RED SONJA ATTACKS MARS #3, by Dynamite Comics on 6/4/25, finds Red Sonja and Nelahnya sailing North to destroy the Martian threat, but their journey is far from uneventful.
Credits:
- Writer: Jay Stephens
- Artist: Fran Strukan
- Colorist: Miroslav Mrva
- Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
- Cover Artist: Joseph Michael Linsner (cover A)
- Publisher: Dynamite Comics
- Release Date: June 4, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 22
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of RED SONJA ATTACKS MARS #3:
Plot:
Red Sonja broke into the Vizier’s harem to find Nahalya in RED SONJA ATTACKS MARS #2, but Nelahnya didn’t want to leave since she accepted a role as Viziera. The issue ended with Red Sonja escaping and unmasking the Vizier and his guards as Martians.
Now, the Viziera sets sail with Red Sonja and her allies to seek revenge on the Martians for the death of the Vizier. First, they land on Devil Island to wait out a treacherous storm. Their stop runs afoul of a tribe of Martian pirates, leading to a friendly ape man joining their crew. Then, the ship heads to the frigid north and a mountain cavern. Unfortunately, the Martians and their massive bug god were destroyed long ago by a snake-like avatar of death who serves Set.
Artwork and Presentation:
Fran Strukan’s artwork is perfectly serviceable, showcasing Red Sonja and her friends in an eclectic series of battles, conflicts, and weird settings during their journey. The general lighting in each setting doesn’t change much, so there’s a general flatness to the colors, but Strukan’s pencils/inks are good.
Art Samples:
Character Work:
Red Sonja is the centerpiece of this issue, but her personality is inconsistent throughout the issue. At some points, Jay Stephens’s version of Red Sonja is fearsome and determined. In other cases, Red Sonja is uncharacteristically fearful. It’s odd.
Structure:
The structure is perfectly fine as a journey of a thousand leagues or more, filled with dangers and surprises. That said, you never get the sense that Red Sonja is truly in danger.
Strongest Point(s):
The strongest aspect of this issue is the pure originality in Jay Stephens’s adventure. Red Sonja encounters a series of attacks, challenges, and dangers, unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Weakest Point(s):
After three issues, the Martians are given so little meaningful role in this story that they’re almost irrelevant. It’s unclear how this title could legitimately be called “Red Sonja Attacks Mars” when no such interaction is taking place, other than an occasional run-in with Martians left behind from a previous arc.
Final Thoughts:
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RED SONJA ATTACKS MARS #3 is a weird, creative Red Sonja adventure when the hero runs into foreboding islands, mysterious caves, and frightening monsters. That said, Jay Stephens’s story is woefully lacking anything that resembles an attack on Mars. If you take the Martians out, it makes no difference to the story.
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