RED SONJA: EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED #5, by Dynamite Comics on 8/14/24, brings the miniseries to a close when Red Sonja and Lukas follow the old man to the hidden valley, but what dangers await?
Credits:
- Writer: Steve Niles
- Artist: Alessandro Amoruso
- Colorist: Salvatore Aiala
- Letterer: Dave Sharpe
- Cover Artist: Joshua Middleton (cover A)
- Publisher: Dynamite Comics
- Release Date: August 14, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 22
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of RED SONJA: EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED #5:
First Impressions:
As a finale, Red Sonja: Empire of the Damned #5 is short, sweet, and to the point. Sometimes that’s all you need. Steve Niles’s one-off adventure comes to a close with swords and sorcery for a classic ending.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left Red Sonja and Lukas in Red Sonja: Empire of the Damned #5, the old man returned to their camp with a story about marauders capturing Luna. Despite Lukas’s certainty that the old man is lying, the trio set out to find Luna. When they spot a small guard with a prisoner, Red Sonja and Lukas attack, only to discover that all is not as it seems.
In Red Sonja: Empire of the Damned #5, confront the old man by a waterfall in a forest that doesn’t belong. The old man assures them that the entrance to the hidden valley is nearby, and if he’s lying, he has nowhere to run to avoid their wrath. Surprisingly, the hidden entrance is right where the old man says it is.
Since Luna’s “disappearance” in issue #3, readers and Lukas have had their ears up with a wicked distrust for the old man. Steve Niles plays on that paranoia by keeping the old man at arms’ length and delivering dialog that could be interpreted for good or ill.
Red Sonja and Luka step through a hidden portal behind the waterfall, where they find a valley filled with greenery and treasures. Suddenly, the old man steps through the portal behind them and transforms into the fabled warlock from the valley’s legend. The warlock casts a spell that raises an army of all the slain soldiers rotting underground to subdue his partners.
Of course, it’s a bait-and-switch. But Niles plays it beautifully by not letting the mask slip until the last possible second.
Niles attacks the warlock to avenge his sister, but the swordsman is no match for a malignant warlock, so the latter issues a small spell that rips the skin from Lukas’s body. Red Sonja is dumbstruck when Lukas begs for death, but she quickly obliges to spare him further suffering.
The undead soldiers quickly restrain Red Sonja on the warlock’s command so that he can gloat over his victory. The issue ends with a late but more powerful arrival, brawn over magic, and the need for more horses.
Overall, Steve Niles’s tale may not have the grim, brooding depth of a typical Robert E. Howard story, but the story here gives you all the basics in a tight, efficient, entertaining tale.
Artwork and Presentation:
Alessandro Amoruso’s art style is dead-center solid with grounded figure work, a surprising but tasteful amount of gore, strong backgrounds, and excellent coloring by Salvatore Aiala.
As a point of preference, it would be nice to see darker, more dramatic shadows instead of the softer palettes used here, but on the whole, Red Sonja: Empire of the Damned is a solid visual effort.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
If you’re new to Red Sonja comics and are wary about picking up this miniseries, fret not. Steve Niles crafted a self-contained, one-and-done story that doesn’t require foreknowledge of the character to jump right in.
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
RED SONJA: EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED #5 ends the one-and-done story with dramatic tension, swords, sorcery, and a reasonably satisfying conclusion. Steve Niels’s tale is a worthwhile addition to the Red Sonja canon, and the art team’s contribution is solid.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.