IMMORTAL RED SONJA #5, from Dynamite Comics on August 17th, 2022, brings Red Sonja, her talkative chainmail, and an amnesiac Lanzlot to a fountain that will restore the scatterbrained warrior’s mind. will a restored Lanzlot help Red Sonja find Merlyn to be rid of her curse?
The Details
- Written by: Dan Abnett
- Art by: Luca Colandrea
- Colors by: Ellie Wright
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: David Nakayama
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 17, 2022
Is It Good?
IMMORTAL RED SONJA #5 takes one more step on Red Sonja’s quest to be rid of every curse placed on her, and this time the chainmail’s penchant for leaving out important details gets them both in hot water.
It’s oddly difficult to tell if this issue is a winner or not. You get a proper beginning, middle, and end. There’s more than one battle. And you get a twist that shakes up the status quo with an elevated air of tension between the begrudging allies. However, the entire issue feels very small, and the net result comes across as a setup issue rather than a comic that can stand on its own.
Possibly, that smallness is due to a lack of a proper cliffhanger that hooks you in anticipation of the next issue. When the issue ends, the status quo is different, but the path/journey hasn’t changed. Red Sonja and the chainmail are in the same place when the issue ends but with the addition of Lanzlot to their group. We don’t know anything about Lanzlot as a character, so there’s little reason to get excited about his presence, and we don’t know anything more about how to find Merlyn other than Lanzlot might be able to help. Things happen, but they don’t feel consequential yet.
Colandrea’s art is fairly good in this issue. We have a chance to see more fighting action against monsters, so Colandrea flexes monster creation muscle with positive results. However, Colandrea seems to struggle with drawing noses for some odd reason, and Red Sonja’s jack o’ lantern triangle for a nose serves as a consistent distraction.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Find out how Red Sonja found Lanzlot in our IMMORTAL RED SONJA #4 review.
We begin with Red Sonja and her chatty chainmail fighting their way through underground tunnels to reach a magical waterfall that the chainmail promises will restore Lanzlot’s mind. The chainmail is certain Lanzlot will be a valuable fighter and help lead the way to Merlyn to undo the chainmail’s curse.
Hacking and slashing her way through waves of bestial wights, Red Sonja reaches the waterfall and bids Lanzlot to soak in its healing water. The water works as promised, and Lanzlot slowly regains his senses, but he needs time to sleep and recover fully. Meanwhile, the chainmail loosens from Red Sonja, explaining Lanzlot will be a better carrier.
Suddenly, a large snakelike hag emerges from the water to attack an armorless Red Sonja. We conclude the payment with an offering, a rescue, and a vow.
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Final Thoughts
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IMMORTAL RED SONJA #5 is a serviceable entry in the series with decent art, monster battles, and a new status quo for one character on the journey. However, the sum total feels small, doesn’t end on a cliffhanger to keep readers invested, and the art has an odd quirk.
Related Information
Where was Red Sonja filmed?
The film Red Sonja (1985) was filmed in Italy. The exterior shots were filmed near the Gran Sasso massif. Interior shots and sets were constructed in film studios in Rome.
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