In RED SONJA (VOL. 5) #25, available from Dynamite Comics on March 24th, 2021, aging Queen Isolde sends out her most trusted advisors to bring Red Sonja back to Hyrkania to say goodbye before she dies. However, if they’re not careful, her advisors might die first.
The Details
- Written By: Luke Lieberman
- Art By: Drew Moss
- Colors By: Dearbhla Kelly
- Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
- Cover Art By: Jae Lee
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Release Date: March 24, 2021
Was It Good?
Yes, it’s a new day with a new arc set 10 years later down the line from the previous arc. What’s nice is a return to form for the She-Devil as a wandering warrior living life to the fullest in search of adventure and challenge. This outing of Red Sonja feels closest to her roots as a worthy analog to Conan.
The art here is good. The color palette is filled with earth tones making it feel appropriately gritty for the content, but the extensive use of earth tones makes the book very muted, so it lacks pop with the exception of the red in Sonja’s hair. The coloring isn’t subpar by any means, but the extensive muting pulls down the energy of the book.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
Good Queen Isolde is performing her leadership duties with her council of advisors. Planning roads, making plans, mentoring her younger advisors. Queen Isolde knows she’s nearing the time to step down.
As a final wish she asks her most trusted advisors, Kentaro and Tristine, to bring an old friend back to Hyrkania to say goodbye, Red Sonja. Over the years, the tales of Sonja’s service to Hyrkania have grown very tall, and the duo set out motivated by love for their queen and some skepticism over Red Sonja’s legendary exploits.
Meanwhile, a seemingly ageless Red Sonja is winning a game of strip rummy by a large margin in a pub somewhere near Turan. The men who have lost their shirts (literally) try to take it all back by force when their leader shows up. Of course, Red Sonja doesn’t suffer sore losers, and she proceeds give them a proper thrashing.
The leader of the beaten men, Bryant, yields to Sonja and offers her a place among his crew. Sonja refuses, having no need for his gold, but he offers something sweeter — to guide her to a tournament where the winning fighter is declared greatest warrior of this age. Sensing an exciting challenge, Sonja commands Bryant to take her to the tournament.
Kentaro and Tristine arrive in Khorosun on Red Sonja’s trail. They discreetly ask around if anyone has seen her, but Kentaro’s tact and caution are… lacking. It isn’t long before Kentaro gets into quite the bar brawl, and that’s when things get hairy for the dutiful duo.
Without giving away the ending, Kentaro wakes up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Tristine sees something she wants and something she really doesn’t want, and Red Sonja proves she’s not afraid of tentacles.
“Chainmail”
Unusual for Dynamite titles, this particular issue comes with a backup story.
- Written By: Will Robson
- Art By: Will Robson
- Colors By: Andrew Dalhouse
- Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
As the story starts off, it clarifies this is another time and another Sonja. Based on the aesthetic of the story and the clothes she’s wearing, it looks more like a Medieval setting. This Sonja talks with a local innkeeper about finding an adventure to occupy her time. He tells her of a treasure cave high up a steep mountain climb, but no one who’s gone after the treasure has returned alive.
Sonja achieves the climb without issue and finds a cavern filled with treasure as the surly innkeeper promised. With the treasure is a very large and very angry fire-breathing dragon.
Sonja snatches something that catches her eye from the treasure pile, a very bright chainmail shirt. When the dragon spews flames to burn her up, the chainmail protects her from the flames. Seizing the moment, Sonja leaps from the cave entrance and down the sheer cliff to an apparent death. But, the chainmail has other plans.
This was a fun and cute story. The art is playful, but stops just shy of cheesecake or becoming cartoonish. In terms of story, the backup is at least as good as the main story. In terms of art, the backup is more visually entertaining than the main story. Either way, you get your money’s worth for the extra dollar on the cover price.
Final Thoughts
RED SONJA (VOL. 5) #25, available from Dynamite Comics on March 24th, 2021, plays on the myth of Red Sonja by showing two skeptics her legend is more real than not. The art is good, albeit too muted in the color department. And the backup story is colorful, energetic fun.
Score: 7.5/10
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