RED SONJA: DEATH AND THE DEVIL #1, by Dynamite Comics on 9/11/24, sets Red Sonja on a path to find a prince to restore peace to the land, but she has to outrace an undead assassin and a death cult first.
Credits:
- Writer: Luke Lieberman
- Artist: Alberto Locatelli
- Colorist: Alberto Locatelli
- Letterer: Dave Sharpe
- Cover Artist: Joseph Michael Linsner (cover A)
- Publisher: Dynamite Comics
- Release Date: September 11, 2024
- Comic Rating: Tween
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of RED SONJA: DEATH AND THE DEVIL #1:
First Impressions:
Well, this is okay. Writer Luke Lieberman isn’t just the writer of Red Sonja: Death and the Devil #1, but he’s the official license holder for Red Sonja, so if anyone has a vested interest in Red Sonja’s success, it’s Lieberman. That said, the debut issue of this miniseries checks all the basic boxes to set up an adventure that continues past deeds, but readers waiting to be wowed may have to wait a bit longer.
Plot Analysis:
Red Sonja: Death and the Devil #1 begins with Red Sonja infiltrating a ritual sacrifice gathering for the followers of Set, the snake god. Red Sonja learns she’s surrounded by zealots eager to give them over to sacrifice. However, her goal isn’t to save anyone in particular but to nab the priest to get key information.
Luke Lieberman starts the issue mid-quest without much context, but you get strong Conan the Barbarian (1982) vibes with Set’s Chief Priest acting in the Thulsa Doom role. The feeling of continuity may not have been intentional, but it’s there.
Before the Chief Priest can sacrifice an annoyingly eager zealot, Red Sonja dashes in to snatch the sacrificial dagger away, kill the guards, set fire to the altar, and flee with the Chief Priest as her prisoner. Later, Red Sonja interrogates the priest while he’s tied to a tree. Her goal? Find out where the Inner Circle of Set’s priests have taken the bastard son of Turan’s dead Sultan (who Red Sonja killed) so that he can claim the throne without acting as a puppet for Set’s Death Cult.
Lieberman uses the interrogation scene effectively to remind readers of the situation in Turan, namely that the land has spiraled into chaos after the Sultan’s death, clarify Red Sonja’s goals, and establish a destination. There is at least one Editor’s Note to direct new readers to where to go to get the backstory on the Sultan’s demise, but Lieberman lays out the situation well enough in this scene.
Later, the Chief Priest lies dead and still tied to the tree, ravaged by wolves. A strange, cadaver-ish-looking man approaches and gets the corpse to recount the last memories of its life. We soon learn the man is an undead assassin named Bloodless, and he has a keen interest in Red Sonja’s exploits, so he decides to follow her trail.
Lieberman does a decent enough job establishing the creepiness of Bloodless without giving readers much of anything else. It’s not immediately clear whether the character’s name is Bloodless (we had to confirm by checking the solicit) or that he’s an undead assassin. Presumably, that information will organically come out in time, but the introduction is lacking.
Red Sonja arrives at the Northern stronghold of Karackas the Warlord, acting on the information from the now-dead priest. Sonja manages to sneak past the gates, but she’s soon by lookouts and fights her way to the central stronghold. When she barges into the throne room, Bloodless is waiting, surrounded by many dead guards and the severed head of Karackas, who already told Bloodless where Sultan’s son is kept.
The issue concludes with a forced partnership, a bastard son beginning his training, and an unnatural use of pigs.
Overall, Red Sonja: Death and the Devil #1 begins a somewhat serviceable adventure that gives Red Sonja a hero’s mission and an untrustworthy partner. Lieberman’s plot is perfectly okay, but there’s not much here to wow you or build anticipation.
Artwork and Presentation:
Unfortunately, Alberto Locatelli contributes to the lackluster reception of this issue. Locatelli has a good eye for energy and layouts, but the details are lacking, particularly on wide shots, and the soft coloring (naturally) lacks pop and texture.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
In Red Sonja: Death and the Devil #1, there’s at least one editor’s note that mentions the circumstances of the Sultan’s death by Sonja’s hand. If you want more information on the background of this issue, check out Red Sonja: Birth of the She-Devil.
Final Thoughts:
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RED SONJA: DEATH AND THE DEVIL #1 is a perfectly proficient, but ultimately bland, start to a new Red Sonja adventure. Luke Lieberman ticks all the right boxes for plot structure, scene progression, and dialog, but the basic hook reads like more of the same. Further, the art is mediocre at best.
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