Savage Red Sonja #4 Review

 

Writer: Dan Panosian

Artist: Alessio Petillo

Colorists: Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian, Frank Cho, Enrico Marini & Cosplay

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $3.99

Release Date: February 14, 2024

 

Markus sold Red Sonja a map to King Gresh’s castle. When she returned, he offered to buy the blood ruby from her. Better yet, if Red Sonja retrieved the royal scepter from Mayor Sem, he could reunite it with the blood ruby and free her from her oath to the goddess Scathach. Can Markus do as he claims? Might Red Sonja give up her wandering, warrior ways? Let’s grab our swords, leap into Savage Red Sonja #4, and find out!

 

Story

After exploring the village and conversing with Castille, Red Sonja puts two and two together. Markus’ knowledge of the gem suggests that he stole King Gresh’s scepter. Somehow, the blood ruby got dislodged on his journey back. His wife didn’t believe he lost it in the wasteland. She figured Markus was greedy and didn’t want to share with her. So she cast a spell that robbed Markus of his youth and went off to join a coven, battle Kulan Gath, or seek healing in a Hyborian home for women with cheating and manipulative husbands.

 

In Savage Red Sonja #4, the She-Devil With A Sword is displeased that Markus conned her into slaying the beast in the desert and battling the hissing hordes guarding the haunted castle. Perhaps he wasn't responsible for Lucian and Celia's deaths. But if Markus had retrieved the blood ruby, Red Sonja wouldn't have watched her friends die. Now, he wants Gresh’s scepter. Can she trust Markus once he has both? Besides, his wife is the witch, not him!

 

Mayor Sem sends his Slayers Of Shadizar for Red Sonja. The She-Devil surrenders her sword and accompanies his guards. Sadly, the Mayor isn’t in a giving mood. Still, he’ll gladly take the blood ruby off her hands. Red Sonja may have Markus’ number, but the mystery of how Mayor Sem got the scepter remains. Then there’s Castille. His earlier conversation with Mayor Sem and his actions in Savage Red Sonja #4 put an interesting spin on his meeting with Red Sonja at Choiros Hall.

 

Finally, the She-Devil must peer into her own heart. An emptiness gnaws at her soul in Dan Panosian’s tale of weirdness and woe. Despite her protestations, might Red Sonja opt to settle down and raise a family? The scepter--fused with the blood ruby--could give her that power. Our flame-haired heroine has much to sort out in Savage Red Sonja #4. That is, assuming Mayor Sem, Castille, and the Slayers Of Shadizar don’t kill her first!

 

 

 

Art

Alessio Petillo keeps the camera moving as Red Sonja confronts Markus in the tavern. We look down from above, up from the table, and view the characters from a tilted perspective. Closeups help us gauge the intensity of their discussion and how much Markus is hiding. Red Sonja’s intrusion into Mayor Sem’s stronghold is more restrained, as Petillo confines their conversation to a single page. But don’t be lulled into sleep because pages of glorious action follow!

 

The Shadizar Slayers’ lampshade helmets and armor in Savage Red Sonja #4 evoke ancient Chinese paper-and-cloth armor. The eye-catching design helps them move and react quickly. The Shadizar Slayers prove a match for Red Sonja in a memorable evening chase across the rooftops of this hive of scum and villainy.

 

Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli wield a limited palette of bright and bold colors to cast powerful spells in Savage Red Sonja #4. Fern green, tanned leather, and skin tones cluster inside the bar. The moonlight shining into Mayor Sem's office reveals soft pastels. The Slayers' bright red and yellow armor glows beneath the textured blue sky. Dots enhance Segala and Martinelli's shading. Perhaps most intriguing: Sonja's eyes change from gray in the Drunken Dryad to blue in Mayor Sem's office, lavender in the moonlight, and finally brown when the sun rises. But then, magic flows through Red Sonja’s veins, thanks to her sacred oath to the goddess Scathach.

 

Medium-sized uppercase black letters fill white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes. Dave Sharpe emboldens for intonation, while louder words are enlarged and colored. The chapter titles in Savage Red Sonja #4 are particularly striking. Sound effects help us hear Sonja’s race across ceramic roof tiles and tell us all we need to know about her encounter with thieves. The way Red Sonja shatters Mayor Sem's sense of security in one panel is an elegant fusion of writing, art, coloring, and lettering.

 

Thanks to our Hyrkanian heroes at Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

The She-Devil With A Sword investigates the secrets and lies that bind a village while battling thieves and hired killers in Savage Red Sonja #4. 

 

Rating 9/10

 

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

Savage Red Sonja #3 Review

 

Writer: Dan Panosian

Artist: Alessio Petillo

Colorists: Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian, Frank Cho, Gary Frank & Cosplay

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 3, 2024

 

Red Sonja survived the tentacled beast that threatened her at the Keep of King Gresh. She left with his blood ruby but at the cost of Lucian and Celia's lives. What will Red Sonja do with the cursed stone upon her return? Let’s leap into Savage Red Sonja #3 and find out!

 

Story

The man who sold Red Sonja the map offers to buy King Gresh’s blood ruby. He claims he’ll pay more than anyone else. But wait, there's more! If she will procure its companion piece, he'll pay her far more than money.

 

Long ago, Red Sonja swore an oath that transformed her into a great warrior. Her brief time with Celia and the love Lucian bore for the red-haired maiden reminded Sonja of the life she might have lived. If she did as the map seller bids, could he free her from the lonely life of a death-dealing vagabond?

 

In Savage Red Sonja #3, the map seller claims he can. The blood ruby can wield great magic if reunited with King Gresh’s scepter. But if he's on the level, why didn't he mention its existence earlier? Dan Panosian's tale promises to grant the She-Devil With A Sword a second chance at happiness. Is the map seller more reliable than Queen Taramis of Shadizar, who promised Conan she would bring Valeria back to life in Conan The Destroyer? 

 

 

 

Art

The map seller finds Red Sonja sitting before a table heaped with food as Savage Red Sonja #3 begins. Despite her arduous journey through the wasteland, most dishes still look full. Unbidden, he sits across from her. He refills her tankard twice, then drinks from the bottle she ordered. Light from the fireplace illuminates his features. Yet darkness seeps into them when he asks if she killed the monster that haunted the wasteland and the Keep.

 

Red Sonja strides through the marketplace. Merchants drape fabric overhead and array walls with exotic goods. She follows Slayers from Shadizar into a building. A pig-shaped sign hangs over the door. While others dine, Sonja watches the slayers. Each lithe figure carries a spear. Capes flow around them, and lampshades adorn their heads. When Red Sonja takes a table, one slayer approaches her. Unlike the Three Storms that caused Big Trouble in Little China, a mask obscures the guard's features.

 

Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli employ a limited palette to achieve striking effects in Savage Red Sonja #3. Their colors breathe life into this small town perched at the edge of the wasteland and enhance the mood of Alessio Petillo’s scenes. The blood ruby shines brightly amid the map seller’s tale of King Gresh’s scepter. While red dominates scenes, is it significant that the guard who challenges Sonja also wears red?

 

 

 

Medium-sized uppercase black letters fill white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes. Dave Sharpe emboldens for intonation, while louder words are enlarged and colored. Sound effects accompany the battle. Yet Red Sonja's announcement, "Death is on the menu tonight," speaks most loudly. Take your best shot, Slayers of Shadizar! Red Sonja can take it!

 

Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Red Sonja mourns those she tried to save, offers to release someone from an oath, and investigates those who crave King Gresh’s blood ruby in Savage Red Sonja #3. 

 

Rating 8.8/10

 

For more covers and preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Savage Red Sonja #2 Review

 

Writer: Dan Panosian

Artist: Alessio Petillo

Colorists: Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian, Frank Cho, Joseph Michael Linsner & Cosplay

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 29, 2023

 

A raging horde chases Red Sonja, Prince Lucian, and Celia. The trio races toward the castle and rides across the drawbridge. Will they find safety behind its stone walls? Let’s leap into Savage Red Sonja #2 and find out!

 

Story

Rather than attempt to awaken the abandoned castle’s machinery, the beleaguered travelers attack the rotting drawbridge. As the wood cracks beneath their boots, Celia falls through breaking boards. Sonja grabs her arm, but an arrow pierces Sonja’s muscles and ligaments. Lucian grasps Sonja's waist, but Celia's arm slips through Sonja's fingers. Celia’s scream rings out as she plummets.

 

Her beloved leaps across the chasm and battles the frenzied pursuers. Another arrow pierces Sonja's back. She closes the gate after seeing Lucian fall. Weakened, Sonja grabs a torch and explores the castle the prince sought to inherit. Eventually, she finds a bedchamber, yanks the arrows from her back and arm, and gives way to sleep. She wakes from dreams of failing Celia and Lucian to discover her nightmare has only begun.

 

 

 

In Savage Red Sonja #2, Dan Panosian's hypnotic tale evokes his early 20^th-century forebears Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard. My mind also drifted back to a Sherlock Holmes mystery as I read. But then, Arthur Conan Doyle cut his teeth on horror and fantasy before finding success with his famous detective. Lovecraft and Howard likely read Doyle's stories. Perhaps all three authors inspired Panosian's tale of terror.

 

This series began with the She-Devil lamenting her life path. Now, Panosian lays Celia and Lucian's deaths upon Sonja’s soul. After a frenzy, the issue pauses for Sonja to catch her breath before hurtling toward a haunting finale. I wonder how much of the second half of Savage Red Sonja #2 occurred and if any arose from her injuries, fatigue, and sorrow.

 

 

 

Art

Stark imagery enhances this brutal tale of terror. Alessio Petillo constantly shifts perspective, imbuing pages with a dream-like quality. Sonja looks more fragile than glamorous, worn down by the demands of her solitary life. Tilted camera angles accompany Sonja’s search of the castle. King Gresh’s throne room suggests an aging church or temple awaiting repair. Amid the straight and broken lines that define Panosian’s weird tale, familiar tenacles arise.

 

Bathed in the moon’s reflected light, a red glow from the dry moat bathes Celia as she slips. It threatens to devour all other colors as Sonja and Lucian strive to save her. Within the castle, an orange flower blossoms from Sonja's torch. The moonlight streaming through windows reveals gray, purple, blue, and white rooms. As in the dry moat, red bleeds within the castle. Sometimes subtle, at others garish, Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli amplify the gothic chills of Savage Red Sonja #2. 

 

 

 

Dave Sharpe’s uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons and yellow narrative boxes vary in size and color. Some text looks as weakened the She-Devil. The sound Sonja often hears in the castle evokes an early Sherlock Holmes adventure. I wonder if fans can guess which?

 

Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

The She-Devil's sword cannot save someone she sought to protect in Savage Red Sonja #2. Nor can it defend her against the horrors that await her in King Gresh’s haunted castle.

 

Rating 8.2/10 

 

For interior art and more covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Savage Red Sonja #1 Review

 

Writer: Dan Panosian

Artist: Alessio Petillo

Colorist: Francesco Segala

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian, Frank Cho, Arthur Adams & Cosplay

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 1, 2023

 

A fabled blood ruby tantalizes Red Sonja. Following clues, she reaches a tavern and purchases a map. The seller warns her of ghosts and other dangers. Red Sonja shrugs these off. How will she fare on her quest? Let’s ride into Savage Red Sonja #1 and find out!

 

Story

Red Sonja rides across a wasteland. The barren land reminds her of the vow she made long ago. Red Sonja has become a skilled warrior. But she is alone.

 

Footsteps awaken her at night. A couple stand before her. The man warns Red Sonja to flee. Instead, she saves them from the attackers. Red Sonja learns he is Prince Lucian, heir to King Gresh’s castle, lands, and the blood ruby. Lucian’s companion is Celia, who he hopes to make his queen.

 

 

 

In Savage Red Sonja #1, Dan Panosian bares the she-devil’s soul. By probing the loneliness of her solitary life, he contemplates the despair that lurks behind her mask of invulnerability. Red Sonja’s willingness to help the travelers reveals a need to protect others from the fate that stripped her of conventional life and forged her into an extraordinary hero.

 

Art

A horse stands tethered before an inn, bathed in the light of a full moon. Inside, the skull and tusks of an animal hang over the stone hearth. The roaring fire illuminates Red Sonja, her informant, and the map he sells her. His thrilling tale bores her. Yet when he leaves her to study the map, he grins as he peers back at her. 

 

 

 

Alessio Petillo applies his pen sparingly, allowing readers to wonder at the details he presents. Whether it is Francesco Segala’s spartan coloring or Petillo’s angular drawing, characters occasionally look flat. Yet together, the artists convey the mystery and horrors haunting the wasteland. As with Dan Panosian, they reveal the travelers' fragility. Celia's appearance reminds us of the woman Red Sonja might have become. At the same time, Savage Red Sonja #1 evokes King Solomon's Mines, the novel by H. Rider Haggard that birthed another legendary hero.

 

As Dave Sharpe hurls black uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons and yellow narrative boxes, the text looks small and fragile. Yet his sound effects are vivid and energetic in Savage Red Sonja #1. Swords thrust into bodies and slice off heads, and large letters bleed. Yet the attackers' hissing makes one ponder the Blood Ruby's dark power.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Fending off the claws of loneliness and despair, the She-Devil With A Sword battles inhuman beasts and aids a prince and his consort while seeking a legendary gemstone in Savage Red Sonja #1.

 

Rating 8/10

 

For a two-page preview and more covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.