Conan the Barbarian #27 impressions — Madness lurks beneath the shine of Tarantia

The Barbarian’s journey to the throne continues.

For longtime fans of Conan (or anyone who read the mega-sized Conan the Barbarian #25 a few months back), it’s little secret that the Cimmerian’s incredible journey eventually leads him to the throne of the greatest kingdom of the Hyborian age. In the last issue, Jim Zub began the process of showing us that journey, as Conan’s actions in the battle of Poitain have brought him not only acclaim on the battlefield, but have also brought him to the attention of the Aquilonian king, Numedides. But is it only the Cimmerian’s heroic deeds in the service of the kingdom that have stirred the mad king’s interest, or is there something more at play? Something that could change the course of the kingdom forevermore…

*Mild spoilers ahead for Conan the Barbarian #27*

King Numedides has requested an audience with the “hero of the realm,” Conan. A request that cannot be denied or ignored, to the Cimmerian’s deep annoyance. Conan has no desire to bandy words with the kingdom’s elite, who sit in their great palaces and play “highborn games” at the expense of the common folk. He longs simply to do what he always has: fight, drink, and enjoy the company of those who he actually feels some kinship with. But knowing that he cannot simply ignore the royal summons —a sentiment reinforced by Count Troccero— the Barbarian journeys to the Aquilonian capital, accompanied by the members of the Westermarck Wolves. 

The Wolves’ arrival is met warmly, with cheering masses lining the streets in such a manner that one of them remarks that it was like they were “escortin’ the king himself.” A fitting bit of foreshadowing, though we’re still a long ways off from that eventuality. On the steps of the palace, King Numedides welcomes Conan as a hero, and though the king shows a subtle trace of displeasure at Conan’s “pointed choice of words” in response to his proclamations, he nevertheless invites the Cimmerian to join him in a banquet to celebrate his great victory. 

Inside the palace, however, Conan finds exactly what he expected: throngs of the rich and powerful, each with their own ambitions and schemes. Behind their finery and their honeyed words, each of these members of the elite seek to use Conan just as much as the king. From gold to marriage offers, Conan is met with no shortage of flattery and promises, all intended to earn his loyalty. It’s Numedides, however, who truly captures the Barbarian’s attention, not with offers of wealth or influence, but rather with words of greatness to come. A greatness that the king claims to have seen within dark prophecies that surround the Cimmerian. The conversation leaves Conan unsettled, a feeling that only grows with the king’s proclamation during the feast that night. A proclamation that would spell disaster for Aquilonia. A proclamation contested by none but a single Barbarian who cares for the games of the rich and powerful even less than he fears them. 

Coming off the heels of the previous issue, it was interesting to see Conan forced to contend with a far different manner of battlefield than we would usually find him in. Rather than matching steel and strength with foes seeking to end his life before he ends theirs, here we see him instead fending off foes that are perhaps even more deadly. With but a word they can end his life or make him disappear from the face of the Earth. Should he dare try to oppose them, the consequences would be grave, extending far beyond just himself. 

Despite this, when the opportunity arises to speak out against a proclamation both foolish and cruel, Conan doesn’t hesitate or mince words. He speaks his mind fearlessly, knowing full well the consequences that await him. For if he doesn’t, he knows no one else will. Those with influence within Tarantia won’t dare stand against the king, whether out of fear or because their own ambitions demand their continued good-standing with him. What concern is the lives of others to them when their own fortunes stand to profit? 

But where these power-hungry sycophants dare not speak out against the heinous cruelty of their leader, Conan cannot stand idly by while the king damns his nation to feed his own egotistical ambitions. Such is not in his character any more than it would be to stand back and let another fight for him. And while he ultimately stands alone in his defiance of the king’s will whilst amongst the highborns, elsewhere his words bear a far greater weight than he could have foreseen. For in the face of tyranny, one voice brave enough to speak out against injustice is all that’s required to ignite the embers of dissent lying smoldered in the hearts of the masses. No matter what the king or his highborn pets may tell themselves otherwise, there is a truth that is becoming increasingly difficult to deny: revolution is coming to Aquilonia, and it cannot be stopped.  

Like with the last issue, it’s interesting to see how Conan has grown as a character compared to Zub’s stories of the Cimmerian’s younger days. While he still carries the same bluntness he’s exhibited since his early days of wanderlust and adventure, there’s also a restraint to him. Not one born of fear, mind you, but one of experience. Where once Conan may have leapt into the fray prepared to meet his fate with steel in hand with no other concern than taking as many of his foes with him as he can, here we see a cunning and patience honed by years of adventures and battles. Not only does this help to highlight Conan’s personal growth, but it also helps to keep the story from feeling like another chapter of the same old thing, as action-adventure stories so often fall victim to. Just as it was interesting to see him playing gladiator for an issue in the last story arch, here it’s interesting to see how Conan fares against the highborn of Aquilonia in a setting that he seems quite uncomfortable in. A discomfort that can be felt in every interaction with the various highborn elites he encounters. 

At the end of the day, though, Conan is still a Barbarian at heart, and Zub doesn’t forget that. He remains defiant in the face of those who believe themselves to be his betters based solely on titles or blood, though his defiance is more calculated than it once was. He’s still the fearless warrior who will leap into battle without a trace of hesitation, though he now has eyes experienced enough to assess when it would be wiser to stay his blade and wait rather than charge forward like an enraged bull. 

Standing opposite the Barbarian is the king, whose depiction painted him as Conan’s opposite in terms of physical prowess, and yet surrounded him with an air of danger greater than any foe Conan has faced in recent days. His madness is fully evident, yet so is his cunning. This is a man who Conan could undoubtedly kill without breaking a sweat, and yet of all the antagonists Zub has put Conan up against during his run, this feels like the greatest threat to overcome. While it remains to be seen whether he is truly as mad as he appears or whether his mannerisms are a result of knowing far more than he should remains to be seen, but even knowing how the eventual battle between them will end, it still feels like Conan has a long hill ahead of him if he is to defeat the mad king. 

Conan’s journey to the throne will continue in the issues to come, and issue #27 is overall a fantastic second chapter in that journey. While nowhere near as action-packed as the previous issue, it pushes the story forward significantly, establishing not only the antagonist Conan must face, but also the embers of the revolution that will help to secure Conan’s ascension. Things will undoubtedly begin to move quickly in the months to come as the one-wanderlust guided Barbarian draws ever closer to his ultimate destiny. 

Conan the Barbarian #27 is available now from Titan Comics.