RED SONJA: EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED #2, by Dynamite Comics on 5/8/24, continues Red Sonja’s quest to find a hidden valley of untold riches when her path crosses with a witch about to be eaten by an ogre.
Credits:
- Writer: Steve Niles
- Artist: Alessandro Amoruso
- Colorist: Salvatore Aiala
- Letterer: Dave Sharpe
- Cover Artist: Joshua Middleton (cover A)
- Publisher: Dynamite Comics
- Release Date: May 8, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover Price: 4.99
- Page Count: 22
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of RED SONJA: EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED #2:
Plot Analysis:
Steve Niles does the unthinkable in modern comics by telling a clean, clear, concise story with a balance of action, personality, and plot progression. RED SONJA: EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED #2 may not be a perfect comic, but if every creator followed the model demonstrated in this issue, the Industry would be in a much better place.
When last we left Red Sonja in RED SONJA: EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED #1, Sonja found herself in the company of a mercenary during a raid on a drinking hall. The two partnered to escape jail and go on a quest to find a hidden Hyrkanian valley said to continue riches beyond measure, gathered by a malicious warlock who hasn’t been seen in years. The mercenary dies during their escape, leaving Red Sonja the map to the valley by way of his tattooed arm.
In RED SONJA: EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED #2, Red Sonja takes a break from her escape to skin the dead mercenary’s arm and dry out the hide to turn it into a proper map.
While Red Sonja waits for the map to dry and her meal to cook, she hears a nearby thumping sound. After a brief search, Sonja spies a very large ogre dragging a locked coffin through the hills. Sonja decides to intervene on behalf of whoever is trapped in the coffin and cuts the ogre down.
Sonja breaks open the coffin and finds a bound and gagged woman inside. The woman invites Sonja back to her cabin for rest and food in thanks for the help.
Sonja immediately deduces the woman is a witch. The woman, Luna, doesn’t deny who she is. She even offers to help Red Sonja on her quest.
Suddenly, their chat is interrupted by a loud noise outside. The father of the ogre Sonja cut down has come for revenge, giving Sonja and Luna their first challenge as a team.
Character Development:
Steve Niles establishes a tension-filled partnership between Luna and Red Sonja with a minimum of fuss and lengthy dialogs. A few brief comments and suspicious side glances immediately convey the lack of trust they have for each other, which keeps their partnership on thin ice.
Artwork and Presentation:
Alessandro Amoruso’s mildly sketchy art style is thoughtful, expressive, and grounded without being dull. There’s a digital feel to the art, primarily through Aiala’s coloring application, but Amoruso’s knack for facial expressions and cinematic framing give the world a grounded, cohesive appearance.
Art Samples:
Pacing and Structure:
Niles’s pacing is super quick, primarily due to the bare-bones efficiency in conveying only what’s necessary. This issue is a great example of letting the art tell part of the story so that the only words spoken are ones that are absolutely necessary.
In terms of the plot and structure, again, it gives you only what you need without shortchanging the story or filling pages with fluff. In the first issue, Red Sonja is introduced to a quest and the means to pursue it. Here, Sonja meets a potential ally with possibly hidden motives who now owes Sonja a debt. It’s clean, clear, and simple.
Thematic Exploration:
So far, there’s no obvious message or theme to the story. It’s a basic scavenger hunt quest. Sometimes, that’s all you need.
Final Thoughts:
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RED SONJA: EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED #2 continues Steve Niles’s brutally efficient adventure tale about a quest to find a valley with treasures. The mix of action, character moments, and drama is carried equally well through the art as it is through the script. The net effect is a pitch-perfect sword and sorcery story.
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