In Review: Conan the Barbarian (2023-) #28 The Conquering Crown

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

Picking up from where issue 27 left off, Conan has escaped the prison of the mad King Numedides. With the help of various Aquilonian nobles, each believing they have a rightful claim to the throne, Conan begins to push across the kingdom, crushing Numedides’ forces wherever they rise.

With every town and hamlet conquered, more rebels flock to the cause. However, while the growing army fights alongside the nobles, it is clear they are not inspired by them. Instead, the rebels look to Conan as the true example of leadership, the man they are willing to follow into battle.

The story comes to a close as Conan and the four remaining nobles confront Numedides in his throne room. There, the mad king turns to dark magic, uttering incantations in a desperate attempt to destroy his enemies. What Numedides fails to account for is that Conan has faced sorcerers before, and more often than not, has emerged victorious.

Artwork

As in previous issues, Fernando Dagnino and Diego Rodriguez deliver some excellent work on this book. Dagnino’s line work and command of perspective are outstanding, while Rodriguez’s clever use of colour gives the story a strong sense of atmosphere throughout.

The battle sequences in particular are bone-crunchingly effective, with each clash feeling heavy and brutal. One standout sequence sees Conan and his allies driving forward into Numedides’ stronghold. The pages depicting the fight across the bridge are especially impressive, capturing both the scale of the conflict and the sheer ferocity of the combat.

Overall

A satisfying end to what has been one of the most epic Conan stories in this series to date.