Red Sonja: She-Devil With A Sword #5 (Dynamite Comics, 9/2/26): Writer Rory McConville & artist Pablo de Bonis unleash the demon Demoroq on Koth, and not even Red Sonja is strong enough to stop it. McConville’s bloody battle is packed with purpose and energy to please Red Sonja fans. Verdict: Bloody good issue.
Credits:
- Writer: Rory McConville
- Artist: Pablo de Bonis
- Colorist: Salvatore Aiala Neto
- Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
- Cover Artist: Stuart Sayger (cover A)
- Publisher: Dynamite Comics
- Release Date: September 2, 2026
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of Red Sonja: She-Devil With A Sword #5:
First Impressions:
If you follow Comical Opinions, you’ll know we haven’t picked up a Red Sonja comic in a while. Given how well this issue turned out, perhaps that was a mistake.
Recap:
In Red Sonja: She-Devil With A Sword #4, Khorshemish is gripped with chaos as the royal army battles against Rising Suns members as they riot inside the city! Against this backdrop of violence, Red Sonja stands ready to face the dread demon Demoroq! At the center of it all stands Aretha, preparing to face her destiny, or perish with all those around her in fire and demon-flame!
Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):
The Red Sun, with Aretha’s help, unleashed Demoroq to overrun Koth’s King and his armies. Unfortunately, they learned too late that Demoroq cannot be controlled, and it attacks everything in sight. Red Sonja does her best to cut down the beast, but physical attacks are useless.
Aretha, realizing the grave mistake she made in releasing Domoroq, has an epiphany. She races into the city to find Jeffe, hoping he can recast the binding spell. He can’t, but the high priestess can… with a catch. The binding spell will cost Aretha her life. Reluctantly, Aretha agrees.
Demoroq, sensing the binding spell being cast, races to stop it with Red Sonja trailing behind. Sonja attacks the demon to slow it down, and the spell is cast in the nick of time. Aretha dies, and the King’s armies drive off the Rising Sun, but Koth’s troubles are just beginning.
How is the story in Red Sonja: She-Devil With A Sword #5?
Rory McConville’s script hits the nail on the head, mixing equal parts action, intrigue, and foreshadowing. With very little setup, a reader picking up this issue cold can (mostly) follow what’s going on and see how the story leads into the next phase of the series, where misfortune that befell the people of Koth may be part of a larger plan.
The minor hiccup in the issue is the lack of clarity around some of the character names for new readers, but that’s a minor quibble.
How is the art in Red Sonja: She-Devil With A Sword #5?
Pablo de Bonis’s artwork is super-solid. In an action-heavy issue, the panel framing and choreography all need to make visual sense and reinforce the urgency of the story. De Bonis nails both with equal ferocity. The story is essentially a ticking clock to stop Demoroq before it destroys everything, with only one way (and person) to do it, so energy is paramount, and de Bonis delivers.
Characters
The character focus is split between Red Sonja (naturally) and Aretha. Sonja carries the brunt of the action as she tries to slow the demon down. Aretha bears the emotional brunt of the issue when she grapples with the guilt of unleashing Demonoq, and then the fatal choice of sacrificing herself to undo what she did.
Originality & Concept Execution
Rory McConville’s script is a near-perfect conclusion that acts as a transition into bigger things. There’s no mystery that a conspiracy is in play and that Aretha was manipulated to create a “false flag” that allowed malicious forces to take power. The writing isn’t complex, but it’s certainly smart.
Pros and Cons
Art Samples:
The Scorecard:
Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 3.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.5/2
Final Thoughts:
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Red Sonja: She-Devil With A Sword #5 concludes Demoroq’s bid to lay waste to everyone and everything in Koth. Rory McConville’s script is tight and action-packed, ending on an intriguing note. Pablo de Bonis’s artwork carries the action and energy beautifully.
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