IMMORTAL RED SONJA #1 – Review

IMMORTAL RED SONJA #1, from Dynamite Comics on April 13th, 2022, follows Red Sonja as she quests to find a way to be rid of the cursed chainmail that won’t come off until the spirit trapped within is free. Will a lonely, old man in a lonely, old inn have the key to her solution?

The Details

• Written By: Dan Abnett
• Art By: Alessandro Miracolo
• Colors By: Ellie Wright
• Letters By: Jeff Eckleberry
• Cover Art By: David Nakayama (cover A)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: April 13th, 2022

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Was It Good?

Yes. Yes. A million times, yes. This is how you start a proper Red Sonja story.

All the components are present for a quest adventure that immediately sets up the conflict, ties Red Sonja’s problem to larger events of legendary importance, and sets the stage for epic battles to come. We’ll cover more specifics about the plot in the next section, but we’ll cover just enough here to set the stage.

Red Sonja is trapped in her cursed armor. It won’t come off until she frees the ancient spirit within it. This is the start of her quest, and needless to say, it’s not going to be as easy as riding up to the “cursed armor” dropoff center.

Abnett crafted a winning introduction by incorporating all the right elements of characterization and setting. Red Sonja is a formidable fighter with a keen wit and a sharp tongue. Her unique blend of sass and wits tell you she’s as tough as she is clever and not somebody to be trifled with. Abnett organically relays the nature of Red Sonja’s curse problem through the context of the story and the action. Plus, the foe Red Sonja ultimately faces in this issue lets Red Sonja know she’s on the right trail and that her problem might be part of an even greater curse that needs breaking.

Again, all the piece parts are her, and Abnett integrates it all naturally for a strong start.

The issue is helped along by some of Dynamite’s best artists – Miracolo, Wright, and Eckleberry. The lonely inn in the middle of nowhere is foreboding. Lott’s design instantly makes you suspicious when he (initially) does nothing but talk. And, the final fight is energetic and fast-paced.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.

What’s It About?

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

We begin with Red Sonja riding through the deserted countryside, bickering with a voice the reader can’t hear. She stumbles upon an old inn in the middle of nowhere, run by an old man named Lott. When REd Sonja requests shelter from the storm, Lott explains his price for shelter is a story from her that must be completely true.

Inside, Red Sonja accepts the warmth of the fire, food, and drink, noting how strange it is for an inn in the middle of nowhere to be ready to receive guests. Keeping her end of the bargain, Red Sonja explains she’s on a quest to break a curse. The curse that’s trapped an old spirit in the chainmail she wears. The chainmail that can’t be removed until the curse is lifted.

The innkeeper accepts her story and tells his own. A story about the curse that destroyed the surrounding kingdom and keeps him in this inn. We conclude the issue with the nature of curses, rules that are not set in stone, and word getting around as the crow flies.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.

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