RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #1 – Review

In RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #1, available from Dynamite Comics on September 1st, 2021, Red Sonja is hired to rescue a child who was kidnapped years ago only to find the child is much more than she seems.

The Details

• Written By: Mirka Andolfo, Luca Blengino
• Art By: Giuseppe Cafaro
• Colors By: Chiara Di Francia
• Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
• Cover Art By: Mirka Andolfo (cover A)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: September 1, 2021

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Was It Good?

We’re off to a strong start in this new volume by Andolfo.

I went in cold, avoiding as many solicit descriptions as possible, so as not to have any preconceived notions about how the story was going to go. Admittedly, the concept isn’t super original, but what the story lacks in originality as far as the premise goes, it makes up for in execution. The story’s action is slick and energetic, the emotional beats between Sitha and Sonja are effective, and the ending is gripping enough to keep you invested for the next issue.

When I say the premise isn’t original, there’s a myriad number of stories about the lone-wolf hero tasked with sheparding a child through a dangerous journey that come to mind. The concept is played out in the Bible, and in more recent times with the John Wayne film 3 Godfathers and a whole host of films from the ’80s on such as Gena Rowlands in Gloria and more recently in True Grit.

However, those films, TV shows, and books all work because the trope of a Badass and a Child works. It speaks to the concept of taking the most hardened of protagonists and seeing them softened enough by the forced introduction of a child to let their paternal instincts manifest into strong motivation. The trope works, and it’s excellently executed here.

If you get the trope, you already know what’s going on in this first issue, but skip on down to the next section for the specifics.

The art by Cafaro and the team is powerful and fiery. Every panel has a sense of movement and energy that elevates the pace of the book beyond the writing. The colors are bold and the lettering is excellent.

In all, this is a powerfully drawn and written first issue in a new volume.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

The Northern town of Hyperborea is burning, and everyone is dead after a raider attack. As the valuables are picked clean, Red Sonja arrives too late. She cuts down the scavengers and begins searching for survivors. Suddenly, she finds one — a child with strange hair and strange markings — who just so happen to be the reason why Red Sonja came to this town.

Flashback to two months earlier. Red Sonja is hired to retrieve a kidnapped child who is the future head Priestess of a powerful religious caste. The child was kidnapped by pirates when she was an infant and eventually left in Hyperborea.

Back to now. The child, delirious from fever, calls Red Sonja “mother” and collapses as soon as Sonja finds her. Sonja finds safety in a cave and nurses the girl back to health before beginning the long trek home.

After Sitha is better and they begin the long journey, Red Sonja is at first Sitha’s constant talking and unwillingness to stop calling Sonja “mother.” Sitha misses the now-dead townsfolk and she also wants to learn how to fight like Sonja so she can take her revenge one day on the leader of the raiders. We conclude the issue with Sitha getting a first-hand demonstration of Sonja’s fighting skills, an appearance by the raiders who want payback for their lost men, and confirmation that Sitha is not defenseless.

Final Thoughts

RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #1 takes the classic Badass and Child Duo trope in an entertaining direction. The writing is equal parts exciting and heartfelt, and the art puts energy and movement into every panel for a dynamic first issue.

Score: 9.5/10