RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #3, from Dynamite Comics on 9/20/23, unveils the secret power behind the black diamond Red Sonja carries as Thord Varg’s army assembles for an assault on Velanger.
The Details
- Written by: Torunn Grønbekk
- Art by: Walter Geovani
- Colors by: Omi Remalante Jr.
- Letters by: Simon Bowland
- Cover art by: Joshua Middleton (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: September 20, 2023
Is RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #3 Good?
RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #3 takes the relentless, expanding, and slightly confusing conflict with Thord Varg to dangerous heights in Torunn Grønbekk’s next installment of Red Sonja’s anniversary volume. Filled with tough fights, brutal deaths, and mysticism, Grønbekk’s latest entry brings focus and clarity to the adventure.
When last we left Red Sonja, Thord Varg’s possessed warriors cornered Red Sonja in hopes of taking her alive. Varg knows the missing piece to his ultimate domination requires the black diamond in Red Sonja’s possession. Now, the disembodied voice narrating the story takes an active (and deadly) role in aiding Red Sonja for its own agenda while Thord Varg’s army marches on Velanger.
If you caught the phrase “slightly confusing” in the first paragraph, the phrase still applies in this issue. There’s a supernatural force narrating this adventure, providing some aid to Red Sonja, but a force that doesn’t mind killing to get what it wants. Therein lies the confusion. We don’t know who or what is narrating, what it wants, or why, so you have competing voices and narratives stepping over each other to tell a single story.
What’s great about RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #3? This issue is a straight-up sword & sorcery adventure from start to finish. You get plenty of brutal, bloody fights, evil villains being evil, and dark magic to give the adventure some flair.
What’s not so great about RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #3? First, see the confusing narration from the hidden force mentioned above. It’s like trying to watch a movie while the person next to you is loudly stating behind-the-scenes facts about the movie in your ear. Second, the story makes a big deal about Thord Varg assembling an army to invade Velanger, but it’s not exactly clear why. Thord Varg’s indoctrination into a dark power’s service was born of Vestfold’s hard times. If everything is plentiful now, what’s the purpose of focusing so much energy on invading a neighboring city?
How’s the art? Walter Geovani’s lines are clean and dynamic. Red Sonja’s fights are well-choreographed, and the panel compositions are dramatic. Overall, this comic looks great.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #3 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #2 review to find out how Thord Varg’s forces cornered Red Sonja.
We pick up with the cliffhanger from issue #2. Red Sonja is held down on her knees with a choice to submit to the dark possession or suffer a worse fate. Suddenly, Red Sonja frees herself from the hold of her captors and fights her way to even ground. The dark narrator senses Red Sonja may be in trouble, so it possesses the nearby villagers and forces them to light themselves on fire and charge after Thord Varg’s soldiers. Red Sonja is horrified, but she takes the opportunity to escape.
Later, Red Sonja visits the seer sisters at Velanger to ask for insight into what’s happening. They explain Thord Varg is amassing great power with each human sacrifice, but he needs the black diamond Red Sonja holds to control that power. Meanwhile, the disembodied narrator has an agenda, but the seers can’t tell who or what it is.
We conclude the issue with a march on Velanger, a history lesson, and an ultimatum.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #3 increases the stakes and the threat level when Thord Varg’s army assembles to invade Velanger. Red Sonja is in peak fighting form, and the dark magic surrounding the conflict is intriguing, but the lack of information about the narrator is becoming an increasing distraction.
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