LEGENDERRY RED SONJA (ONE-SHOT), by Dynamite Comics on 12/6/23, returns to the Legenderry Universe, where the steampunk pirate Red Sonja takes on a mission to steal a mysterious painting.
The Details
- Written by: Katana Collins
- Art by: Kewber Baal
- Colors by: Schimerys Baal
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Sean Murphy (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $5.99
- Release date: December 6, 2023
Is LEGENDERRY RED SONJA (ONE-SHOT) Good?
Cool! Katana Collins blows the dust off the Legenderry Universe with a story that mixes steampunk adventure and classic literature in LEGENDERRY RED SONJA (ONE-SHOT). You’ll never look at paintings the same way again.
Collins’s high-flying adventure centers on the alternate universe version of Red Sonja on the hunt for a painting by a reputable artist. The nude model who posed for the painting wants it back to save her reputation. However, the model’s declining health signals a darker force at work.
Without giving too much away, the reputable artist Red Sonja encounters is Mr. Dorian Gray. If you know the background of Dorian’s tale, you’ll instantly know there’s more to the paintings than meets the eye, but Collins puts a creative spin on the story to keep readers guessing.
What’s great about LEGENDERRY RED SONJA (ONE-SHOT)? Alternate universes can be a novel treat when done well. Mix that novel treat with the bonus of alternate classic literature, and you’ve got a killer premise on your hands. Collins dreams up a strong premise and executes it beautifully.
What’s not so great about LEGENDERRY RED SONJA (ONE-SHOT)? Collins wraps up the major plot points neatly, but a few smaller threads don’t get full attention. For example, two characters are introduced (Lord Henry and Basil), but it’s unclear how they connect to the broader mystery or where they came from. You could assume these supporting characters are connected to the mystery’s mastermind, but you have to mentally fill in those blanks on your own.
How’s the art? Excellent. Kewber Baal’s work for Dynamite is almost guaranteed to be consistently good, and this issue is no exception. Baal delivers swashbuckling action, clean lines, and excellent figure work for a visually appealing comic.
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What’s LEGENDERRY RED SONJA (ONE-SHOT) About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a couple of guards admiring paintings inside a posh mansion. The paintings’ artist is also the mansion’s owner, and he’s very determined to make sure the paintings remain where they are. The guards, however, didn’t count on Red Sonja sneaking in to steal a painting depicting a model named Carolina.
Red Sonja finds the painting, eludes the alerted guards, and bests the painter in a flirtatious duel to escape the mansion with the painting. Red Sonja returns the painting to Carolina, who has fallen deathly ill. Red Sonja notices that the sicker Carolina gets, the more lovely and vibrant the painting becomes.
We conclude the issue with a return visit, poison flowers, lifelike automatons, and a burial at sea.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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LEGENDERRY RED SONJA (ONE-SHOT) is an entertaining, swashbuckling adventure that mixes steampunk with classic literature for a uniquely good read. Collins’s imaginative script hits all the right notes, and Baal’s art is awesome.
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