Red Sonja #1
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Walter Geovani
Colors by Adriano Lucas
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Nicola Scott, Amanda Conner, Fiona Staples, Jenny Frison, Colleen Doran and Stephanie Buscema
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: July 17, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Red Sonja #1 is many things. And there’s many things it’s not. I had been tremendously skeptical that after reading hundreds of Red Sonja stories that I wouldn’t be able to be shocked, surprised, or delighted in any way with a new series. But, I’m happy to report that you proved me 100 percent wrong!

When Gail Simone was announced as writer of a new Red Sonja series a few months ago, fandom took note. There heads spun. And, many people smiled. Well, let me assure you that you have every reason to smile! This is a fantastic comic, plain and simple.

First off, Simone gives a much needed shot in the arm, character-wise, to Sonja. She’s not the typical “She-Devil with a sword” here. She’s got a whole new attitude and purpose, one that’s natural and gives a reason as to why she does what she does. The story goes places that I NEVER thought it would, and it goes there very smoothly and logically. Simone manages to put Sonja in some brief fish out of water situations, and it’s a treat to see her in them. She gets some HUGE responsibilities dumped into her lap, and it’s great to see how she handles them. I can honestly say I haven’t enjoyed a Red Sonja comic book this much, in a long time. And that’s meant with no disrespect to the people who have recently worked the book. Dynamite has always had some great creators on it.

Handling art duties is Walter Geovani, who is certainly no stranger to Red Sonja. It’s great to see him on this book, and in my opinion, he’s the perfect choice for it. He’s amazingly detailed without going over the line; he’s a great talent for telling a story and laying out a page; and, my favorite part, he sure knows how to draw some GORGEOUS looking women. But again, even with this he doesn’t go overboard. They’re not anatomically impossible or over the top trashy, they’re just drawn really, really well.

Comic fans, there’s never been a better time! A new number one, a new writer, a new artist, some cover artists that have never worked on the character before…WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?! NOW is the time to jump on this series!!! And I will NOT accept the “I’m not into the Sword & Sorcery genre” excuse. Because, at the end of the day, great writing is great writing, great art is great art, and a great comic is a great comic. And, that’s what this is.