“An all-new series, spinning out of the smash-hit RED SONJA title written by MARK RUSSELL! In order to become queen, Sonja The Red had to defeat an evil emperor. But that emperor had a son. And that son will do ANYTHING to exact his revenge…even if it means embracing horrible magics he does not understand. Don’t miss out on this series that will affect the Sonja series for years to come! By MARK RUSSELL (Red Sonja, Year Of The Villain), BRYCE INGMAN (Edgar Allen Poe’s Snifter Of Terror) and CRAIG ROUSSEAU (The Flash).”

By BOB FREEMAN – Paint Monk’s Library Writer

Calling Red Sonja a “smash hit” is a bit disingenuous. The book is moving about 10,000 copies a month, and that’s with 5 variant covers per issue. It’s a good comic, however, and I wish more people were reading it. And while I didn’t love this spin-off out of the gate, I realize it will affect the main series and so I’ll happily read along to see where they take it.

In a nutshell, Killing Red Sonja is following right on the heels of issue 12 of Mark Russell’s Red Sonja series, where we find the Boy-Emperor Cyril on a quest for vengeance — intent on avenging the death of his father, Emperor Dragan, at the hands of Sonja the Red following the betrayal of Minnas of Aquilonia.

Overall, the story is well-written, if not necessarily to my tastes. While Russell co-plotted the issue, I think it is safe to say that the lion’s share of the writing was left up to Bryce Ingman.

There are a handful of characters, with Cyril taking center stage. He is clearly the most defined, but the cast is well developed, full of diverse, albeit over-the-top, personalities.

The writing and art put one in mind of a child’s story, with primitive illustrations and an almost fairytale-like narrative. Not that this is a bad thing. I have no problem with the stylistic choices at all — except it seems completely out of place in a story about Howard’s Hyborian Age.

There are just too many fantasy elements in this issue as far as I’m concerned. I have always preferred a more grounded approach to the world. Fantastical elements are sure to enter the picture, but they need to be a rare event, not an ever-present component as we find here.

Still, I’m not turned off enough to turn away. Ingman’s pacing is spot on, and words and pictures are positively in sync.

I’d give the first issue of Killing Red Sonja a solid 5 skulls of my enemies. It’s not terrible, but talking pigs and pampered Boy-Kings are not what I’m looking for in my Hyborian Age adventures.