REVIEW: Hyrkania is Starving – Will Khitai Offer Help?

“A NEW STORY ARC BEGINS! Year Two of MARK RUSSELL’s epic tale kicks off here, joined by artist BOB Q (Captain America, Fantastic Four). In this issue: Sonja The Red has won. Now comes the impossible part…”

By BOB FREEMAN – Paint Monk’s Library Writer

While Shadizar relishes in the death of their despotic ruler, Emperor Dragan, Queen Sonja debates with her counsel how Hyrkania is to survive in the wake of their victory. With little food, their only hope is to receive aid from neighboring Khitai. Of course, therein lies a pretty big problem.

As we followed Sonja’s mentorship with the Khitian War Master in flashback over the previous twelve issues, we are now introduced to his fall at the hand of the crown prince, learning that Sonja was framed for the murder of her mentor and of the Emperor, allowing for the prince to assume the throne.

Sonja is the only one who knows the truth, and now, after passing through bandit infested mountains, she ends up on the doorstep of her most hated enemy.

CAPSULE REVIEW: Mark Russell is an excellent storyteller. His plots are politically charged without losing any of the small moments that add respites of levity and, sometimes, tenderness to the narrative. Not an easy task. While he continues to lean into camp, there is still enough meat and bone to satiate your cravings for Hyborian Age adventure. It continues to be superior to Marvel’s current treatments of Conan, unfortunately. Not that I am unhappy for Sonja’s success, but that Conan cannot even compare is a sad state of affairs. Hopefully, Jim Zub will right that ship with his run.

Sonja has a lot going for it. In addition to the competent writing, I really enjoy Dearbhla Kelly’s colors. They’re very moody and enhance Bob Q’s artwork, improving what I feel can be sometimes inconsistent line weight from the illustrator. Who knows, maybe that’s by design?

(Dynamite’s Red Sonja) continues to be superior to Marvel’s current treatments of Conan, unfortunately. Not that I am unhappy for Sonja’s success, but that Conan cannot even compare is a sad state of affairs.

Paint Monk’s Library Writer Bob Freeman (from this review)

The overall package is certainly entertaining enough. While not reaching the brilliance of early Marvel’s treatment, or even that of Walter Giovanni during his run with Gail Simone, the creative team is competently keeping Sonja alive (if not well).

Red Sonja is a solid book. It deserves a wider readership. I would herald the book based on the cover art, and its virtual parade of brilliant variants, alone, but thankfully they’re producing admirable content between the covers, adding to the history of one of comicdom’s best characters.

I honor this book with 7 out of 10 skulls of my enemies. Long may Sonja reign.

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