By BOB FREEMAN – Paint Monk’s Library Writer

As a Robert E. Howard fan, Red Sonja is a tough one. Let’s be honest, very little Howard is present in the character, but she does stride the Hyborian Age, which most assuredly is his. Yes, Sonja is inspired by a number of Howard creations, but many a steward has driven the character and made her far more than a reflection of those influences.

Sonja’s stories have been rather uneven over the decades since Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith first brought her to life back in 1973. A lot of writers never quite got a handle on her. Some left a mark on her that has stood the test of time. Besides Thomas, terrific runs from creators like Gail Simone and the legendary Frank Thorne cemented Sonja as a force in comics.

While Red Sonja has never sold quite as well as her male counterpart, she remains a popular character visually. When written well, Sonja is a testament to what can be achieved within the world Howard created outside of a certain Cimmerian.

I would love to see other characters explored within the context of the Hyborian Age, to see it brought even further to life.

Synopsis: Red Sonja (Vol. 5) #2

After a touching moment between father and son, Emperor Dragan of Zamora prepares to lead his massive army against Hyrkania and their newly crowned, red-tressed Queen Sonja, who has just learned that their vaults are empty.

With no coin to fight the invading army, she sends her cousin out to raid merchants for much needed gold, then meets with her war council that includes The Tongue of Fire, a man who earned the position by winning a contest to see who was the most truthful.

Determining where the Emperor would choose to cross the Vilayet Sea, Sonja’s men hamper their bridge building efforts, forcing a meeting between Queen Sonja and Emperor Dragan.

Queen Sonja offers to do battle with Dragan’s army, allowing to either retreat 5 miles and allow her forces to cross, or for her forces to retreat allowing his to cross. Sonja knew he would refuse to retreat. Once his forces were across the narrow sea, Sonja’s cousin could lead his raiders against the baggage train of the Emperor’s army.

Sonja vowed that Hyrkania would no longer be the world’s doormat.

CAPSULE REVIEW: I’m really enjoying this comic, at least from a visual standpoint. It has a solid plot and beautiful artwork. It’s really unfortunate that the script is so alien to my sensibilities. Far too much humor for my tastes, but Mirko Colak will keep me coming back.

On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue a 7 because the script itself is really grating on me. It’s pretty though. The title sells for $3.99 US.

Alba Gu Brath – Bob Freeman (AKA The Occult Detective)