REVIEW: Legenderry Red Sonja #2

Writer: Marc Andreyko
Art: Aneke
Cover: Sergio Fernandez Davila
Genre: Steampunk, Action/Adventure
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
ON SALE DATE: March 11

So, you may have noticed that following Convergence, Wonder Woman is getting another customer change. So far that is quite a number of female characters having additions to their wardrobe. Still, I thought, I know one that will always have their classic look. But alas from the cover of this issue, even Sonja has had a visit from the costume police.

This issue starts with a mini origin piece, which in turn will lead to clues to the villain of the story. It seems clear that writer Marc Andreyko is trying to create a story that has links through a number of literary characters. This idea however comes across like a poor man’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Â I don’t have a lot of Andreyko’s work in my personal collection to compare to, but this book is definitely better than the ones I do have. I do like the rapport between Sonja and Lizzie, with this element being one of the few areas where the Sonja I expected to read shows up. Â This then leads straight to my concern that the Sonja in this book, in no way relates to the barbarian warrior you would expect to read.

Art is handled by Aneke, whose style is certainly adequate. There is nothing that distracts the eye and the panel layout helps convey the pace of the story, with the splash page matching the quality of the smaller panels. If there is a criticism, it’s that some of the smaller panels try to show a whole body. With the action scenes, this can lead to pedestrian poses. Whereas, putting the torso at an angle can still show movement and allow focus on the principle character in the panel.

I have mentioned my love of the Elseworld series before and I understand that steampunk is a big fan favourite at theÂ moment. For Sonja to succeed in circumnavigating the uncharted waters of her pirate steampunk world, she has to, in essence, still remain true to her Robert Howard self.

As it is, based on this issue, this Sonja is lacking in that department. The book is a ok read, but seems that the tag of “Red Sonja” has been added because she happens to be a red haired pirate in a chain mail bikini top.Â

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

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