In RED SONJA (VOL. 5) #24, available from Dynamite Comics on February 24th, 2021, Red Sonja recovers from her one-against-many battle to go on one last quest for the people of Zamora. When Sonja decides her path needs to go in a different direction, she begins a journey filled with goodbyes and fresh starts.
The Details
- Written By: Mark Russell
- Art By: Alessandro Miracolo
- Colors By: Dearbhla Kelly
- Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
- Cover Art By: Jae Lee
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: February 24, 2021
Was It Good?
It was anti-climactic but not bad. This issue is a coda to the previous issue (read our RED SONJA (VOL. 5) #24 review here) which was excellent, but this feels like an extended epilogue. We wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a filler issue, but it would be easy to see how this entire issue could have been compressed into a few pages without losing the gist.
The art is excellent, and the talking boar is the highlight for his comedic relief, but otherwise, pick this up to complete the arc if nothing else.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
Prince Cyril (aka the Little Wanker), who’s spent this entire arc marshaling his forces to kill Red Sonja, did not die at the end of the previous issue. However, he’s comatose and permanently blinded.
Red Sonja is on the mend and free to leave Zamora to reassume her throne back in Hyrkania, but Sonja has other plans. She tells Hannah that Hyrkania will always be in danger as long as she’s queen, and it’s in much better hands with Isolde in charge. Sonja bids Hannah return Hyrkania to act as their ambassador while she goes off on one more quest. Zamora’s queen agrees to the quest and offers up the talking boar as a gift, much to his dismay.
Sonja rides off through dangerous lands, filled with robbers and monsters, with the boar desperately trying to keep up. Again, the boar’s grumpy complaining is the amusing highlight of the issue.
Eventually, the odd couple reaches their destination — The Tower of Wigur-Nomadene. Inside, the demonic sorcerers conjure spells from the misery created in the world, and Sonja has created much misery to feed them.
Sonja’s true intention is finally revealed. She’s been carrying Prince Cyril’s comatose body this whole time, and she requests the demonic wizards give Cyril a dream life that’s better than the real childhood he’s had to endure. A life with parents and a family who love him.
The sorcerers reluctantly agree as a reward for the misery Sonja has caused over the years. Casting their dreaming magic, Cyril lives a new life in his coma, free from the pain and misery he’s endured in his short years. The issue ends with Red Sonja and the talking boar riding off into the sunset.
To be fair, there are some heartfelt moments and scenes of quiet reflection, but it’s a stretch to say there’s enough meat here for a full issue. What meat there is, however, is very well done.
Final Thoughts
RED SONJA (VOL. 5) #24, available from Dynamite Comics on February 24th, 2021, is a sometimes sweet, sometimes funny capper to the current arc. While there’s not enough story to warrant a full issue, the writing and art are all well done.
Score: 7.5/10
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