RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #3 – Review

In RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #3, available from Dynamite Comics on November 3rd, 2021, Red Sonja races to rescue Sitha from a pair of twin, blind necromancers who mean to rip the magic from Sitha’s body.

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: November 3, 2021

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Was It Good?

RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #3 is 100% solid, sword & sorcery adventure. Sometimes the descriptor “solid” gets thrown around as a nice way of saying “it was fine”, but in this case it’s used to mean this issue is the perfect example of classic sword & sorcery.

Andolfo and Blengino don’t waste any time getting Red Sonja out of one battle with a tentacled beast before engaging in a high-speed chase that culminates in another battle with evil necromancers. The sprinting pace is what makes the issue because you keep moving from action beat to action beat while furthering the plot at the same time. It’s a page turner that doesn’t let up from front to back.

While the plot does move forward, it doesn’t move forward by leaps and bounds. The progress is modest. At this point in the arc, we’re firmly in the “chase” stage of the quest where the goal of getting Sitha back to where she will ultimately wind up is hit with one sidetrack after another. That’s not a problem as each sidetrack is entertaining enough on their own, but the goal is distinctly out of sight.

The art from Cafaro and the team is generally quite good. The action feels kinetic, the monster designs are horrific, and the art moves the reader’s eye along just as briskly as the script. That said, there are a few, odd anatomy choice made in the pencils that make a few panels hard to decipher. For example, in the first page (see preview below), it’s hard to tell what’s going on with Red Sonja’s limbs as she wrestles with a tentacled beast. Thankfully, there aren’t many such oddities but there are enough to distract your eye when they come up.

In all, this issue captures the excitement and adventure of sword & sorcery as it was meant to be.

What’s It About?

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

If you’re wondering who Sitha is and why Red Sonja is chasing her, first read our RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #2 review.

We begin with Red Sonja in mid-battle against a many tentacled and very hungry monster. Sonja makes quick work of the beast and immediately begins questioning the locals about who took Sitha. She learns that Sitha was taken by the blind necromancer twins from Shem for some dark purpose. Of course, Sonja is not about to let that happen.

Red Sonja buys the fastest horse possible and heads down the river where the twins have at least a half day’s head start on the rowing barge. She eventually catches up to the barge while it’s docked for rest and supplies.

Meanwhile, the twins bicker over Sitha as to how best to extract the magic from her body and for what purpose. Despite their similarities, the twins are individually selfish and don’t see eye to eye. Red Sonja takes advantage of their bickering to sneak on board.

We conclude the issue with a desperate fight with metal against magic, aid from an old friend, and defeat snatched from the jaws of victory at the last minute.

Final Thoughts

RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #3 typifies a pristine example of swashbuckling sword & sorcery adventure. The brisk, exciting pace rarely pauses to catch a breath before bringing the reader along to the next challenge. The writing and art are both excellent.

Score: 9/10

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