Synopsis: THE CONQUERING CROWN: The King of Aquilonia has gone mad, or so the rumors say. A tyrant sits upon the throne and all will suffer until he is deposed or dead.
Conan the Mercenary cares nothing for these royal rumors and petty politics, but the Cimmerian’s skill in battle is about to put him in the path of a mad monarch, and his life will be forever changed.
The Story
A new story arc begins, one that sees Conan’s work as a mercenary opening doors to real leadership. The tale kicks off with Aquilonia in a right state. King Numedides has clearly lost the plot, leaving his whole kingdom wobbling while famine creeps in and tempers flare among the people. Down south in Poitain, things only get worse when Zingara’s King Ferdrugo decides it’s the perfect moment to push across the border. Count Trocero and his knights are dispatched but walk straight into an ambush, and for a brief moment it looks like Poitain could fall before anyone in the capital even realises what’s happening.
Into this chaos strides Conan, now riding with the Westermarck Wolves. He’s older, sharper, and far more than the wandering sellsword he used to be. When the arrows start flying, he naturally takes charge — not for glory, but because everyone else would be dead if he didn’t. The Wolves hit back at the Zingarans with the grit and savagery only Conan can inspire.
Meanwhile, Numedides refuses to send reinforcements, too wrapped up in his own unraveling mind. By the close of the issue, Conan’s heroics haven’t gone unnoticed. There’s a clear sense he’s taking the first real step toward something bigger — a path forged in war, loyalty, and the weight of a kingdom that desperately needs someone stronger at its helm.
Artwork
Fernando Dagnino and Diego Rodriguez deliver solid artwork for this opening chapter. The battlefield sequences do a great job of capturing the bloodshed and raw chaos that Conan not only endures but thrives in. The standout moment is the sequence where he rescues the girl while taking down the Zingaran general — a slick blend of Conan’s trademark savagery and surprising stealth that really sells his evolution as a warrior. The final page lands with exactly the right energy, setting the stage for what promises to be a compelling arc. I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing where issue #27 takes things.
Overall
This opening chapter does a brilliant job of setting up the new story arc. The looming war between the two kings is established cleanly, giving the conflict real weight right from the start. Conan’s rise into a position of leadership within the Westermarck Wolves is also handled really well — it feels organic, earned, and completely in character.
- Covers9.4
- Story9.5
- Artwork9.8
- Lettering9.4
- Colours9.8
