Review: Red Sonja #19

Amy Chu, Erik Burnham, and Carlos Gomez“s version of Red Sonja (Dynamite Comics) is the most grounded ”“ and maybe the most believable ”“ iteration of the character in its long, but marginal history. For Chu and company, Red Sonja is a heroine in her own right and in issue number 19, the titular character“s autonomy, particularly her voice and the importance of her word, are central to this transitional moment in the narrative arc of the ongoing series.

Most of this issue centers on the dialogic interface between Sonja, Lera and Taya as they figure out how best to advance their quest now that they have arrived at Cimmeria. Cimmeria is the place most often associated with Conan, who remains in absentia for this story. Lera and Taya are Red Sonja“s companions and accomplices but they both seem to be keeping bits of information from their fearless alpha-female leader. Although they may each have their reasons for withholding info from Red Sonja, the heroine“s quick temper and her act first, ask-questions-later approach to life are reason enough for them to stay on guard about everything they say and do in her presence.

Although not too much of the plot unfolds in Red Sonja #19, Chu and Burnham“s dialogue is completely engaging and Gomez“s art work maintains the legacy of Red Sonja visuals without going over the top in depicting women“s bodies on the page. The combination of strong story and powerful art make this iteration of Red Sonja effortlessly credible and all the more appealing. When the followers of Kulan Gath ”“ a death cult — catch up to the travelers in the midst of their journey in Cimmeria, the shift from quest/investigation to full on battle is seamless and startling all at once.

Red Sonja is a comic book character than has, for much of its existence, traded on the characters visual appeal in order to engage readers (and viewers). Chu, Burnham, and Gomez completely acknowledge this history ”“ and pay homage to it in fact. But what ends up being more intriguing about this series is that the storyline is quest-based, with all of the narrative magic of a good RPG. Red Sonja is the star of her own comic. Newer fans will wonder at her prowess and her exploits as this world“s greatest warrior. And for older fans of the character, will appreciate some sense that Sonja has finally shed her auxiliary character status. Dynamite“s Red Sonja represents a moment of triumph for this genre of comics and for a series that features one of the most interesting heroines in any comic book universe. 4/5!

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(W) Amy Chu, Erik Burnham (A) Carlos E. Gomez (CA) Sean Chen