Dynamite Entertainment 2017
Written by Amy Chu
Illustrated by Carlos Gomez
Coloured by Mohan
Lettered by Simon Bowland
“Know also, O Prince, that in those selfsame days that Conan the Cimmerian did stalk the Hyborian kingdoms, one of the few swords worthy to cross with his was that of Red Sonja, warrior woman out of majestic Hyrkania. Forced to flee her homeland because she spurned the advances of a king and slew him instead, she rode west across the Turanian Steppes and into the shadowed mists of legendry”
This while it should feel gimmicky is turning into one of the most fascinating adventures Sonja has ever had. I do like that Kulan Gath is the big bad here as he’s a name I recognise the most when it comes to both Sonja and Conan. How he has the power and the wherewithal to do what he’s done to Sonja is something I cannot wait to find out but in the meantime i’m going to enjoy watching her try to figure out this strange world she finds herself in.
It was only a matter of time until Sonja found herself in a bar and one full of men who are shall we say rather robust. I don’t wanna say redneck but the New York equivalent of good ole boys. The right kind of crowd that will try for Sonja and then respect her for her prowess in both drinking and physical ability. Also I do like the way that this segment is used in the story as someone like her will make quite an impact in world of smartphones and tablets.
Also you’ve got to admire the way that Max is able to find her in the knick of time as her enemies have closed in as well. So now the mystery of Kulan Gath deepens even further and his connection to this world becomes deeper. Max himself is another part of the puzzle and one we get to explore a little more of here. The connection is great and interesting and makes me think that this current scheme from Kulan Gath is far more reaching and longer than anyone could have possibly predicted.
I do love the interior artwork here. The attention to detail here is utterly fantastic and the use of page layouts through angles, perspective and the use of backgrounds really bring this to life beautifully. Faces, facial expressions and body language here do wonders for further characterisation as well. Carlos and Mohan really do work extremely well together and the end result is astounding to see.
The way Amy has this story unfold for us is superbly done. The way it’s structured so that the parts where we see the personality shine and then the action all the while we get the mystery surrounding the events work together so well. I’m impressed with her skill at storytelling and the way everything we see here is able to flow and unfold.
There’s a blend of science, sorcery, action and adventure here that I hadn’t expected in this setting. This is definitely one of those stories that will appeal to toa wide array of comics fans.