RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #14, by Dynamite Comics on 9/25/24, visits a Necromancer for guidance on how to be rid of Erlik’s soul. Meanwhile, a death cult lies in wait on the path Red Sonja must take.
Credits:
- Writer: Torunn Grønbekk
- Artist: Walter Geovani
- Colorist: Omi Remalante Jr.
- Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover Artist: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
- Publisher: Dynamite Comics
- Release Date: September 25, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #14:
First Impressions:
It’s no secret this series has been plagued by ups and downs, with more downs than ups. However, Red Sonja (Vol. 7) #14 is one of the rare ups because writer Torunn Grønbekk keeps the plot tight, simple, smart, and focused. If more attention were put into keeping the scripts this sharp, we’d have a much better opinion of the series.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left the She-Devil with a sword in Red Sonja (Vol. 7) #13, Red Sonja fled to the lesser-known roads and villagers to prevent the soul of Erlik, trapped within her, from falling into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, the dead now speak in her presence, and magic assassins keep finding her. The issue ended with Red Sonja setting out to be rid of the soul for good.
In Red Sonja (Vol. 7) #14, Red Sonja pays a visit to Drava Stonebreaker – a necromancer practiced in blood and death magic. – for guidance. Davra tells Red Sonja that giving Erlik back his soul will lead to much death and destruction, so the better course of action is to destroy it. How? Red Sonja must find a hidden lake that leads to the land of the dead, but the road to get there won’t be easy.
See now. That wasn’t so hard, was it? Torunn Grønbekk has struggled to keep the narrative of this series engaging by leaning too heavily into mythological developments and high-brow concepts while forgetting to put in basic plot structure, purpose, and motivations. Here, the story gets a much-needed boost by covering the missing elements in a few scant pages. Red Sonja knows what she needs to do, why she needs to do it, and how to get the job done. It really is that simple.
Meanwhile, the Trajan Clan waits on the road to the Underworld because they need to capture Red Sonja alive to use Erlik’s soul to bring about a new world order. When Red Sonja encounters and dispatches a group of robbers, Erlik speaks through the head of one of the fallen to warn Red Sonja about the dangers lying ahead.
Unfortunately, the Trajan Clan sets a trap using one of the few weak spots in Red Sonja’s warrior demeanor – children in danger. The issue concludes with a fight against overwhelming odds, a choice of the heart rather than the head, and on to the next one.
Overall, Red Sonja (Vol. 7) #14 doesn’t have much to it, but what it does have, it does well. Torunn Grønbekk’s script is leaner and tighter, which makes for a better reading experience.
Artwork and Presentation:
Walter Geovani and Omi Remalante Jr. make the grade with solid figure work, well-done fight choreography, which there is plenty of and excellent coloring work. The art team makes the most of an admittedly thin script, so the issue looks as good as it reads.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
This issue squarely focuses on Red Sonja’s quest to dispatch Erlik’s soul without bringing calamity to the world, which is consistent with the series so far. That said, Kulan Gath, Grace, Emberfall, and the rest of the characters in this series have been put on the back burner for the time being, which seems odd.
Final Thoughts:
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RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #14 is light on the plot and sidelines the war against Emberfall, but the script is tighter and establishes the basic components of a solid comic. Torunn Grønbekk shows uncharacteristic attention to establishing purpose and motivations, and the art team delivers a great set of visuals.
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