SAVAGE RED SONJA #3, by Dynamite Comics on 1/3/24, shows off Red Sonja’s negotiating skills when she receives a new contract to steal a second precious item, leading to a meeting of respected warriors.
The Details
- Written by: Dan Panosian
- Art by: Alessio Petillo
- Colors by: Francesco Segala, Gloria Martinelli
- Letters by: Dave Sharpe
- Cover art by: Dan Panosian (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: January 3, 2024
Is SAVAGE RED SONJA #3 Good?
Dan Panosian throttles down the sword & sorcery action but amps up the cunning and guile in SAVAGE RED SONJA #3. Readers who thought Red Sonja was all about hacking and slashing may gain a newfound respect for her brains as well as her brawn and beauty after reading this issue.
When last we left Red Sonja, she faced cannibalistic scavengers, tentacled beasts, and more to procure the lost Blood Ruby of King Gresh. Success came at a deadly cost for King Gresh’s long-lost son and his bride. Now, Red Sonja is offered the chance at a better life by stealing the staff that mates with the Blood Ruby to form a magical object of great power. All she needs to do is defeat an elite cadre of bodyguards and steal the staff from Mayor Sem.
If the description above doesn’t make it clear, there’s not one ounce of swashbuckling action in this issue. Yet, Dan Panosian keeps the intensity high by using persuasion and psychology as Red Sonja’s weapons of choice.
What’s great about SAVAGE RED SONJA #3? This issue is surprising (in a good way) because Panosian writes an engaging, dramatic piece of fiction that keeps the tension high without drawing a single sword. Readers are introduced to two new characters on this leg of the adventure, and you learn all you need to know about their capabilities and motivations through well-crafted dialog and nuance.
What’s not so great about SAVAGE RED SONJA #3? Readers used to adventure in their Red Sonja comic may find the lack of action underwhelming. Fair is fair.
How’s the art? Odd. Alessio Petillo has a good eye for panel layouts, interesting camera angles, and all the components that make the environment visually unique, but Petillo’s figure work is weak. In particular, Petillo has trouble with Red Sonja’s face, sometimes giving her eyes and lips that are cartoonishly misshapen.
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What’s SAVAGE RED SONJA #3 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our SAVAGE RED SONJA #2 review to find out how Red Sonja escaped the King Gresh’s castle.
We begin with Red Sonja drinking away the fatigue of her escape from the wastelands. The barkeep who sold Red Sonja the map to King Gresh’s stronghold offers Red Sonja a fortune for the Blood Ruby and an opportunity to make her dreams come true.
The barkeep, Markus, explains Mayor Sem has the staff of King Gresh, and when it’s paired with the Blood Ruby, forms a powerful scepter that could grant any wish Red Sonja desires. Red Sonja agrees to retrieve the staff, but Markus warns her to beware of the Mayor’s elite bodyguards.
Red Sonja easily finds the Mayor supping at a nearby inn, but instead of attacking, Red Sonja invites the leader of the bodyguards, Castille, to sit for a chat. We conclude the issue with an offer, an understanding of honor, and bait.
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Final Thoughts
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SAVAGE RED SONJA #3 puts the typical action on the back burner for the next leg of Red Sonja’s journey to give the hero a chance to show off her skills at persuasion and manipulation. Panosian’s dialog and plot development are on point, but the art suffers from inconsistency.
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