Written by Gail Simone. Art by Walter Geovani. Coloured by Adriano Lucas. Lettered by Simon Bowland. Published by Dynamite Entertainment.
Did you know a Red Sonja movie hit cinemas this week? Yep, the long-completed movie starring Matilda Lutz has finally seen the light of day. Perhaps you knew that if you’re a Robert E. Howard-head or follow the genre films closely enough. But perhaps you’re also hearing about it for the first time. Maybe Red Sonja is a fresh character to you, or perhaps you’ve seen her around but have not dived into any of her stories. With the movie out, now is the perfect opportunity to dive into the comic book story that inspired it.
Dynamite Entertainment made a splash in 2013 when they signed Gail Simone, best known for her DC Comics work like Wonder Woman and Birds of Prey, to write Red Sonja. While Dynamite published a variety of titles, they were best known for their bad girl comics. Comics featuring sexy women not wearing a whole lot and doing badass things. (For the record, there’s nothing wrong with this kind of comic. However, some don’t have a lot of substance.) With her chainmail bikini, Red Sonja fell within that category. Gail Simone gave the comic a new level of legitimacy through her involvement, with the writer known for her well-rounded and tough heroines.
Queen of Plagues is the first story arc (serialised in Red Sonja (2013 series) #1-6) and the one inspiring the new movie. It begins with Sonja being called back to the city-state by the king, who liberated her from the fighting pits years ago and displayed compassion when no one else would. Here, she will play back a blood debt by training and leading an army against an invading force led by Dark Annisia, Sonja’s sister in the fighting pit. However, not everything goes to plan, with Sonja sinking to her lowest point before rising to the occasion again.
The middle section details Red Sonja’s (revised) origin story through flashback sequences. The result is an amalgamated version of what was previously established, the Conan the Barbarian movie, and unique elements involving Dark Annisia. The elements cohesively mix, making for a more rounded character than the individual pieces would on their own. They inform motivations and relationships in the present, driving the story forward.
Those worried about the chainmail bikini on the cover should be concerned. Queen of Plagues is not a tits n’ ass comic. Simone’s script offers readers a well-rounded depiction of Red Sonja. She’s messy: allowing herself to be easily disgruntled, is a big drinker, and can sometimes be too direct. But at the same time, she has many honourable qualities too. She’s compassionate, willing to go out of her way to help people, and attuned to recognising the good in people. Walter Geonvani’s visual depiction also steers away from the tits n’ ass approach that some artists implement. For much of the story, Red Sonja is dressed in situational-appropriate attire, whether that be battle armour or cold weather gear. Even when she’s in her signature chainmail bikini, Geovani doesn’t compose panels to gratuitously highlight her butt or cleavage, something that some artists can’t help themselves from doing, opting for a storytelling first approach, depicting events on the page as a priority.
Geovani’s art services the comic well. His page layouts are straightforward in the quieter moments, often focusing on wide and stacked panels that push your eye down the page. They change up during the action, with asymmetric and overlapping panels that capture the energy of conflict. (Colour artist Adriano Lucas uses warm red during these scenes, highlighting the heat of battle.) This is where Geovani’s art excels, with additional detail and finer inking. You can tell that he’s having fun with these panels, composing hectic action that’s easy to follow and exciting.
Queen of Plagues is a solid comics for those who want to know more about Red Sonja. Gail Simone and Walter Geovani have created a three-dimensional heroine, both passionate and fierce, that transcends the cheesecake that can be associated with Red Sonja while still being action-packed.
Red Sonja Volume 1: Queen of Plagues can be found at all good comic book shops, online retailers, eBay, and Amazon/Kindle.
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