Lepka is the head of administration of Industria, a technologically surviving island city in a post-apocalyptic world. Initially serving under the Industria High Committee, a group of elderly and naive scientists, he gradually consolidates power and stages a coup to become the sole dictator of Industria, making him the primary antagonist of the series. His background is rooted in the rigid, caste-based society of Industria, which relies on a backup nuclear reactor and the salvage of plastic waste for oil. Lepka is driven by an obsessive desire to revive the ancient solar energy technology developed by Dr. Lao, which he intends to use to power a massive flying fortress called the Gigant, allowing him to dominate whatever remains of the world. His personality is calculating, ruthless, and utterly without scruples. He shows no regard for human life or the environment, viewing people like Lana and Dr. Lao merely as tools to achieve his goals. Unlike other antagonistic characters in the story who undergo redemption, Lepka remains irredeemably evil, ever greedy for power and willing to use fear and military force to maintain control. His role in the story is that of the central obstacle; his pursuit of Lana for her telepathic connection to her grandfather sets the plot in motion, and his escalating tyranny forces Conan and his allies to oppose him. Key relationships include his tense dynamic with Monsley, a high-ranking officer whom he eventually betrays when she no longer serves his interests, and his dismissive attitude toward the weak-willed High Committee. He treats Conan and Lana as nuisances to be captured or eliminated. Over the course of the series, Lepka’s character development is one of escalating desperation and villainy: as his plans begin to crumble due to Conan’s interference and natural disasters, he becomes increasingly unstable, culminating in a final attempt to escape in the Gigant and rule from the sky. He possesses no supernatural or physical abilities; his power derives entirely from his political and military authority, his manipulation of Industria’s resources, and his control over weapons such as the Gigant. His notable ability is his strategic cunning and willingness to betray anyone, including his own subordinates, to preserve his dominance.