RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #5, by Dynamite Comics on 11/15/23, finds Red Sonja confronting multi-headed dragons and possessed soldiers on her way to infiltrating Vestfold.
The Details
- Written by: Torunn Grønbekk
- Art by: Walter Geovani
- Colors by: Omi Remalante Jr.
- Letters by: Simon Bowland
- Cover art by: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: November 15, 2023
Is RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #5 Good?
RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #5 takes the fight to Thord Varg’s home of Vestfold in Torunn Grønbekk’s latest chapter in the anniversary series. Red Sonja engages in plenty of fighting action while she travels with her disembodied host, and the cliffhanger ending will keep you guessing about what happens next.
When last we left Red Sonja, she did everything possible to arm and train the innocent citizens of Velanger to defend against Thard Varg’s invading army. It wasn’t enough. Red Sonja was forced to flee as Velanger burned, spurring her on to head to Vestfold with the disembodied voice as her guide. Now, we know the voice belongs to longtime Red Sonja and Conan villain Kulan Gath, who seeks to help Red Sonja sneak into Vestfold as long as the trip suits his agenda.
To be clear, we learned the disembodied voice manipulating events to help Red Sonja along the way belonged to Kulan Gath in the previous issue, so it’s not a spoiler. However, readers know what Red Sonja does not, so she prods the voice with questions that never get a straight answer.
What’s great about RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #5? Readers who favor slicing and dicing action from the She-Devil with a Sword get plenty of action to chew on here. When Red Sonja isn’t sneaking into strongholds, she’s cutting down soldiers and monsters frequently.
What’s not so great about RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #5? Keeping Kulan Gath’s identity a secret makes sense for Red Sonja in context (she’d never accept his help), but keeping the readers in the dark for this long was a gamble that didn’t pay off. Kulan Gath has appeared too many times in both Red Sonja and Conan for his presence to be a shocking twist, which means the previous four issues created a confusing narrative for nothing.
How’s the art? Walter Geovani’s art is great. Again, RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #5 is an action-heavy issue, so Geovani flexes creative muscles in terms of energy, fight choreography, and power successfully.
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What’s RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #5 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our RED SONJA (VOL. 7) #4 review to find out what happened to Vestfold’s twin city, Velanger.
We begin with Red Sonja fleeing Velanger after Thord Varg’s successful invasion. Her only hope is to infiltrate Thord Varg’s stronghold in Vestfold to find a cure for his mind-controlling infection. Red Sonja encounters a slave caravan holding several of Velanger’s survivors, so she launches into an immediate attack.
After the slavers are cut down, the disembodied voice returns with an offer to help Red Sonja get into Thord Varg’s stronghold without detection. Red Sonja reluctantly agrees, but she keeps a close eye on her unidentified helper. When Red Sonja reaches Vestfold, she sees how the times of plenty, granted by Thord Varg’s dark magic, have turned the people decadent and callous.
We conclude the issue with an interrupted study session, a double-cross, and a new outlook on death.
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) #5 cranks out the action and intrigue when Red Sonja fights her way through the countryside to reach Thord Vard’s stronghold. The action is entertaining, and the art is excellent, but the payoff of Red Sonja’s hidden companion is a letdown.
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