I'm a sucker for a fish-out-of-water story and who better than the she-devil herself, Red Sonja, as that feisty fish. This current run of our favorite Hyrkanian warrior who ends up in the present day is fast, fun, and furious.
Red Sonja #7
writer: Amy Chu
artist: Carlos Gomez
colorist: Mohan
covers: Mike McKone (a), Ben Caldwell (b), Tyler Kirkham (c), Cosplay Photo Variant (d)
subscription cover: Mel Rubi (e)
incentive covers: Cosplay Photo (“virgin art”), Mike McKone (B/W art), Mel Rubi (B/W art)
Order the cover of your choice!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+
Score: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Traveling cross country with Holly and Spike seeking the assistance of a Stanford professor who might be able to help her get back to her time period, Sonja finds some trouble during a rest stop. I don't care about buddy road trip tropes when Red Sonja is involved. Her observations about our world and her inability to adapt fully to our norms are comic book gold as far as I'm concerned. Amy Chu writes an amusing script ripe with natural humor and plenty of butt-kicking action. You can't contain Sonja for long and Chu makes sure trouble finds her in the most Sonja-way possible, in a bar.
Whether it's Crocodile Dundee, Coming to America, Splash or even Hercules in New York, the theme of a person entering an entirely foreign environment causing a major culture clash is as old as movies themselves and as common in comics. Seeing Sonja navigate present day is expectedly amusing as she comes across all our modern technology but she remains true to herself above all and that's why we love her. She remains a fan favorite because there's nothing phony about her. She wants to drink and brawl and that's just what she does. But she also has a clear sense of justice and that is clearly displayed as she encounters a rowdy bunch of bikers, a tavern owner in mourning, and stumbles across a cartel drug ring. This little rest stop turns into a full blown side adventure.
Carlos Gomez does some wonderful layouts with great pacing and perspectives. The sight of Sonja on a motorcycle is kind of mind blowing. Gomez injects each panel with plenty of detail from the bar to the hotel rooms and his character designs for the women isn't cheesecake as others have noted. He makes them more athletic, muscular without sexualizing them. And we see a lot of different women outside of Sonja and her friends like when Max awakes in the Hyborian Age and he's surrounded by Hyrkanian women. Mohan's colors are bright and rich infusing the scenes with appealing visuals.
'Red Sonja' is a complete joy to read especially for fans of the she-devil. Chu, Gomez, Mohan don't disappoint with a rousing chapter that should not be missed.
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