SAMURAI SONJA #4, from Dynamite Comics on September 21st, 2022, enters the last battle before Samurai Sonja can confront Shuten Doji. This time she must triumph in a battle of her own making.
The Details
- Written by: Jordan Clark
- Art by: Miriana Puglia
- Colors by: Kike J. Diaz
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Clayton Henry (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: September 21, 2022
Is It Good?
SAMURAI SONJA #4 is the most creative and intriguing issue in the series so far. The issue has flaws, but the flaws are balanced out by great action, character growth, and a decent amount of momentum going into the finale.
The highlight of Clark’s script is Sonja’s character growth as she faces down the demons of her father’s legacy and comes into her own as Amaterasu’s chosen warrior. Without giving too much away, Sonja is in a battle of wills between her past and herself. Clark’s approach to this issue significantly builds out Sonja’s personality in preparation for the great challenge ahead.
The down point of this issue is a fair bit of confusion in the first act of the comic. It takes several pages to figure out what’s going on. The majority of this comic has a dreamy quality which suits a mild amount of disorientation for the reader, but too much disorientation becomes a frustration.
Also, the antagonist is not clearly defined, not at all introduced, and not clearly dealt with. You could argue that a portion of this conflict is based on illusion, so the resolution should be ill-defined, but regardless of the reason behind the execution, the story felt confusing and incomplete in spots.
Puglia’s art is the saving grace of this issue. The character designs, action scenes, and facial acting are all excellent. The issue would have been served better if Diaz has incorporated more pop and saturated less with muted earth tones, but the execution of the coloring is also excellent.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Catch up with Sonja’s previous battle in our SAMURAI SONJA #3 review.
We begin with Sonja boarding a small sailboat on her way to the island where Shuten Doji lives. She uses her time to don her armor and weaponry. Suddenly, a ghostly hand touches her shoulder, and Sonja finds herself on a battlefield where her father is desperately fighting off a flock of harpies.
Sonja shakes off her disorientation to join her father’s fight. At first, the father/daughter team holds their own, but the harpies’ numbers quickly become overwhelming, and Sonja’s father falls in battle. Stricken with grief, the battle fades away as Sonja is faced with multiple visions of her father shaming her for her failure.
We conclude the issue with the weight of a sword, the truth behind the lie, and a new challenge.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
SAMURAI SONJA #4 is one of the better issues in the series with excellent art and solid character-building. However, the ethereal nature of the battle and the ambiguous resolution were hard to follow.
Related Information
Is a samurai higher than a ninja?
In terms of cultural status, Samurais are considered more honored and respected than Ninjas. Samurai hold a position of leadership within royal houses and great families. Ninjas are often considered lowly assassins who kill for money, not honor. These are not absolute descriptions.
In terms of technical skill and prowess, Ninjas and Samurais are equal but different. Ninjas prioritize stealth and deception. Samurais prioritize military strategy and honorable servitude.
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
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.