Red Sonja Unchained #1
Story by Peter V. Brett
Pencils by Jack Jadsen
Colors by Marcelo Pinto
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Mel Rubi & Walter Geovani
Edited by Joseph Rybandt
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: February 13, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Red Sonja: Unchained #1 is a different kind of Red Sonja comic than we’ve had in a while. It has many of the classic elements we’ve come to know, love, and expect from a Red Sonja book, but it’s got a little bit more that makes this a great start to this comic series.

I’m not sure where writer Peter V. Brett‘s tale takes place continuity-wise, but it seems like Sonja is a little bit older here. Not as old as say, Queen Sonja, and by no means near the end of her life, but it seems like she’s more experienced about the facts of life and is a little more battle weary and skeptical about life. This is a really entertaining story about Sonja and her falling ass-backwards into a plan to rob a hidden tomb of its riches. But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Half the book is an awesome fight between Sonja and a group of barbarian wanderers that are (naturally) up to no good. Any more story details than that would be spoiling, so I recommend you pick this one up and find out for yourself.

Red Sonja #71
Story by Eric Trautmann
Pencils by Edgar Salazar
Colors by Salvatore Aiala Studios
Letters by Simon Bowland
Cover by Walter Geovani
Edited by Joseph Rybandt
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: November 14, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Red Sonja #71 is a fantastic sword & sorcery comic. It’s got everything you want in a fantasy comic. Sword fights, magic and mystical artifacts, exoctic locations, and, oh yeah, a WICKED hot red head!

Writer Eric Trautmann crafts an interesting story. For 90 percent of the issue, Red Sonja is alone, so most of the story is told through a narrator. That doesn’t hurt the issue by any means, but I think it might have gone better if it was Sonja’s inner monologue instead of generic narration. It’s a great story of her quest in some ice land to take down an evil dragon and get revenge for one of her fallen comrades. The story moves along at a decent pace; most of the issue is a fight between her and the dragon and while it goes on for several pages, it never once drags or gets boring. Trautmann always keeps the pace up and actually gives us some of the history of the villain while the fights taking place. Very interesting storytelling and it ends on a mild cliffhanger that’s a nice touch.

Red Sonja #63
Written by Eric Trautmann
Pencils by Walter Geovani
Colors by Adriano Lucas
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Walter Geovani & Wagner Reis
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: February 22, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

In Red Sonja #64, there is undeniable proof that Sonja actually IS a She-Devil with a Sword. So, that’s settled.

Writer Eric Trautmann sure does his research. Red Sonja, as a character, is SO steeped in her own mythology that at times it must be overwhelming to come up with something brand new that hasn’t been told a million times over. In this issue, he executes his ability to come up with original ideas in spades. I’ve read a LOT of Red Sonja comics, and it’s very nice to have an issue that seems like you haven’t read it somewhere before.

Red Sonja #60
Story by Eric Trautmann
Pencils by Patrick Berkenkotter
Colors by Marcio Freire
Letters by Troy Peteri
Covers by Fabiano Neves, Walter Geovani
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: December 14th, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

5 years of publishing at Dynamite and this book is still going strong! And Red Sonja #60 proves why it’s not going anyplace anytime soon. While not trying to change the world or win an Eisner, this book accomplished what it sets out to do-tell a fun tale of everyone’s favorite She-Devil with a sword!

I was not familiar with writer Eric Trautmann until a couple of weeks ago when I read his FANTASTIC Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #1. And while I’m not a regular Red Sonja reader right now, I’ll be honest, the fact that he wrote it weighed heavily on my choosing to review it. I was NOT disappointed. He brings a certain level of fun-even in a deadly serious comic-to all of his projects and this one is no different. We have in this issue, just what we want out of a Red Sonja comic. Trouble in a small village, band of wandering heroes stumbles into a battle they are not at all prepared for and well…no spoilers here.

Red Sonja #57
Written by Eric Trautmann
Art by Noah Salonga
Colors by Ranier Petter
Letters by Troy Peteri
Covers by Fabiano Neves, Walter Geovani
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: August 31, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

Red Sonja #57 was so action packed it is ridiculous, and I mean that in a good way. Out on an assassination assignment in Koth, she stumbles into a huge plot between members of an elite family and a ruler that may not be all he seems…one of whom she saved, another who she contracted to kill. The beginnings of the cross and double cross are brought to light, but only after Sonja battles a huge stone golem and dozens of men-at-arms.