HELL SONJA #1 – Review

Hell Sonja #1, from Dynamite Comics on January 12th, 2022, follows the new team of Sonjas under Hell Sonja’s leadership as they scour the multiverse for souls who deserve to be sent to Hell.

The Details

• Written By: Christopher Hastings
• Art By: Pasquale Qualano
• Colors By: Kike J. Diaz
• Letters By: Jeff Eckleberry
• Cover Art By: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: January 12, 2022

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Was It Good?

HELL SONJA #1 picks up a short while after the events of Sonjaversal with a brand new status quo for Hell, Red Sonja, several other Sonjas, and the multiverse. Whew! That’s a lot. However, Hastings puts it all together in a tidy package that’s easy to follow, reintroduces readers to all the characters quickly and memorably, and lays out the new setting for the Sonja Squad (we made that name up. It’s not in the issue… but it should be.).

This first issue serves most effectively as a prelude to whatever major conflict will arise in the series. There’s no hint of a big villain or a major disaster about to befall the team. What you get is a day-in-the-(new)-life story where you can see the team’s dynamics with each other, what kind of missions they take on, why their work has importance, and Hell Sonja’s place in all of it.

There are several parallels to a military-themed story involving a Special Ops team being sent into a dangerous hotspot to complete a specific mission. The Sonja Squad (again, our name. It’s not in the book… yet) is as diverse and ragtag as they come, and the diversity of their talents and skills, especially with personalities that frequently clash, elevates the amusement factor of this issue. The Sonjas respect each other, even if they don’t exactly work well together, and it’s fun to see how they adapt when the plan doesn’t go according to plan.

The art from Qualano and the team is excellent in this issue. Specifically, Diaz has stepped up the colors to turn in an issue that’s as visually entertaining as it is to read. We don’t always agree with Diaz’s penchant for soft color palettes that tend to sacrifice the pop factor, but the colors look great in his issue.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

Hell Sonja #1 is a direct continuation of the Sonjaversal, so give those reviews a gander to find out how this unlikely team was formed.

We begin with one of the countless worlds besieged by Hrodulf, a conqueror who engages in human sacrifice to appease his god who he believes (for he may have been at one point) King of Hell. The prayers of the innocent call out for saving, and we see how prayers are received as a type of 9-1-1 call to Hell Sonja and her team.

As this evening’s ritual sacrifices begin, we see Red Sonja and Blue Sonja are hiding among the offerings until the time is ready to strike. When the guards make the mistake of grabbing Red Sonja first for sacrifice, all Hell breaks loose (pun intended). We conclude the issue with magic blasts, gunfire, sword-swinging, dragon-riding, and a tyrant finding out the truth much, much too late.

Final Thoughts

HELL SONJA #1 is an excellent primer introducing readers to the Sonja Squad and the new status quo in Hell and across the multiverse. There’s no hint of where the series is going as this issue is all setup, but you get A-Team style introductions to all the Sonjas, plenty of action, and a firm grasp on the inner working of Hell’s newest special ops team. If you’re interested in jumping on to a multiverse adventure, this is an excellent starting point.

Score: 8.5/10

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