RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #11, from Dynamite Comics on July 27th, 2022, finds the end of the road when Red Sonja returns Sitha to her people in a village designed for women only. As the weary duo rests, recovers, and says their tearful goodbyes, Red Sonja realizes Sitha is just where she belongs… or is she?
The Details
- Written by: Mirka Andolfo, Luca Blengino
- Art by: Giuseppe Cafaro
- Colors by: Chiara Di Francia
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Mirka Andolfo (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: July 27, 2022
Is It Good?
RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #11 is the kind of issue that makes you question where the series is going or if it’s going anywhere at all. We don’t offer this criticism to be unkind, but there’s a whole lot of nothing happening in this issue.
Ths highlight of this issue is the way Andolfo and Blengino turn up a nuanced undercurrent of tension between Red Sonja and the citizens of Agaras-Bulba. Everything seems on the up and up as soon as Red Sonja arrives with Sitha in tow, but there’s just a faint hint that something is off. That hint isn’t in anything tangible, but it comes across as a persistent whisper that tickles the paranoid hairs on the back of your neck.
That said, a persistent whisper is the most plot development you’ll get out of this issue besides a twist on the last page. Almost the entire issue centers around Sitha settling into her surroundings and Red Sonja talking with the leaders about how things work in this women-only town. In fairness, this issue contains a lot of solid world-building, but that’s all you get. Rather than showing the reader how the town works, readers are told about the town’s logistics, making for a dull read.
The issue isn’t helped by the sloppy-looking art from Cafaro. Whole panels are crudely sketched or wholly lacking in detail. Panels, where readers view the scene from a short to medium distance, show characters that look like little more than colored blobs. On the whole, this art is unfinished and unpolished.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Find out what happened to Red Sonja and Sitha before they reach the borders of Agaras-Bulba in our RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #10 review.
We begin with Red Sonja and Sitha arriving at eh border of Agaras-Bulba, a peaceful colony built at the base of a rumbling volcano. Red Sonja is met by a trio of guards who don’t take kindly to strangers, but they welcome the travelers in when they recognize Sitha’s markings. For days,
Mother Ya-Ya, the colony leader explains how the volcano protects them, how the colony persists when no men are allowed, how the women form a tentative relationship with the fire god Xutul whose body resides in the volcano, and how much Mother Ya-Ya hates men.
Mother Ya-Ya recognizes the strength and skill within Red Sonja and offers her a permanent place within the colony if she chooses to stay. Red Sonja’s heart, however, is not made for domestic life, so she decides to leave now that her mission is complete.
We conclude the issue with a question about a prophecy, a remembrance from an old conversation, and a betrayal.
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Final Thoughts
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RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #11 tells you a lot about Sitha’s hometown, which may or may not be interesting to you. The pacing is even, and the dialog is fine, but it’s all set up with little payoff. To make matters worse, the art is substandard.
Related Information
Is Red Sonja part of Conan?
Yes, the current incarnation of Red Sonja occupies the same world and timeframe as Conan the Barbarian. However, that was not always so. The original version of Red Sonja was a swashbuckler who traveled the world several centuries after the rise of Conan. Marvel Comics retconned Red Sonja’s origin to bring the two characters in sync to allow for shared adventures.
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