Conan and the Demons of Khitai #3

The penultimate chapter of this Dark Horse miniseries finds a bare-chested Conan crouched low in a dense, shadowy forest, massive sword leveled and ready as fearsome beast-like demons — including a snarling tiger-creature and a dark, looming figure — close in on him from every side. Pat Lee's cover art crackles with feral energy, capturing the sheer outnumbered tension of a warrior who clearly has no intention of backing down. With writing by Akira Yoshida and art by Paul Lee, Conan and the Demons of Khitai #3 is a fine showcase of 2005 Dark Horse sword-and-sorcery at its most visceral.