Review - RED SONJA VOL. 1: QUEEN OF PLAGUES 

Review by Paul Fiander
Gail Simone (w) 
Walter Geovani (a) 
Jenny Frison (c)
For a Spoiler laden preview to this issue you can follow this link.
I have already looked at an issue from this trade. It was Issue five and it made an impression on me mostly because of the way Gail Simone handled the character of Red Sonja. So I waited till the trade to come out to give me a chance to complete this initial arc. I enjoy single issues of comics but do generally prefer trade editions for the cohesive nature of the format and the usually intriguing bonus material.

This edition has a great selection at your fingertips from the varied covers that you cannot always find in your local comic book store to a breakdown of the new characters introduced in this arc. Obviously I will not cover all of the new characters as they will end up acting as spoilers, but I will say Dark Annisia is a great addition to the plot and her duality with Sonja is a real treat as the story gets deeper.

There is also a chance to look at Simone’s original script. It’s a chance to look into a very talented writer’s creative experience. The way things are planned and created can be shown in teaching books but this is an actual script that did its job by getting its writer a job. If you are an aspiring writer or just someone with an interest in the creative process take a look at the bonus material you will not be disappointed.

Now for the story which revolves around the core principle of Vengeance and what some will go through to pay a debt owed. The timeline in the story takes place over a three year gap. The past is drawn (by Walter Geovani) & coloured (by Adriano Lucas) with a washed out feel very reminiscent of older comics. It allows you an easy visual cue as to the time the story is playing out. As for the present time its bold and beautiful in its artwork. Sonja is drawn with an aura of power, her fight scenes are filled with fluidity and brutality and these seem perfectly at home where the She Devil with a sword is concerned.

To balance out the aggressive nature of large chunks of the story Simone adds the odd touches of humour and tenderness. The balance does fall to the Barbarian nature of our subject and the brutality of the world but these moments give the story more depth and are a welcome addition in the panels where they occur.

I’m glad I went back to the beginning of the story and I would recommend new comers to do the same. The story and art are top notch will hopefully satisfy everyone with a desire to read the continuing story of Red Sonja. It seems in Gail Simone Red Sonja has found a wonder storyteller who can give her the stories a character of her stature deserves.

This volume is available on ComicsFix find out more here

For a different take on Sonja read the books below.

Red Sonja Berserker (One Shot)


Nancy A Collins takes on the writing in this One Shot. Its a great story with a familiar feel to it.
Lil Sonja

Is a wonderful take on the Sonja story with a twist of all ages gags.
Images courtesy of Dynamite Comics
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