Sonja Reborn #4 Review

 

Writer: Christopher Priest

Penciler: Alessandro Miracolo

Inker: Raffaele Semeraro

Colorist: Giovanni Caputo

Letterer: Taylor Esposito

Editor: Matt Idelson

Cover Artists: Stjepan Sejic, Stuart Sayger, Chad Hardin, Greg Land & Cosplay (Ani-Mia)

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Price: $4.99

Release Date: December 17, 2025

 

Margaret Sutherland fell in love with her boss’s boss. She told herself that it didn’t matter that the Deputy Assistant to the Junior Adjutant of the HMG Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster was embezzling money from the British crown. Then Margaret discovered that Justin Brand was two-timing her with a coworker.

 

Anger consumed her. When two souls lay at her feet, Margaret hungered for a third. Instead, like Alice, she fell down a hole and landed in the Hyborian Age. How is Margaret adjusting to life as Red Sonja? And why is a red bird like a She-Devil with a Sword? Let's grab our swords, leap into Sonja Reborn #4, and see!

 

Story

Despite Justin Brand's infidelity and theft, what put Margaret's anger on turbo drive was his disdain for her feelings. When Justin was running late, he ordered Margaret to drive recklessly. When she struck a child on a bicycle, Justin told Margaret it was her fault.

 

In the Hyborian Age, Margaret struggles with who she is. Unlike Skye Ramsey, who arrived before her, Margaret's soul inhabits a different body in Sonja Reborn #4. Red Sonja's struggle with identity frustrates her squire Faolān. Worse, she displays classic feminine weaknesses in a world that values strength. Trevor, a Pict warrior, has pledged his loyalty to Sonja. But Gaeric the Gunderman is a slave merchant, and his only loyalty is to himself.

 

Christopher Priest tells his story across a sweeping tapestry. While portraying Margaret’s actions in the 21^st Century and the Hyborian Age, he also highlights Kade’s dilemma and Skye Ramsey’s plight. All this takes place as Dark threatens to remove itself from creation unless Light returns its child. Like the gods, Margaret yearns for return also. She hopes that the cellphone or "Fire box" Trevor found will provide clues to return to the world and body she left behind.

 

Amid this story stuffed with players and moving parts, Margaret's dilemma is how she moves forward. Whether she stays in this world or returns to her own, Margaret cannot erase the result of her dangerous driving. But, as Faolān points out, Sonja inhabits a male-dominated world. Margaret still holds onto 21^st-century perspectives on slavery, the rights of women, and the dignity owed to displaced indigenous people like the Picts. But if she is to remain a free woman and lead others, Margaret must act like Red Sonja. Ironically, that means hurting and killing others, something she seems more reluctant to do in the Hyborian Age than in the 21^st Century.

 

Art

Alessandro Miracolo and Raffaele Semeraro’s detailed art imbues the Hyborian Age and the Modern world with depth and believability. Two splash pages convey incidents of otherworldly terror in Sonja Reborn #4. Yet even half-page panels have an epic quality. The characters express their emotions as they discuss their dilemmas or engage in rapid action. Margaret moved with surety past a familiar figure from the Dynamite Universe in New York. Yet in the Hyborian Age, Margaret looks out of place in her chain mail bikini.

 

Giovanni Caputo introduces what drives the Hyborian Age by showcasing Kade the Slaver’s love of gold. Scenes from New York inhabit a green world, reminding us how Justin Brand’s avarice altered Margaret’s course. Sepia tinges memories of killing and death. Yet red makes the strongest statement. Clothing, saddlecloths, curtains, and upholstery all showcase red. Trevor and Gaeric, two people from tribal communities caught between more aggressive nations, wear red body paint or tattoos. Sonja’s red hair makes an intriguing link with the avian avatars of the Light. And then, there is the red that occasionally splashes the pages in Sonja Reborn #4.  

 

Taylor Esposito fills white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes with black uppercase text. The letters grow bold for inflection, swell for volume, and shrink for lowered voices. Panels featuring white letters locate readers in time and space. Sound effects accompany nightmarish attacks, and a condition that could prematurely end Margaret's visit to the Hyborian Age. Thanks to Dynamite Entertainment and Comic Book Dispatch for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Margaret's soul awakens in Red Sonja's body after the Battle of Venarium. Unlike Conan, who decided to leave his home country and travel the world, Margaret takes no joy in the slaughter. As the She-Devil with a Sword struggles to embrace her new life, a battle between the gods threatens to strip Margaret of the people supporting her in Sonja Reborn #4.

 

Rating 9.6/10

Sonja Reborn #1 Review

 

Writer: Christopher Priest

Artist: Alessandro Miracolo

Colorist: Giovanni Caputo

Letterer: Taylor Esposito

Editor: Matt Idelson

Cover Artists: Stjepan Sejic, Joshua Middleton, Chad Hardin, Greg Land, Cosplay (Ani-Mia) & Blank

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Price: $4.99

Release Date: August 27, 2025

 

Margaret Sutherland hungers for revenge. She fell in love with a man, only to have another woman steal him. It’s a familiar tale, and as the saying goes, there are more fish in the sea. But the facts don’t matter to Margaret. All she feels is the aching loss from Justin’s departure. So she uses her connections and crosses the Atlantic. Will a routine traffic stop in New York City prevent her from killing the woman who took Justin away from her? And how does Margaret’s plight relate to Red Sonja? Let's grab our swords, leap into Sonja Reborn #1, and see!

 

Story

Margaret inhabited a world of wealth and privilege. Yet none of that made her happy. Justin brought a ray of sunshine into her empty life and gave it meaning. Working for the Duchy of Lancaster meant the rules governing everyday life in Britain didn't apply to Margaret. Securing a gun and emulating pop culture icons seemed like an easy solution.

 

In New York City, Margaret gets a rude awakening. The police officer acts on his experience and pulls her over. But he is more interested in flaunting his importance than in why Margaret is in this neighborhood so early in the morning. Thus, he doesn't intuit her intentions and follow her into the subway tunnel. 

 

Christopher Priest tells Sonja Reborn #1 from Margaret’s perspective. When danger threatens, she compares her dilemma to classic stories. Unlike in Amy Chu’s series, where Red Sonja travels to New York City, Christopher Priest transports Margaret to the Hyborian world. Like John Carter, Margaret finds navigating her new surroundings a challenge. Her world might have descended into a nightmare in Justin's absence. But everything in Margaret's altered existence is unfamiliar, appalling, and threatening.

 

Still, Margaret senses that a part of her belongs in this strange land. If Margaret can channel that aspect of herself, perhaps she can find a way to survive. But first, Margaret must embrace who she has become. In Sonja Reborn #1, Margaret's soul inhabits the body of the Hyrkanian She-Devil With A Sword.

 

Art

The emergency lights atop his cruiser alternate between painting the officer red and blue. Red and blue also illuminate figures who crouch in darkness. Yellow dominates a treasured memory of Justin. Margaret wears a yellow shirt and gold jewelry. Giovanni Caputo's light pink and blue butterflies represent Margaret's hopes for the future. The yellow field they visit finds a companion later in Sonja Reborn #1, when two other beings meet to share their concerns. One shines with a radiant palette, while the other prefers black and white.

 

Alessandro Miracolo signals Margaret's determination from the first page. She doesn't bother to face the cop as he writes her up. Instead, Margaret clutches the steering wheel, tilts her head down, and fixes her smoldering gaze straight ahead. The visor of the officer's cap casts a mask-like shadow over his eyes, reducing them to white slits as he smiles down at her. With his black hat and jacket, the shadow-mask suggests he sees himself as a hero of the night. But he doesn’t halt her evildoing for long.

 

When she arrives on a dusty slope, Margaret tumbles when she pulls the gold hilt of her long sword from its scabbard. But it's not long before flame-haired Margaret rises again in her silver armor and brown gloves, boots, and cape. As black smoke rises in the distance, Margaret approaches a mounted stranger. Instead of regarding him as he answers her questions, “Margaret” leans toward the horse’s nostrils, as if expressing dominance.

 

As Margaret pursues her quarry, Taylor Esposito fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase text. Margaret’s thoughts, observations, and reactions during her journey appear as white letters in red narrative boxes. Like her jewelry, translations of British terms appear in yellow-gold boxes, and most of her sound effects are yellow. Yet while sound effects and enlarged dialogue are color-coded to characters and emotions, white letters in black balloons signal a threat to Margaret's future in Sonja Reborn #1. Thanks to Dynamite Entertainment for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

When Margaret Sutherland plunges into the Hyborian world, she unwittingly becomes a pawn in a battle between cosmic forces. While one embraces reason, all the other knows is the pain of losing a loved one. Christopher Priest reshapes Cimmerian history and challenges Red Sonja's traditional orientation to men in Sonja Reborn #1.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Red Sonja Vs The Army Of Darkness #4 Review

 

Writer: Tim Seeley

Artist: Jim Terry

Colorist: Carlos Badilla

Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry

Editor: Joe Rybandt

Cover Artists: Bjorn Barends, Tim Seeley, Tom Raney & Nikkol Jelenic,

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Price: $4.99

Release Date: August 6, 2025

 

Ash Williams traveled back in time to reunite with his beloved Sheila. Instead, he awakened in the Hyborian Age. Once again, the Necronomicon Ex Mortis created an Army Of Darkness. General Lanses hired Red Sonja to slay the Deadites infesting the land. Can Ash and Sonja reclaim the Necronomicon before Kulan Gath leads the Nemedian Deadite army in a recruitment drive across the Hyborian world? Let’s grab our swords and chainsaws, leap into Red Sonja Vs The Army Of Darkness #4, and see!

 

Story

Ash Williams is a haunted man. He lost his girlfriend Linda to the Necronomicon. Ash failed to return to Shiela in 1300 AD. But despite his confidence and swagger, he has slept through too many centuries in confined spaces. So, as he fights to prevent anyone else from falling prey to the Deadite curse, Ash battles claustrophobia in Red Sonja Vs The Army Of Darkness #4.

 

Red Sonja is a haunted woman. She pledged her life to defending the innocent and weak after villains slew her family. Yet when Kulan Gath turned children into Deadites, she had to kill them instead of protecting them. In Tim Seeley’s story, Red Sonja hides her blackening arm beneath a long leather glove. Her bond with the goddess Scathach has helped her fight off the Deadite transformation up to now. But Red Sonja knows that eventually, the evil flowing through her veins will transform her into what she abhors.

 

After completing his Army Of Darkness Forever run, Tony Fleecs hands his Kandarian quill to his former Local Man cowriter. Tim Seeley divides the point of view between Ash, Red Sonja, and Kulan Gath. Along with all the action, Tim Seeley increases the drama with a deeply flawed villain. By hinting at Kulan Gath's earlier trauma, readers understand the sorcerer’s desperation for omnipotence, even if they cannot condone Gath’s actions.

 

Art

Carlos Badilla shows Ash holding his beloved Sheila surrounded by yellow and orange. He marries memories of Ash attacking Deadites against a blue background with Red Sonja leaping into the fray beneath a blue night sky. Greenery surrounds the heroes as they journey toward Kulan Gath’s castle. But like Saruman, brown land without a trace of green foliage surrounds his fortress. Clutching the Necronomicon, Kulan Gath his forces from his throne in a high tower in Red Sonja Vs The Army Of Darkness #4.

 

Jim Terry delivers a folksy art style that, like Ash’s humor, softens the tone of Red Sonja Vs The Army Of Darkness #4. Scenes evoke the 1992 movie as Kulan Gath clutches the Necronomicon surrounded by burning torches. Red Sonja’s strategy draws on another fantasy icon while showing her concern for her unwilling helper. Another nod to Sam Raimi’s classic shows Ash using his superior knowledge to aid their cause. Yet when Red Sonja’s resistance to the Deadite infection weakens, Jim Terry switches to a glamorous, pinup style to peek inside the She-Devil’s mind.

 

Jeff Eckleberry casts uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes. The letters swell for volume, grow bold for intonation, and shrink for lowered voices. Each letter O carries a period at its center among elegant words intended for Red Sonja’s ears alone. Sound effects help us hear slashing swords, death cries, roaring chainsaws, and explosions that rock the Hyborian Age. Thanks to Dynamite Entertainment for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

As Ash strives to put his past behind him, he wonders if he can trust his bikini-clad Hyrkanian teammate. Red Sonja must bear the weight of the world to save the weak and defenseless in Red Sonja Vs The Army Of Darkness #4. And Kulan Gath admits to a character flaw that makes him a powerful man with a weak soul.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Every Attendee is a winner at the SDCC Red Sonja Movie Panel

 

 

The folks behind this upcoming movie reached out to me again with a tantalyzing special offer! Read on to see why attending the Red Sonja Movie Panel at San Diego Comic-Con is a must! 

 

RED SONJA will have a panel at SDCC on Thursday, July 24th from 5:30-6:30pm. Matilda Lutz (Revenge), Robert Sheehan (The Umbrella Academy), Martyn Ford (Mortal Kombat II), and producers Mark Canton (300) and Luke Lieberman (The Alliances Universe) will be in Ballroom 20 discussing bringing the comic book icon to life in the highly anticipated reboot.

The prop sword from the poster (pictured below) will also be given away to one lucky fan in the audience - though there’ll be something free for everyone who attends. 

 

See! You need to be there! 

Here's the details on the movie:

 

SDCC Panel Date: July 24, 2025 (5:30 pm PT - 6:30pm PT, San Diego Convention Center, Ballroom 20)
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Theatrical Release Date: August 15, 2025
Digital Release Date: August 29, 2025
Director: MJ Bassett
Writer: Tasha Huo
Producers: Les Weldon, Yariv Lerner, Luke Lieberman, Christa Campbell, Lati Grobman, Joe Gatta, MJ Basset, Jeffrey Greenstein,  Avi Lerner, Mark Canton, P.G.A., Courtney Soloman, P.G.A, Jonathan Yunger
Executive Producers: Trevor Short, Darina Pavlova, Boaz Davidson, Tanner Mobley, Luke Lieberman, Dorothy Canton, Scott Karol, Heidi Jo Markel
Starring: Matilda Lutz, Robert Sheehan, Wallis Day, Martyn Ford, Michael Bisping, Phillip Winchester, Trevor Eve
Rating: Rated R for strong/bloody violence.
Runtime: 110 Minutes
Trailer: https://youtu.be/-Oqql6RErHc 
Logline: Captured. Chained. Forced to fight for survival. Red Sonja must battle her way through the blood-soaked pits of a tyrant’s empire and rally an army of outcasts to reclaim her freedom and take down Dragan and his ruthless bride, Dark Annisia.

 

For movie stills and quotes from the movie's producers, see my earlier post on the Red Sonja Movie Panel at SDCC.

Thanks to Prodigy Public Relations for sharing this exciting news and enticing offer with us.  

Red Sonja Movie Panel at SDCC

 

Can you believe it's been 40 years since Red Sonja first appeared on the big screen? The She-Devil With A Sword is back again, and looking better than ever! I hope Arnold Schwarzenegger gets a cameo!

Here's the scoop on the movie, and a Red Sonja panel at San Diego Comic-Con: 

  

Matilda Lutz Stars as RED SONJA in New Reboot  In Theaters August 15th & On Digital August 29th

Matilda Lutz, Robert Sheehan, and Martyn Ford to be on RED SONJA panel July 24th at San Diego Comic-Con

 Releasing in theaters August 15th and on digital August 29th, be the first to see Matilda Lutz, Robert Sheehan, and Martyn Ford in the exhilarating new trailer for the RED SONJA reboot from Samuel Goldwyn Films, directed by MJ Bassett.

Captured. Chained. Forced to fight for survival. Red Sonja must battle her way through the blood-soaked pits of a tyrant’s empire and rally an army of outcasts to reclaim her freedom and take down Dragan and his ruthless bride, Dark Annisia.

Matilda Lutz, Robert Sheehan, and Martyn Ford will be in attendance at San Diego Comic-Con, with a RED SONJA panel taking place 5:30 pm PT on July 24th at SD Convention Center in Ballroom 20, where the cast will discuss bringing the comic book icon to life in the new reboot.  

“We’re thrilled to be bringing Red Sonja to audiences across the nation. The fanbase for the legendary character is big and passionate and we’re confident that this film will deliver for them,” shares SGF president Peter Goldwyn.

“I look forward to working with Samuel Goldwyn on the release of Red Sonja.  This film has been a long road and we couldn’t be more excited about this screen version of the legendary character who is the first and foremost an empowered heroine.  The fans are lined up and surely will be thrilled,” producer Mark Canton shares.

“The fans are ready, the movie is ready, and I can’t wait to share Red Sonja’s story with the world. Those who know her will see the heart and fire they love, and newcomers will discover the true She-Devil with a Sword,” adds producer Luke Lieberman.

“We’re beyond thrilled to announce the release of Red Sonja alongside our partners at Samuel Goldwyn Films. It’s been an incredible journey bringing this iconic character to life, and director MJ Bassett and star Matilda Lutz have crafted an unforgettable filmic adaptation of her story. We can’t wait for audiences to experience the power and excitement of Red Sonja on the big screen!” said producer Jonathan Yunger.

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Comic Con Panel Date: July 24, 2025 (5:30 pm PT, SD Convention Center, Ballroom 20)
Theatrical Release Date: August 15, 2025
Digital Release Date: August 29, 2025
Director: MJ Bassett
Writer: Tasha Huo
Producers: Les Weldon, Yariv Lerner, Luke Lieberman, Christa Campbell, Lati Grobman, Joe Gatta, MJ Basset, Jeffrey Greenstein,  Avi Lerner, Mark Canton, P.G.A., Courtney Soloman, P.G.A, Jonathan Yunger
Executive Producers: Trevor Short, Darina Pavlova, Boaz Davidson, Tanner Mobley, Luke Lieberman, Dorothy Canton, Scott Karol, Heidi Jo Markel
Starring: Matilda Lutz, Robert Sheehan, Wallis Day, Martyn Ford, Michael Bisping, Phillip Winchester, Trevor Eve
Rating: Rated R for strong/bloody violence.
Runtime: 110 Minutes

 

For more: 

Watch the official trailer for the new Red Sonja movie.

Read my thoughts on the 1985 Red Sonja. 

For more on the latest Red Sonja comics, see my review of Red Sonja Noir #1. 

Thanks to Prodigy Public Relations for sharing this announcement with us. 

 

Red Sonja Noir #1 Review

 

Writer: David Avallone

Artist: Edu Menna

Colorist: Adriano Augusto

Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry

Editor: Joseph Rybandt

Cover Artists: Lesley “Leirix” Li, Joseph Michael Linsner & Cosplay by Molly Stewart

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Price: $5.99

Release Date: June 18, 2025

 

The goddess Scáthach imbued Red Sonja with exceptional fighting abilities. But the men who killed her family and violated Red Sonja left their mark on her soul. So, when Scáthach forbids her intimacy with men, Red Sonja doesn't protest. She may ally with warriors like Conan now and then. But she feels more comfortable around women. What happens when Red Sonja finds a man she trusts? Let's grab our swords, leap into Red Sonja Noir #1, and see!

 

Story

In David Avallone’s story, Red Sonja has set up a business with Tamsin. They’ve established their reputation in town as heroes for hire. Red Sonja and Tamsin have taken rooms in a tavern. Townspeople in need of their services ask for Blade and Archer. But the pattern of their days changes when a beautiful lady arrives. Shawna needs protection from Zander. The slaver has kidnapped her sister and demands a ransom for her safe return. Although Shawna wishes to employ both partners, Tamsin assures the lady that Red Sonja’s involvement is unnecessary. He will protect Shawna as they meet with Zander and rescue her sister.

 

In Red Sonja Noir #1, the town guards awaken Red Sonja early the following morning. They know her well enough that they don’t suspect Red Sonja of killing her partner. When she vows to find Tamsin's murderer, they don't protest. As Red Sonja investigates, we learn more about the beautiful Shawna. The story also introduces Lady Stradaverde. She's less interested in stringed instruments than the occult. Lady Stradaverde, or The Crone, seeks an ancient artifact. Red Sonja, Shawna, and Zander have roles to play in acquiring it for her.

 

Red Sonja’s past prevents her from taking others at face value. The She-Devil With A Sword navigates the dangers of the investigation, unfazed by the intrigues she observes. Unlike those around her, Red Sonja seeks neither money nor power in Red Sonja Noir #1. All she wants is to find her partner's murderer. Red Sonja failed him in life. She won’t fail Tamsin in death.

 

Art

While Red Sonja shines in her armored bikini, Edu Menna dresses Tamsin in pants, a tunic, and a capelet. Together with his eyepatch and Van Dyke beard, swashbuckling Tamsin seems suited to this medieval town. Guards patrol the streets wearing quilted armor and capes. A double-masted ship anchors in the canal that flows through this Tudor-style town. The inhabitants and travelers use gently arced stone bridges to cross from one embankment to the other.

 

Adriano Augusto lavishes a loaded palette on this town of red-roofed houses. Yellow and orange dance across the blue and green waters of the canal. Shawna's purple and magenta clothing outshines most of the town's inhabitants in Red Sonja Noir #1. But her rosy skin exhibits the same healthy glow as Red Sonja's. Amid the realism of the tavern, market, and hotel, light combats the lurking darkness. In the Crone’s domain, illuminated by candles, it triumphs, but just barely.

 

Jeff Eckleberry fills white dialogue balloons and beige narrative boxes with uppercase black letters. Words grow bold for intonation and enlarge for raised voice. Sound effects accompany clanging swords, spraying blood, and an act that dispels the dream of a lifetime. Thanks to Dynamite Entertainment for providing a review copy.  

 

Final Thoughts

What does it take for you to trust someone? Does it require a sterling character or just a knowledge of your partner's capabilities? When the She-Devil With A Sword commits to a man, she discovers that trust is in short supply in Red Sonja Noir #1.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Red Sonja: Empire Of The Damned #1 Review

 

Writer: Steve Niles

Artist: Alessandro Amoruso

Colorist: Salvatore Aiala

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artists: Joshua Middleton, Joseph Michael Linsner, John Tyler Christopher, Philip Tan & Cosplay

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $4.99

Release Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2024

 

Skeletons litter a valley in Hyrkania. A legend tells of a battle fought long ago. Might tales of sorcerers and treasure draw Red Sonja there? Let’s grab our broadswords, leap into Red Sonja: Empire Of The Damned #1, and find out!

 

Story

Red Sonja quenches her thirst in Nemedia. When a patron buys her a drink, the She-Devil tips the ale onto the floor. The man’s ire fades as soldiers burst into the tavern. The other customers flee, but Red Sonja and her admirer fight for the right to continue drinking. Both hold their own for a time. But numbers are not on their side, and the soldiers don’t fight fair.

 

Adjoining cells in Blackworm Prison affords the man a second opportunity. He can't offer her a drink this time, but she entertains his proposal. The adventurer tells a variation of the tragic tale revealed in the opening pages. Might Red Sonja consider a partnership? Perhaps. But first, they must escape.

 

Red Sonja: Empire Of The Damned #1 is a quick, bracing read. Steve Niles doesn't explain why the warrior sought Red Sonja’s aid. Still, the adventurer reveals how much finding the hidden valley in Hyrkania means to him in the final pages.   

 

 

 

Art

A wizard hovers overhead as armies clash. Energy surges from one hand while runes encircle the other. The wizard becomes the fulcrum of explosive energy that sweeps across the valley. When the clouds part, a skull on the ground testifies to the devastation he unleashed.

 

Red Sonja sits back, clutching a glass as she watches people drink, fight, and do the Unskinny Bop. Soldiers burst in with spears and grim expressions. One holds an order bearing a wax seal. Red Sonja’s fist slams into his nose, splattering the reader in blood. Her admirer stands with her against a squad of angry soldiers. Their weapons cleave spears, armor, and flesh, leaving a whirl of air to mark their passage.

 

Red Sonja: Empire Of The Damned #1 reveals the nasty, brutish, and short nature of life in the Hyborian world. Alessandro Amoruso doesn’t flinch from revealing missing teeth and eyes. Scars mar the adventurer’s features. Among her fellow death dealers, only Red Sonja looks untouched by violence. But then, her bargain with the red goddess Scathach grants her strength, prowess, and vitality.

 

This issue could be called Red Sonja: Red, Brown, And Gray. And yet, Salvatore Aiala lends a wealth of color and nuance to Red Sonja: Empire Of The Damned #1. Buildings reveal texture, and shading breathes reality into this Sword And Sorcery adventure. After all the spurting and splattering crimson, Red Sonja kneels in the forest, her body covered in shadows cast by light streaming through nearby trees.

 

Dave Sharpe fires uppercase black letters into colored narrative boxes and white dialogue balloons in this action-packed story. His sound effects enliven the brawl in the bar, the pummeling in the prison, and the fury filling the skies in the fraught finale.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Red Sonja: Empire Of The Damned #1 is a blood-splattered story filled with fighting and death. Fueled by an adventurer’s ambition and Red Sonja's lust for life, the fast-paced story leaves you breathless to discover the truth behind a haunting legend.

 

Rating 8.6/10

 

For more cover art and a short preview see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Red Sonja #9 Review

 

Writer: Torunn Gronbekk

Artist: Walter Geovani

Colorist: Omi Remalante Jr.

Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry

Cover Artists: Lucio Parrillo, Bjorn Barends, Joseph Michael Linsner, Mel Rubi, Jenny Frison, Frank Thorne & Cosplay

Publisher: Dynamite Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: March 27, 2024

 

After taking Nordal Fortress, Kulan Gath killed Dorian Runebinder and awakened Ymir. The Frost Giant rode into the world, sowing chaos and reaping death.

Entrusting her aunt with her younger sister's life, Grace rides with Red Sonja toward Nordal Fortress. Can Red Sonja kill Kulan Gath before he ushers all the gods into the Hyborian world? Let's don our armor, ride into Red Sonja #9, and find out!

 

Story

The queen of Emberfall sent half her army to retake Nordal Fortress. A seer in the market proclaims that a man—or a woman—could protect her mountain city from the gods. Frostwind advises the queen against giving power to people in return for protection. But what else can Emberfall’s queen do? Spirits invade the land. The Frost Giant Ymir terrorizes the skies.

 

Runebinder, his mentor Frostwind, and Grace’s aunt formed a triad of sorcerers who guarded the woods and the mountains. Red Sonja and Grace have encountered wraiths, Tsjoko, and a Hulder in the forest. Frostwind is old. Runebinder is dead. Grace's aunt has fled. With the old order broken, gods prey on their worshippers. Men, women, and children: everyone's a target now.

 

In Red Sonja #9, the king of the underworld joins Ymir's Great Hunt. Erlik lacks a soul, so he hunts for one. Can someone without a soul exercise compassion and restraint?

 

Kulan Gath wanted back into our world. The sorcerer used Red Sonja, Thord Varg’s hunger for power, and Lady Alaberta's black diamond to return to life. But breaking the laws of the universe allowed the gods to enter the Hyborian world. Red Sonja freed Thord Varg’s army. So now Kulan Gath uses the gods to arouse fear. Killing Dorian Runebinder increased his power, but Gath wanted more. If rulers like the queen of Emberfall will not give him the power he craves, Kulan Gath will sit back and wait for the gods to cull the mortals. Who knows? Perhaps the gods will also kill each other. Either way, Gath increases his power and influence.

 

Torunn Gronbekk weaves blood sacrifice, mythology, and political commentary into Red Sonja #9. Kulan Gath's machinations propel the She-Devil in one direction and then another. Retracing her steps, she has trouble attacking the cause of the chaos. But can the She-Devil kill someone capable of enticing the gods to slay each other?

 

 

Art

While demons descend the cliffs beneath a ruined castle, the horned god Erlik rises to walk among brown-robed monks harvesting wheat. The souls of the dead surge around Red Sonja and Grace, charging on their steeds, as Ymir astride his wolf closes on them. The villagers defend their village, clutching shovels and pitchforks. Yet the horde of the dead swept in, toppling them like the wheat in the field.

 

Walter Geovani transports us from the underworld to Ludlow and the walled mountain city of Emberfall in Red Sonja #9. He returns us to the forest where the Tsjoko still haunts the blotring. Surrounded by flaming torches and burning candles, holograms sweep across a parchment map as Kulan Gath follows the gods’ rampages in Nordal Fortress.

 

Omi Remalante Jr. applies his loaded palette to Walter Geovani’s action-packed panels. Characters shine at night, their presence bold thanks to the light and shadow that emphasize their features, musculature, and clothing. Backgrounds enhance the historic feel of this bygone era thanks to rich texturing. Lighting and silhouettes amplify the stakes for Humanity while toning down the carnage in Red Sonja #9.

 

Jeff Eckleberry shares Torunn Gronbekk’s narration on beige parchment and dialogue in white balloons. Stressed words grow bold, and raised voices swell the large-size uppercase words. Energetic sound effects help us hear the Tsjoko chomp their teeth and shriek while swords cleave bodies and heads in the ferocious fighting.

 

Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

With Red Sonja torn between protecting the innocent and attacking Kulan Gath, the sorcerer waits for Humans to request his protection from the divine carnage he unleashed in Red Sonja #9.

 

Rating 9/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

 

Red Sonja Vol. 2: Mother Review

 

Writers: Mirka Andolfo & Luca Blengino

Artists: Giuseppe Cafaro

Colorists: Chiara Di Francia

Letterers: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou & Jeff Eckleberry

Cover Artist: Mirka Andolfo

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $19.99

Release Date: February 7, 2024

 

Baroness Drang threw Red Sonja in her dungeon. A thief named Kebra took Sitha under her wing. Will Kebra help Sitha rescue Red Sonja before the Baroness executes her? Let's hack and slash into Red Sonja Vol 2: Mother and find out!

 

Story

Baroness Drang holds her village—The Feud Of The Seven Gallows—in a reign of terror. Her soldiers regularly arrest people for unspecified crimes. No one survives more than seven days in her dungeon.

 

Kebra steals food for the children orphaned by Baroness Drang’s cruelty. While planning the ultimate heist, Kebra chews grass and leaves for sustenance. If Sitha helps her, Kebra promises to help Sitha rescue Red Sonja. Can Sitha trust the thief to do as she’s promised?

 

The She-Devil has refused food or water for seven days in Red Sonja Vol 2: Mother. Soldiers bring her to Baroness Drang’s Playroom. The tyrant suggests Red Sonja accept death meekly. Yeah, like that’s going to happen!

 

 

 

In Red Sonja Vol 1: Mother, Setubai told Sonja and the carpenter Samosh that the demigoddess Xamul lived inside Sitha. Fear and anger allow Xamul to burn anyone nearby. Kebra demands Sitha use Xamul’s power to break into Baroness Drang’s vault. But the more Sitha draws on Xamul’s power, the more power the girl gives the god.

 

Sitha hails from a mountain village in Kithai. No one’s paying Red Sonja to bring Sitha home. The girl’s not asking Sonja to transport her halfway around the world. Sitha would happily remain by the She-Devil’s side. But Red Sonja knows what it’s like to lose a family. She won’t let Sitha miss a chance to meet her kin.

 

In Red Sonja Vol 2: Mother, Sonja, and Sitha will board a Shahpur freighter and sail across the Sea of Vilayet. Red Sonja allows Captain Beylab to store her sword in his armory. But is Beylab more than a trader in oil and textiles? Can Sonja and Sitha trust him to protect them on a sea where the veil between worlds is as thin as silk?

 

 

 

Throughout this series, Mirka Andolfo & Luca Blengino have discussed the importance of family. While Red Sonja clings to the past, Sitha looks forward. The girl decides who she can trust and assigns them familial roles.

 

In Red Sonja Vol 2: Mother, the authors show how her father shaped Baroness Drang’s character. Sitha declares Samosh is her father, and one sailor becomes her uncle. After Sonja brings her home, Sitha insists that Sonja remains her mother. Is family restricted to blood and marital relations, as Sonja claims? Or is the term sufficiently malleable to include others? And if so, how do we differentiate between family and friends?

 

 

 

Art

Giuseppe Cafaro’s carefree, fluid style captures the energy of Red Sonja’s adventures. Scenes convey the natural beauty of the Hyborian world, the mythical landscapes and creatures of the Vilayet Sea, and the grandeur of a city perched on the slope of an active volcano. The drama never suffers, thanks to a wealth of vibrant characters imbued with warmth and charisma. While Red Sonja rarely lowers her guard, Sitha transforms in an instant. Flames erupt around her, and Xamul’s personality burns in her eyes.

 

Chiara Di Francia fills panels with soft, appealing colors. The She-Devil's eye-catching hair and the rivers of blood flowing through Red Sonja Vol 2: Mother contrast with the backgrounds. Anger fills Sitha’s white hair with red as yellow and orange surround her. Such vibrant colors energize negative silhouettes, coloring the characters and direction lines but leaving all else black. Blue and white speckles suggest the ethereal nature of the Vilayet Sea.

 

The large, uppercase black letters that inhabit white dialogue balloons grow bold for inflection. Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou & Jeff Eckleberry's energetic, colored sound effects enhance swordfights, bear attacks, arrow strikes, falls into the deadly waters, and the awakening of an ancient god. Yet what lingers is how Xamul’s dialogue balloons turn yellow, orange, and red.

 

In addition to an extensive cover gallery in Red Sonja Vol 2: Mother, inked drawings introduce each issue in the collection. Stylized borders and geometric imprints impart a historic feel, aided by the brown coloring that evokes leather. Splashes of blue adorn the lower portion of each character, while yellow lines near their heads suggest the elemental nature of Red Sonja and Sitha’s power.

 

Thanks to Dynamite Entertainment for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

As they battle mad magical monarchs, meet savage sailors, get carried away by winged wonders, and discover a city of women, Red Sonja and Sitha explore the boundaries of family and how it confuses, distorts, and enriches us in Red Sonja Vol. 2.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

 

If you missed my review of the first volume, or wish to refresh your memories of Sitha's early adventures with Red Sonja? Read my review of Red Sonja Vol. 1: Mother.