RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #5, from Dynamite Comics on January 5, 2022, sets a new direction for the series as Red Sonja embarks on a journey to the other side of the world to find the priestesses who hold the key to curing Sitha.
The Details
- Written By: Mirka Andolfo, Luca Blengino
- Art By: Giuseppe Cafaro, Salvatore Cuffari, Valentina Pinti, Francesco Paciaroni, Nathan Ramirez, Chiara Di Francia, Giovanna La Pietra, Fausto Michelotti
- Colors By: Chiara Di Francia, Nicolò Laporini, Gianluca Papi, Francesca Carotenuto
- Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
- Cover Art By: Mirka Andolfo (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: January 5, 2022
Wait! Don’t Forget To Sign Up For The Comical Opinions Newsletter.
It’s 100% FREE. Sign up NOW!
Was It Good?
As the blurb suggests, RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #5 is a direction turn for the volume. Volume 6 started off as a quest story involving Red Sonja’s assignment to retrieve a mysterious little girl. Then it morphed into a chase story as Red Sonja found out what her clients were really up to and she raced to get Sitha back before terrible things happened. Now, we’re back to a quest story that’s different than the first quest story.
Generally, this volume under Andolfo and Blengino has been excellent, but if you could point to a minor down point, it’s that switching between story plots multiple times in only five issues feels like the story is meandering when it’s not. Chalk it up to the perception of framing and the journey for Red Sonja being anything but a straight line. Again, the story tracks well but the frequency of plot twists makes the flow feel uncertain, as if the creators aren’t sure where they’re going.
Within this issue, there’s plenty to like in the writing and the art. Despite the hard left turn in the plot, Andolfo and Blengino set it up organically. We get a display of Sitha’s growing power very quickly, clearly establishing the threat to herself and those around her. Sitha’s display of power shakes up the composition of the group in a way that makes sense. And, the old man efficiently delivers key exposition that explains what’s happening to Sitha and lays out the goal for Red Sonja to pursue next. It all fits together seamlessly, fleshing out Sitha’s character and establishing a new quest for Red Sonja to pursue.
Let’s talk about the art. If you’ve read the credits above (of course you have because you’re the best comics reader in the world), you can see a legion of artists were tapped to complete this issue. Why? Nobody knows outside the mysterious recesses of Dynamite. But whenever we see a list of artists, that’s usually a red flag for wildly inconsistent art.
That said, the art in this issue is okay. The inks are a little too sketchy for comfort, but the excellent coloring compensates for the inks beautifully. Generally, you should be happy with the visuals, and you could say it’s a minor miracle so many artists were able to keep the art consistent from front to back.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you don’t quite remember what happened to Sitha to force a new direction for the series, first read our RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #4 review.
We begin mid-cliffhanger from issue #4 as the demi-god Xamul, who resides in Sitha’s body, is manifesting in a deadly display of flame power. Sitha can barely restrain Xamul, and Samosh is seriously burned in the conflagration. Using the wooden butterfly Red Sonja holds as a keepsake, she manages to calm Sitha/Xamul long enough for the group to escape the castle and regroup in the woods.
The old man gives Red Sonja the background on Xamul, Sitha’s likely origins, and what needs to be done to rid Sitha, if possible, of Xamul for good. The old man stays behind to work on healing Samosh’s injuries while Red Sonja and Sitha set out on a journey to the other side of the world to find a Priestess of Xamul.
We conclude the issue with the first leg of the journey ending in a bizarre town with a bizarre law and Red Sonja getting roped into a conflict she never wanted.
Final Thoughts
RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #5 switches directions (again) to set Red Sonja and Sitha out on a journey to the other side of the world. The arc may seem like it’s wandering, but all the elements in the issue organically fit together and make sense in context. Despite a shockingly large array of artists assigned to a single issue, the art is consistent and visually appealing, due mostly to outstanding coloring.
Score: 8/10
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.
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