In SONJAVERSAL #3, available from Dynamite Comics on April 7th, 2021, the battle royale of the Sonjas has begun, and the one that takes Red Sonjas head wins paradise. When a small group of Sonjas team up to escape rather than fight, they learn the arena in Hell isn’t as Biblical as it seems.
The Details
- Written By: Christopher Hastings
- Art By: Pasquale Qualano
- Colors By: Kike J. Diaz
- Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
- Cover Art By: Jae Lee, June Chung
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: April 7, 2021
Was It Good?
Yes. Now, this is what we’re talking about! All-out action with combatants on nearly equal footing with brains and skill. The action is creative (exploding steampunk parakeets?!?), and the story keeps up an adrenaline-pumping pace.
It’s not all action. There are a fair bit of flashbacks for Red Sonja that hint something about her “Oath” plays a big factor in the unfolding conflict, but the flashbacks weave so well into the battle that the pace never drops.
The art is great. It’s kinetic and uses a lot of interesting camera angles. There were one or two spots where an inset panel needed to be bigger so you could tell what was going on, but that’s a minor quibble for a largely entertaining story.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
The battle in Hell has begun.
Saint Sonja announces to the combatants the last survivor will have earned the right to live. As a bonus, the Sonja that kills Red Sonja will receive the blessings of their respective god without having to pay a price or endure a penance. With that pronouncement, the Sonjas use every weapon and every talent they have when all energy begins to shift focus towards Red Sonja. Check out our SONJAVERSAL #2 review to find out how we got here.
Lacrosse Sonja (yes, that’s a real thing, and she looks better than you might expect) is not a killer, more a vigilante crime fighter, and she tries to sneak off to escape. She doesn’t get very far but is given a bit of protection from Hell Sonja, Saint Sonja’s general(?).
Hell Sonja’s protection takes the reader out of the action but it establishes a very organic way for Hell Sonja and Saint Sonja to talk about the different combatants – which ones are top contenders, which ones (such as Lacrosse Sonja) have no chance, and whether or not they’ll have to personally step in if nobody else can take Red Sonja down.
Throughout the battle, each version of Sonja gets to shine with their own unique set of weapons and skills. Steampunk Sonja takes out a small group with exploding, clockwork parakeets. Future Biker Sonja (aka Blue Sonja) has her motorcycle, complete with sidecar and a small cache of automatic weapons. Mystical Sonja levitates rubble and takes back her light sword from Red Sonja. Green Sonja assumes the form of a giant pterodactyl to divebomb Purple Sonja in her giant mecha.
“Wait, I thought Mystical Sonja was dead,” you may ask, and you’d be right. Since the battle is in Hell, previously alive Sonjas (e.g. Orange Sonja) and anyone they have ever killed join in the battle. It’s a free-for-all in every sense, and it’s glorious.
Interlaced with the action is a thread of flashbacks describing Red Sonja’s growing relationship with Warrick. To keep her “Oath,” Warrick must defeat her in battle every time he wants some *ahem* affection. The language of their conversation matters as each Sonjas’ oath to their respective god is part of what’s measured as their worthiness to survive the battle. You get the sense Red Sonja’s growing love for Warrick will eventually cause her to go back on her oath, and if so, the violation may play a bigger part in what’s happening.
Eventually, a small group of Sonjas decides to team up and escape rather than fight. Better to live and deal with their oath than die needlessly.
Before the issue concludes, we learn Lacrosse Sonja can’t fly, Hell has an exit, and the Sonjas aren’t where they thought they were.
Final Thoughts
SONJAVERSAL #3, available from Dynamite Comics on April 7th, 2021, is the steam train that keeps picking up speed. High-paced storytelling with kinetic action and “oh, cool!” creative moments make for an entertaining chapter in this arc.
Score: 9/10
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