SAVAGE RED SONJA #1, from Dynamite Comics on 11/1/23, sets the She-Devil with a Sword on a mission to recover a rare jewel from a castle nestled in a dangerous wasteland.
The Details
- Written by: Dan Panosian
- Art by: Alessio Patillo
- Colors by: Francesco Segala
- Letters by: Dave Sharpe
- Cover art by: Dan Panosian (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: November 1, 2023
Is SAVAGE RED SONJA #1 Good?
Famed comic artist Dan Panosian takes a turn on writing duties in Dynamite’s latest offering starring the She-Devil with a Sword in SAVAGE RED SONJA #1. Fans of the crimson-haired warrior now have the benefit of two titles to choose from, even if the results are fairly standard fare.
Panosian’s script centers on Red Sonja embarking on a mission to recover the famous Blood Ruby from King Gresh’s “haunted” keep. King Gresh’s decimated kingdom now sits in the middle of a wasteland where Red Sonja encounters bandits, cannibals, and wayward travelers who may or may not be kosher.
For clarification, readers who might wonder where this series fits in conjunction with the current Red Sonja run written by Torunn Grønbekk, it doesn’t. SAVAGE RED SONJA #1 begins as a wholly separate and standalone story with only the titular characters in common.
What’s great about SAVAGE RED SONJA #1? It’s always a pleasant surprise to see a creator known for one skill to show off a different skill. Panosian ticks all the right boxes in terms of pacing, dialog, and general premise, so Panosian shows he has the chops to turn in a solid script.
What’s not so great about SAVAGE RED SONJA #1? Conversely, a solid script isn’t a script that’s going to knock your socks off. Panosian covers all the basic bases, but the mission is standard, the twists are standard, and the direction is standard. The issue isn’t bad, but there’s nothing remotely remarkable or surprising about it (yet).
How’s the art? Likewise, Alessio Patillo’s art is serviceable to fair. Patillo’s loose, sketchy style gets the job done, but it lacks power and impact. The best pages in this issue just manage to achieve average quality.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s SAVAGE RED SONJA #1 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a narrator describing King Gresh, his kingdom, and the existence of a rare jewel called the Blood Ruby. When King Gresh’s kingdom fell to waste, and the King’s madness took his life. The Blood Ruby sits untouched in King Gresh’s keep in the middle of a dangerous wasteland. Red Sonja aims to be the first person to recover the Blood Ruby.
When Red Sonja sets off to find King Gresh’s keep, she eventually encounters a pair of wayward travelers as they’re attacked by flesh-eating bandits. Red Sonja defeats the bandits, saving the travelers. She learns the man she saved is the son of King Gresh, and he offers to show Red Sonja how to reach and enter the keep.
We conclude the issue with regrets, tentacled beasts, and hordes.
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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SAVAGE RED SONJA #1 kicks off a standard red Sonja adventure to find a rare jewel. Dan Panosian surprises as a solid comic writer (instead of a notable comic artist), but the art is just passable at best.
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