SAVAGE RED SONJA #2

“Devil in the Sand Part Two”

Writer: Dan Panosian

Artist: Alessio Petillo

Sonja and her companions make it to the castle with the cannibal bandits behind them. Unfortunately, Celia falls into the moat and Sonja can’t save her. Lucian blames Sonja for her death and decides to attack the bandits. Sonja takes shelter in the castle and finds the bedroom for a night’s sleep. She wakes when she hears hissing. She finds the ruby and Lucian in the throne room. Lucian is now a snakelike cannibal bandit. Sonja manages to defeat him by destroying an octopus statue. She takes the ruby and rides off.

This issue was a bit of a disappointment. After the first strong one, this one was a bit confusing. Right away they lose Celia and Lucien is shown as a really weak little baby. He does absolutely nothing to help Sonja and blames her for Celia’s death. Then becomes a snake guy and gets killed by pieces of an octopus statue after Sonja hits it with her sword. The story does still interest me and could turn around next issue.

SAVAGE RED SONJA #1

Devil in the Sand Part One”

Writer: Dan Panosian

Artist: Alessio Petillo

Red Sonja has come to the Red Dun Wastelands in search of the Blood Ruby. It is supposed to be guarded by its former owner the ghost of Mad King Gresh in the old keep. The wastelands are overrun with cannibal bandits and sand squids. Sonja runs into a young couple fleeing these bandits and rescues them. The two are Lucian and his bride Celia. Lucian is the son of King Gresh and has come to reclaim his heritage. The group later is attacked by a giant sand squid and Lucian manages to kill it. They come on the old keep just as a horde of cannibal bandits find them.

This new Sonja story starts out strong. It has an interesting premise with this treasure in some wastelands. Sonja meets two young people also looking for the treasure and they join forces. I am already interested in where this story is going. Panosian is a good writer and has scripted a first-class story.

SHEENA QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE #5

“Fatal Exams”

Writers: Steven E. de Souza & Wes Clark

Artist: Ediano Silva

Sheena and her friend continue to investigate why the mercenaries are digging around the jungle. Researching for the school anniversary they find out that the governor a cruel man was killed by being bitten by something. This leads to them discovering that the governor was hiding the treasure under the school. Also, that the mercenaries are using subliminal broadcasts of this goddess to brainwash the girls at the school to dig up the treasure. Naturally Sheena defeats them and kills the leader.

The ending was very satisfying. Everything was explained and tied out neatly. The only complaint about this issue is it was a bit too heavy with exposition. The writers really needed to cram in the resolution to this story in the last issue. I am glad Dynamite brought back de Souza to write Sheena. He created this original version for comics, and I love the setting of Val Verde. I hope he continues with more down the line.

SHEENA QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE #4

“Fatal Exams”

Writers: Steven E. de Souza & Wes Clark Jr.

Artist: Ediano Silva

Sheena and her friends find the hideout of the group carrying out illegal drilling. It is an abandoned radio station. They successfully attack and take out the mercenaries and fight off a horde of hippos. Sheena still has school and must come up with a presentation for the 400th anniversary of the school’s founding. She also finds out there is a link between the mercenaries and the current goddess online that is brainwashing the girls at school.

Another fun issue filled with action. The hunky horse-riding instructor is leading the mercenaries. The online goddess is linked to a woman from a hundred years ago. I am enjoying this series. The writers give us an interesting story and the artwork is beautiful.

SHEENA QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE #3

“Fatal Exams”

Writers: Wes Clark Jr. & Steven E. de Souza

Artist: Ediano Silva

Sheena attacks a group of mercenaries at the river. She defeats them but still doesn’t get any answers to what they are looking for. Sheena and her roommate are attacked in the school library by a mysterious figure that stole an old journal. Sheena’s friends are attacked and almost killed. Her friend posing as a janitor is arrested as an accomplice in the theft of the journal.

This issue had a lot going on. There was a lot of exposition between different groups in this story. The weird cult is growing among the students. Sheena has made friends with her roommate the daughter of the head of the secret police. A mysterious rich guy has taken a job at the school. I enjoyed this issue. It had many different things going on. It interests me to see where all this is going.

SHEENA QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE #2

“Fatal Exams”

Writers: Wes Clark JR. & Steven E. de Souza

Artist: Ediano Silva

Sheena continues at night to hunt the illegal drilling teams in the Zona Prohibita. She gets ambushed and barely escapes with a shoulder wound. Some student activists investigate the illegal activity, and a professor is killed in a car accident. The others are arrested by the secret policy. Sheena tries to cover up her wound, but her roommate reports her to her secret police father.

This was an interesting issue. A lot of action as Sheena has to battle mercenaries in the jungle with the help of her animal friends. The illegal drillers are getting more aggressive in silencing any opposition. The strange cult taking over the other girls at the school continues to grow. Sheena’s secret identity is also getting threatened by her roommate. De Souza writes a very good story.

SHEENA QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE #1

“Fatal Exams”

Writers: Wes Clark & Steven E. de Souza

Artist: Ediano Silva

Rachel Cardwell or Sheena has been sent to a private boarding school. Her family wants to give her some civilized education. Sheena though doesn’t mind for the school is right next to the Zona Prohibita. She can investigate illegal mining operations going on. Meanwhile her fellow classmates are coming under the control of some online cultist. They get pendants that turn them into some type of zombies.

De Souza the original creator of this version of Sheena returns. He gives us a fun idea of putting Sheena into this elite girl’s school. She is looked on as an outsider and ostracized by the other girls. She also gets as a roommate the daughter of the head of the secret police. She plays dumb to not attract attention to her extracurricular activities. A fun mix of the supernatural with more down to Earth evil guys. Plus some stunningly beautiful artwork.

LEGENDERRY RED SONJA

“Untitled”

Writer: Katana Collins

Artist: Kewber Baal

Red Sonja steals a painting of a naked girl. The girl’s friend hired her to save the woman in question embarrassment from her parents. The girl is very sick, and Sonja finds out that her friends are also sick or already dead. They too posed for the artist. Sonja sees a connection and confronts the artist, Dorian Grey. Sonja finds out he uses a special paint mixed with a poisonous flower. They go to the makers and find out they are robots and Sonja has to destroy them. Only they were working for Grey. He uses the paint to steal the lifeforce of young women to remain young and handsome. Sonja stabs the ugly self-portrait, and this ages Dorian Grey and saves the young women. She tosses the young painting into the sea.

This was a one shot of the series set in a steampunk world. Sonja may be in a Victorian era type world but still Sonja. She is still a warrior and all-around bad ass. I loved this story that included another fictional character. The art was also stunning. I loved this Kewber Baal and look forward to seeing more of his work. In fact, I hope they do more of Legenderry Red Sonja series in the future. A unique and fun universe to explore.

THE INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #10

“The Invincible Red Sonja End”

Writers: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti

Artist: Moritat

Sonja has brought princess Zaria back home. Only the kingdom has been pillaged and most of the subjects killed including the king. This was the work of a fearsome bandit named Blackwing. Sonja and friends go after Blackwing to rescue the queen and other captive women. Sonja requests a meeting with Blackwing which is granted. Sonja stabs him and takes over the horde. She fights the challengers and the rest decide to leave and go home or join Zaria’s kingdom. Zaria and Ederak get married, and Sonja rides off for more adventures.

The ending was a bit of an anticlimax. Sonja had no trouble at all in defeating Blackwing which made for little excitement. The authors of this in an interview stated they wanted to channel Roy Thomas in their writing. It is very debatable if they accomplished this, but I do appreciate the intent. A strange story that meandered all over the place. Yet it was interesting, and I have no regret reading it.

THE INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #9

“The Invincible Red Sonja Nine”

Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner

Artist: Moritat

Sonja is in the arena fighting the monster son of the evil queen. Naturally Sonja wins then chops off the head of the evil queen. Everyone is ecstatic the evil queen is dead, and Sonja finds herself the queen of Capellia. Sonja has no interest in the job and has to find a replacement. She chooses Tuma and the winged warrior reluctantly agrees. Sonja then continues her journey to deliver Princess Zaria and her fiancé back to their kingdom. The ship arrives and finds the kingdom in flames.

This was a sort of laid-back issue. Sonja easily defeats the giant monster and evil queen. Then she becomes queen. After a romantic fling with Tuma, she makes him the new ruler and takes off in a ship to deliver Zaria. Only when they arrive the kingdom is in flames. So, there will be one big last battle before the series ends.