Something terrible has arisen.
Creative Staff:
Story: John Layman
Art: Fran Strukan
Colors: Valentina Briski
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
Martian conqueror Xi’Zeer has his eye on a bride and has set his sights on Red Sonja! Are those wedding bells I hear in the distance, or is it simply the sickening slicing sound of the She-Devil-With-A-Sword, as it lops off yet another oversized green head of those pesky Martian invaders? The crossover of the century continues!!!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
I only have bad things to say about John Layman after this issue of this series. This has been a fun book with the right kind of weird things to it that remind me of elements of the old Mars Attacks movie while combining with the Red Sonja era nicely. But he goes too far at the end, I say. Too far! And to have Fran Strukan have to bring it to life visually is simply asking too much of a talented artist like this. To make them use their skill for evil, despoiling our view of our title character in a way that should never once enter anyone’s mind. Strukan gets to work with a number of interesting creations across this series so far and we’re reminded strongly that Xi’Zeer is first and foremost a mad scientist. A terrible, terrible, mad scientist.
There’s a lot going on in this issue until we get to that horrific ending and it’s pretty good stuff that that. The recap once again makes clear that Xi’Zeer was sent on this recon mission that turned into conquest to be rid of him and he’s solidified his hold on the castle and surrounding area, turning several of his men into this hulking brutes that can overpower the taller and more physical men of this world. We see that one of the mercenaries that Sonja dealt with before has fallen to Xi’Zeer’s side as well by getting brain augmentations that lets him understand their language, though comprehension of what they’re capable of isn’t there yet. Still, it shows what Xi’Zeer is capable with when it comes to messing with humanity and that leaves you cringing when he talks of marrying Sonja.
For her part, Sonja’s not going down willingly with any of this and finds herself quickly in the catacomb prison with the princess once again. The two are well-paired with the princess definitely being honest at times in a really good way as they figure out how to fight their way out. The princess wants to do right but she’s also smart enough to admit when she’s afraid and that goes a long way with Sonja in honesty. What helps is that Jerak has arrived with Fer’yx to try and break her and the princess out so they get to double their forces nicely. The problem is that she suspects what Fer’yx actually is and she’s incensed after all that she’s seen so far. But we get some good stuff out of Fer’yx in that he’s loyal to the Martian emperor and was changed into this by Xi’Zeer, giving them a Martian ally to try and change the course of things. But Sonja is going to have to deal with another creation first.
In Summary:
This series has been a whole lot of fun from the start and only becomes more so with this installment. I’ll joke about the horror at the end but it’s exactly what this series demanded have happen and it’s going to be a gloriously ugly sequence when it hits its stride later. Layman is having a blast with this it looks like as the humor is good, the action solid, and the bigger plans just right. Pair all that together with great artwork from Strukan and it delivers in spades throughout. Even if Layman should never have let that last page enter his consciousness at all, never mind the page.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 15+
Released By: Dynamite Entertainment (ComiXology | Amazon
Release Date: October 21st, 2020
MSRP: $3.99
