Review: Red Sonja - Black White Red #1

I am not sure what is going on between DC Comics and Dynamite Entertainment. Take a couple of books for instance; on one hand you have the Project Power stories where the heroes from a multiverse team up then DC have Infinite Frontier where something very similar happens. DC Comics have their Black White and add a color series; now Dynamite hit back with a Red Sonja version of the same idea. Do good things always have to come in pairs?

Red Sonja Black White Red delivers three stories utilising the black and white color scheme with a hint of red. The three stories look to add additional elements to all ready pretty full Sonja universe.

The three stories all offer a different take for Sonja. The first story, written by Mark Russell with art by Bob Q and letters of Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou who also provides letters for the second story, is a fun affair. Taking a light hearted look at the problems of living under the rule of a Sorcerer. It seems that the whole town is living under mass Stockholm Syndrome. The humour in Mark Russell’s writing does appeal to me in a very Monty Python kind of way; after all who doesn’t love dungeon dwellers who don’t want to be set free? Bob Q’s art is as you would expect from a recent Sonja artists. Otsmane-Elhaou’s show his flexibility across this and the second story.

Speaking of which, humour remains the cornerstone for the second story from Amanda Deibert and Cat Staggs. Staggs art here is the difference maker to be honest. Some good ideas are let down by the attempted photo-realism which detracts from actual movement. Things get on track with the final story by Kurt Busiek with art from Benjamin Dewey and letters by Simon Bowland. This feels more like an old school type of affair, which you could expect from Busiek. If anything, Dewy’s art is probably the best of the bunch. The final act tries to build on the story before resulting in the all out action you would come to expect. Bowland has to deal with the most wordy story, but does so well, not letting the verbiage impact the art.

Throughout each story, there are flashes of red, be it blood or Sonja’s famous flame red hair. This gives the book its title and juxtaposition isn styles. I am still massively confused on the reason for the book and its apparent “homage” to the DC model, though it has to be said, it is a better read than the recent Wonder Woman Black & Gold book.

Writing – 4 Stars

Art – 3.5 Stars

Overall – 3.5 Stars

Written by, Mark Russell, Amanda Deibert and Kurt Busiek
Art by; Bob Q, Cat Staggs and Benjamin Dewey
Letters by; Hasssan Otsmane-Elhaou & Simon Bowland
Published by; Dynamite Entertainment

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network