SONJAVERSAL #6 – Review

In SONJAVERSAL #6, available from Dynamite Comics on July 28th, 2021, Sonja Noir is on the trail of a gangster who shouldn’t be alive. As the mystery of his resurrection unfolds, Hell Sonja steps in to make a suspicious offer.

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The Details

• Written By: Christopher Hastings
• Art By: Pasquale Qualano
• Colors By: Kike J. Diaz
• Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
• Cover Art By: Lucio Parrillo
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: July 28, 2021

Was It Good?

To be frank, I didn’t realize this series was continuing since the first arc wrapped with a definitive conclusion. However, Dynamite is doing something very smart here. They’ve established a multiverse with unique “variants” (sorry, Marvel) of Red Sonja that embody a different genre of storytelling.

Having Sonja variants battling each other in Hell was a neat idea. Now, we get to learn more about each variant and have a little fun with their individual stories. I like the concept, and I like the execution of this story.

Technically, this is not a Red Sonja story, but that’s okay. What we got here is a lot of creative freedom to try out some new things. In this issue, we get gangsters and gumshoes with a little bit of magic and a hint that a bigger story is happening.

As for the art, Qualano turns in some beautiful pages. The characters are fluid in their movements and the camera angles are always engaging.

The one minor down on the art is the coloring. It’s not bad but it’s very muted, using very soft, almost pastel, color palettes. The net result is beautiful linework made bland, and I’d like to see more pop and vibrancy with the color choices going forward.

The broader concept of exploring the multiverse of Sonjas is a sound one, the specific story in this issue plays off well, and the art is gorgeous if a bit tame in color.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

After the conclusion of the Battle Royale in the last issue (read our SONJAVERSAL #5 review to find out what happened), all the Sonjas returned to their respective Earths. Their powers are intact, their oaths and allegiances to their respective gods are no more.

Now, we catch up with Sonja Noir as a former cop turned private eye. She takes unsavory jobs to make ends meet, and that means frequently crossing paths with unsavory characters.

Facing some trouble in paying her rent, she agrees to track down a low-level gangster, Pickles Zimora, who shouldn’t be alive. Pickles, as it turns out, was one of the denizens of Hell who escaped during the Sonjaversal Battle Royale in the last arc. Sonja Noir has to find Pickles and collect the bounty to repay her gangster/evil wizard landlord or face a fate worse than simple eviction.

With few clues, fewer options, and a ticking clock, Sonja Noir begins her own manhunt when another Sonja arrives to lend a helping hand. The cover should be a tipoff as to which Sonja arrives, and it spells bigger trouble down the road.

Final Thoughts

SONJAVERSAL #6 is a smart, creative way to take an existing character and open up a whole new realm of stories that wouldn’t be possible without the multiverse concept. The writing and art are both strong, and the tease of something bigger happening is exciting.

Score: 9/10