In THE INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #4, available from Dynamite Comics on September 15th, 2021, Red Sonja discovers the thief’s identity, setting off a chain reaction of events that puts the royal family of Erkhara in mortal danger.
The Details
- Written By: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti
- Art By: Moritat
- Colors By: Matt Carter
- Letters By: Dave Sharpe
- Cover Art By: Amanda Conner (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: August 25, 2021
Wait! Don’t Forget To Sign Up For The Comical Opinions Newsletter.
It’s 100% FREE. Sign up NOW!
Was It Good?
It’s just okay. It didn’t blow me away, and it’s not terrible. This issue, as with each one before it in this series, is simply average.
The series up to this point is equal parts fine and frustrating, and this issue is no exception. All the piece parts are there — monsters, wizards, sword fights. You could easily argue that this is a quintessential Red Sonja series, and yet, it lacks that pulp charm, that swashbuckling style, which exemplifies this genre.
It’s as if somebody tried to recreate the works of Robert E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs through a second- or third-hand description. It looks like a reasonable facsimile but it lacks the soul necessary to make the story stand out. In short, this iteration of Red Sonja is bland.
Admittedly, this is a general impression from one reviewer. Your mileage may vary.
Regarding this specific chapter, again, it’s fine. The dialog is okay, the action plays out adequately, and there’s some progression in the plot that nearly brings us back to the prologue of the first issue.
As for the art, Moritat does a decent job putting the story together. If anything, the artwork in this issue looks improved over the previous issue. The lines are more detailed, especially on most of the wide shots. and the overall panel composition is a bit more interesting.
It’s tough to get excited for a comic that’s so middle-of-the-road, but at least it’s put together well.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Before you proceed, read out THE INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #3 review to get primed.
We pick up with Red Sonja witnessing Bahira Yakootah summon lava monsters to kill the royal family in exchange for the Erkharian crown. Tuma rides back to warn the royals about the impending attack while Red Sonja deals with the masked thief.
Red Sonja confronts the thief and quickly takes his head without trouble. however, she decides not to take off his mask as she’s in a hurry to help Tuma. A short while later, she finds Tuma on the road looking for her, and they decide to head back to the palace together.
Back at the palace, Red Sonja interrupts the proceedings to warn the king about the pending attack and to deliver the head of the thief. However, she forgot to retrieve the crown from Yakootah. Oh, well.
Taking what he can get, the king unmasks the thief to reveal it was Naijel, Brelaq’s son. In his grief and rage, Brelaq unleashes magic that kills the king and anyone who tries to subdue him. We conclude the issue with armies joining forces, Brelaq casting a powerful enchantment on Red Sonja, and a return to how it all started.
Final Thoughts
THE INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #4 resolves the mysteries of the thief and how Red Sonja got into her predicament from the issue #1 prologue. The art is improved over the prior issues, but the writing and overall story remain forgettably average.
Score: 7/10
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com