RED SONJA: BLACK, WHITE, RED #8, from Dynamite Comics on March 9th, 2022, concludes the anthology series with Red Sonja encountering a silver-tongued merchant, a monstrous island, and an ancient curse.
The Details
- Written By: Dan Abnett, Vincenzo Federici, Anthony Marques
- Art By: Vincenzo Federici, George Kambadais, Emma Kubert
- Letters By: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover Art By: David Mack (cover A)
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Release Date: March 9th, 2022
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Was It Good?
RED SONJA: BLACK, WHITE, RED #8 marks the end of the anthology experiment (for now), and with the end comes three more tales of mayhem from an assortment of writers and artists familiar to longtime Dynamite readers.
Putting aside the “Black, White, Red” gimmick used too frequently by several publishers these days, Dynamite has handled this anthology better than most, partly because it makes so much sense for the aesthetic and the spirit of the main character. As we’ve said repeatedly, anthologies tend to be a mixed bag, but this series of anthologies have contained more good than bad. This issue is no exception. While not all the stories are presented with the same level of quality, there isn’t a stinker in the bunch.
Each story keeps focus on Red Sonja as she faces different enemies, but where this one is a little more interesting is that in one story, the outcome is not predictable. Pitting Red Sonja against an enemy where victory isn’t assured automatically makes this collection a little more unique and worth your time.Of the three shorts, the strongest in terms of writing is Abnett’s Last Words. The setting and scope feel small but the story feels the most fleshed out and complete. Of the three, the strongest art grade goes to Federici’s Fifteen Men on the Sleeper Chest. It’s not a surprise Federici would earn top praise as he’s pulling double duty as writer and artist in the short but he’s known as an artist.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
As with all our anthology reviews, we’ll touch on each story briefly and highlight what worked or didn’t
Last Words
Red Sonja appears before Master Valik the Merchant to inquire about his knack for finding very risky but lucrative jobs. Jobs that seem too risky for mercenaries who should know better. When asked how he does it, Red Sonja quickly learns Valik can be supernaturally convincing.
Again, this is the best short in the bunch for its overall completeness and flow. The art is decent and the conclusion is satisfying.
Fifteen Men on the Sleeper Chest
Captain Red Sonja steers her crew to a legendary island where an ancient and powerful god is said to be resting. Enduring unending storms and a shore filled with deadly creatures, Captain Sonja and the few survivors of her crew may find that confronting a god may be more than any mortal can handle.
This short has the strongest art of the three and the most epic premise. That said, the motivations for Red Sonja’s adventure aren’t clear and the scene transitions aren’t smooth. In short, the strongest art but the weakest story execution.
Cursed
Red Sonja encounters a young girl alone in the woods. As they keep each other company from the wintry elements, Red Sonja recounts the legend of a witch said to curse these woods. A witch who demanded regular sacrifice from the nearby village. As the story unfolds, both Sonja and the girl find they have a part to play in the witch’s curse.
The premise is intriguing and the outcome has something to say about the power of belief. That said, the art quality falls apart in the middle of the story, bringing down the reading experience.
Final Thoughts
RED SONJA: BLACK, WHITE, RED #8 is one of the better examples of using the “Black, White, Red” gimmick to turn out a collection of largely solid, engaging, visually interesting shorts. The stories in this issue all give Red Sonja unique challenges to confront, and the art is excellent all the way through.
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