RED SONJA: BLACK, WHITE, RED #4 – Review

In RED SONJA: BLACK, WHITE, RED #4, available from Dynamite Comics on October 20th, 2021, the Crimson-Haired She-Devil overcomes language with a friendly sisterhood, shakes off the dust of time and forgetfulness, and rekindles the heat of battle in a frigid kingdom.

The Details

• Written By: Sanya Anwar, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Chuck Brown
• Art By: Kike J. Daiz, Steve Beach, Drew Moss
• Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
• Cover Art By: Cat Staggs (cover B)
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Release Date: Ocotber 20, 2021

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Was It Good?

It was consistent. Anthologies have a knack for being a mixed bag with some stories presenting as stronger than others in terms of either story or art or both. This issue is no exception, and while some shorts are stronger than others, none of the entries are bad.

Skip down to the next section for more specifics to each story if you want the dirty details.

All three stories tackle the Red Sonja mythology from a different perspective. The Iron Maiden looks at Sonja’s recovery after an especially brutal battle. The Iron Queen looks at a point in Queen Sonja’s life when the She-Devil has let time, age, and the comfort of the throne dull her fire. And in a bit of (perhaps intentional) contrast, Cold Monger finds Sonja lost in a kingdom where heat and fire are forbidden by a king who controls winter and ice.

I liked all three stories to varying degrees. The most interesting art goes to The Iron Queen for its gritty and spectacular linework. Consequently, The Iron Queen has the most exhilarating story for its raw energy and barbaric flavor.

In all, this is a solid entry in the anthology series with dependable writing and serviceable art.

What’s It About?

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

For anthology reviews, we cover each story separately and briefly, ranking them based on what worked or didn’t.

The Iron Maiden

Red Sonja is found unconscious by a kindly maiden at the foot of a prayer statue. Despite her initial mistrust and a language barrier, Red Sonja learns that not every battle can be one or quelled by force.

This is the weakest story of the three in both art and story. While Sonja is in the story, she’s not the main character, and the point the creators seem to be making is “just give up.” The art is fine but not great, particularly in the characters’ faces.

The Iron Queen

Queen Sonja is old and barely effective as a ruler, softened by years of safety and plenty. When an army of invaders storms the gates of Hyrkania, a lone shieldmaiden knows just how to get Queen Sonja to remember who she is at heart.

This short is the strongest of the three in both art and story. Johnson captures the essence of mythic war and combat, and Beach’s art style looks like ancient paintings in motion.

Cold Monger

Red Sonja is lost in a strange kingdom beset by eternal winter. When she finds and saves a stranger, he explains the ruler keeps the kingdom on ice, forcing the people to use fire as the kingdom’s only currency. When they confront the king to lift the curse, Sonja must generate some fire of her own.

Since this is an anthology of three stories, Cold Monger is right in the middle in terms of art and story. The art is good. The story is just okay. The concept of using fire as currency needed a little more explanation to understand its practicality or reasoning. Why would an ice king want people to use fire as currency? What’s the point of it?

Final Thoughts

RED SONJA: BLACK, WHITE, RED #4 is a solid, middle-of-the-road entry in the anthology series with three, solid, middle-of-the-road stories. The standout short goes to Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s depiction of a feeble, old Queen Sonja remembering her roots and returning to her former glory.

Score: 7.5/10