RED SONJA FAIRY TALES (ONE-SHOT), from Dynamite Comics on August 10th, 2022, imagines a new version of Jack & the Beanstalk when Red Sonja encounters a town with a fabled past and a disturbing present.
The Details
- Written by: Jordan Clark
- Art by: Andres Labrada
- Colors by: Kike J. Diaz
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Soo Lee (cover A)
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: August 10, 2022
Is It Good?
Okay, RED SONJA FAIRY TALES (ONE-SHOT) is not bad. We knew from the solicit information that this would be a Red Sonja-centric take on a classic fairytale, so the premise isn’t a surprise. Therefore, the devil’s in the details and whatever surprising twists Clark would work into the story. Thankfully, the twists are indeed surprising, resulting in a fun one-shot.
The biggest positive in this issue is the surprise moments that occur on two levels. On one level, Clark adds in a few surprises you won’t see coming to cast the classic fable in a disturbing new light. The second level of surprise comes by way of Labrada’s expressive facial art when Red Sonja realizes what’s happening.
First, Clark doesn’t give readers a different version of Jack & the Beanstalk. Instead, readers are treated to a sequel that examines what happens to Jack in the aftermath of his adventure against the giant. Jack’s later years have not been happy ones, and those consequences reach far and wide.
Second, Labrada’s shocked face somehow hits like a sledgehammer. The moments of realization that lead to horror and urgency amp up the dramatic tension exponentially, and it all comes through the art. There’s a Manga-like quality to Labrada’s art that suits this material well, especially in the faces and the use of speed lines.
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]
We begin with a woman named Astra running through the woods, pursued by a pack of wolves. Suddenly, Red Sonja leaps to the rescue to scare the wolves away. Soon, the nearby villagers arrive to lend support and escort the woman back to the village. The leaders invite Red Sonja to come with them to celebrate her heroism.
Red Sonja is shocked when she approaches the New Jack City, a walled city with a gigantic beanstalk growing from its center to the clouds. The festivities soon begin, and Red Sonja is surprised to witness the woman she saved in the woods, Astra, is led in chains to a large cage on a chain that leads up the side of the beanstalk. Red Sonja fights off the villagers to rescue the woman who appears to be part of some ritual sacrifice to whatever is living at the beanstalk’s peak.
Undeterred by the villagers but unable to open the cage or break the chain, Red Sonja has no choice but to go along for the ride with Astra. When the rising cage reaches its destination, Astra and Red Sonja find a large castle and a little old woman calling them to enter.
We conclude the issue with mistaken identity, broken hearts, and broken minds.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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RED SONJA FAIRY TALES (ONE-SHOT) is a surprisingly effective variation (sequel?) to a classic fairy tale seamlessly blended with a Red Sonja-styled adventure. The macabre plot is creative, and Labrada’s art style, containing hints of manga influence, is impactfully executed.
Related Information
Who played Red Sonja in Conan the Barbarian?
Red Sonja did not appear in the Conan films. However, in the syndicated Conan the Barbarian television program which aired from 1997 to 1998, Red Sonja appeared in the show and was played by Angelica Bridges.
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