Action, drama, humor, and booze.
What They Say:
Red Sonja, still recovering from her near-death ordeal, leads a small band of rebels in a stealth war against the invading armada, while the supreme dealer of death Dark Annisia returns to wreak havoc on Sonja’s small band of allies! Blood, lust and vengeance surround Red Sonja as she faces her ultimate foe!
Creators:
Story: Gail Simone
Art: Walter Geovani
Colors: Adriano Lucas
Letters: Simon Bowland
The Review:
Still reeling from the effects of the plague, Red Sonja returns to Patra to take back the city from her former sister-in-arms, Dark Annisia. After the prince fully cures her of the plague, Sonja meets Annisia in the gladiatorial ring where they fought together so many years ago, but a new player enters the stage, and the situation becomes even graver than before.
I’m greatly enjoying Gail Simone’s take on Red Sonja: she’s strong without coming across as a caricature and she has flaws, humor, and a well-rounded personality. Simone is also doing a solid job of building up a supporting cast (I’ll be very sad if Ayla and Nias won’t be around for the second story arc) and an overall mythology behind the character. Under other writers, Sonja can come off as one-dimensional and somewhat abrasive: the sort of character writers might come up with to be a “strong woman” but has nothing underneath to bolster the character so every action and every statement comes off as a declaration of her strength. There’s a different kind of strength underlying Simone’s approach to the character, it’s quieter and subtler and it’s very attractive. There’s something commanding about a person who knows her place in the world. The sense of surety and rightness that runs down to the very core of that person’s being makes her someone you want to know because you want that sense of surety in your own life. That’s the kind of strength that’s been infused within this character and it’s one of the reasons why I’m enjoying this run so much.
There’s also the humor. Simone has a wicked sense of humor (just follow her Twitter account) and it’s fully on display here. Sonja’s love of alcohol and the thousand superlative honorifics that Ayla and Nias bestow on her whenever they address her are just two examples of just how funny this book is. The humor arises from character and it never feels forced or out of place and it does a good job of adding light to what would otherwise be a rather dark book.
The only issue I have with this title so far is with the pacing, and I’m not entirely sure that it even is an issue. Right now I feel like this story could have been wrapped up two issues ago. I’ve been enjoying the title, but I do get a sense that it’s spinning its wheels a little bit. That being said, I do wonder if that sense will disappear once I read the story arc in its entirety. It could be that the monthly schedule is creating a false sense of drag, and even if it is dragging, I’m still enjoying the ride, which is what counts.
In Summary:
Red Sonja 5 is another solid issue in a title that I’m really enjoying. I love Simone’s take on the character and I like the supporting cast she’s building around her. While I do feel right now that the story is dragging a little bit, I’m enjoying the title enough that it’s not really an issue for me as yet. All that really matters is that I’m looking forward to the next issue, which tells me that this creative team is doing something right. Recommended.
Grade: A