RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #15, by Dynamite Comics on 10/30/24, finds Red Sonja a prisoner among a tribe of cannibals who intend to make her their next meal.
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: October 30, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #15:
First Impressions:
Red Sonja (Vol. 7) #15 has a weird vibe and sense of flow. Writer Torunn Grønbekk gives the issue as much tension and dramatic impact as possible, but the tension comes across as artificial due to Red Sonja’s newfound/temporary ability to see the future. Can an issue be exciting if you already know how it ends?
Plot Analysis:
When last we left the She-Devil with a Sword in Red Sonja (Vol. 7) #14, Red Sonja sought out a necromancer with the knowledge of how to be rid of the Soul of Erlik within her. The solution? Red Sonja must follow a dangerous mountain trail to find a hidden lake that leads to the Land of the Dead to kill the soul and be free of Erlik’s influence for good. However, getting to the lake is harder than it sounds.
In Red Sonja (Vol. 7) #15, Red Sonja wakes up after her capture on the winding mountain road by the Trajan clan. She hears the screams of men as they’re dismembered alive, and she soon finds out that the Trajan are cannibals. They know Red Sonja carries the soul of death within her, so they mean to take the power for themselves by consuming her flesh.
Yep, Torunn Grønbekk puts Red Sonja in quite the pickle with a tribe of cannibals who are determined to get what they want, one bite at a time. The Trajan’s attempts to “feed” Red Sonja in preparation for the evening’s ceremonies are gross but not too gory.
As the late afternoon moves into night, Red Sonja has no fear because Erlik’s soul shows her the time and manner of everyone’s death. She knows she won’t be killed because everyone in the tribe will die at the hands of a group of attackers. Meanwhile, Erlik approaches the Trajan encampment, raising an army of the dead to overrun Red Sonja’s captors to reclaim his soul.
The trouble with precognition is that there isn’t much tension or worry when you already know what’s going to happen. Torunn Grønbekk presents Red Sonja as defiant and annoyed because she knows the tribe will be wiped out, which makes for an odd reading experience.
When the feasting ends, Red Sonja is ordered to lie on the sacrifice table. She resists, and before the Tarajan guards force her to lie on the table, Erlik arrives with his undead army.
The issue ends with Red Sonja attempting to save at least one innocent and a poisonous scratch.
Overall, Red Sonja (Vol. 7) #15 is an oddly uneven issue. There’s plenty of drama to go around, but Sonja’s foreknowledge of the future somehow conflicts with the drama for a weirdly unsatisfying adventure. Torunn Grønbekk ends the issue on a solid cliffhanger, but the present plot feels clunky.
Artwork and Presentation:
Walter Geovani continues to give this series everything he’s got and then some. You get excellent panel composition, fantastic figure work, just enough gore and violence to suit the situation, and an excellent demonstration of coloring by Omi Remalante Jr. This comic looks fantastic.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Final Thoughts:
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RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #15 puts Red Sonja in the heart of a tribe of cannibals, but the end result isn’t as entertaining or exciting as it should be. Torunn Grønbekk infuses the comic with plenty of tension and drama, but the effort is offset by the basic plot. Still, the artwork looks fantastic, so the issue is visually enjoyable.
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