple personal vindication.

Positives

The issue’s greatest achievement is its psychological tension. Watching Conan gradually realize the full scope of his predicament never feels manufactured or overwrought; his mounting dread builds naturally through conversation and observation. The writing makes each offer of marriage or wealth feel increasingly nauseating rather than merely tempting. The art reinforces this brilliantly, with Dagnino’s expressions capturing Conan’s visible discomfort as nobles circle closer. The sudden outbreak of civil unrest at the issue’s end, with commoners throwing rocks and supporting Conan’s escape, provides an unexpectedly powerful moment of human solidarity against tyranny. This shift reframes the entire issue as not just personal tragedy but as a catalyst for genuine revolution. The dynamic between Conan and Numedides crackles with menace, particularly the cryptic mention of the “Woeful Eye,” which promises larger supernatural stakes ahead.

Negatives

The issue stumbles when it attempts to cram eight barons’ descriptions into a few pages; while each receives a line or two of personality, the parade of similar-looking nobles slows momentum rather than building intrigue. The feast scene carries less urgency than it should, with the assembled crowd more background noise than active threat. Conan’s sudden imprisonment and the arrival of assassins feel slightly accelerated; another page exploring his confinement or mental state would have amplified the claustrophobia. The revelation that Prospero has already arranged escape feels somewhat convenient, especially given how recently the messenger arrived in Tarantia. While the climactic revolution provides thematic resonance, it arrives almost too suddenly in the final panels, leaving readers wanting more exploration of this pivotal shift. The color work occasionally muddles the transition between palace interiors, making it occasionally hard to track which room Conan occupies during quiet scenes.

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): [3.5/4]
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): [3/4]
Value (Originality & Entertainment): [2/2]

Final Thoughts:

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CONAN THE BARBARIAN #27 proves that the character’s greatest battles aren’t always fought with swords. This issue swaps dungeons and dragons for throne rooms and backstabbery, and it mostly nails the tone and stakes of a barbarian suffocating under civilization’s weight. The writing is sharp and the art is purposeful, making every conversation feel loaded with danger. Yet the pacing occasionally falters when ambition outpaces execution, particularly during the parade of nobles and the slightly rushed escape sequence. What truly earns this issue its value is the promise it plants about what comes next.

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