Comic Book Review: Red Sonja: Wrath of the Gods #1

Red Sonja: Wrath of the Gods #1

Plot: Luke Lieberman and Ethan Ryker
Script: Luke Lieberman
Art: Walter Geovani
Colors: Vinicius Andrade
Cover: Luccio Parrillo
Letters Simon Bowland
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99

When we think about sword and sorcery comics, we think of Conan the Barbarian, the most known, successful character from sword and sorc comics. Marvel Comics brought him to the medium in 1970 with their classic run, and really, any publisher printing Conan books has success with him. Dark Horse and now Dynamite have reputable runs with the character. Blood drenched sword fights, enchanting sorcery, and thrilling monsters make Sword and Sorcery an easy appeal, but let's face it, all you comic guys know part of the draw is the scantily clad women that inevitably grace the panels.

So it's odd that it took seven years before Red Sonja got her own title. She wasn't as successful with Marvel as Conan was getting only fifteen issues, but Dynamite Entertainment with around fifty issues as well as spin-off titles Queen Sonja and this first issue to a mini-series.

And Walter Geovani makes sure we know part of Sonja's appeal with his beautiful art. Geovani uses many large panels and two splash pages to show off Sonja's form, and we readers are appreciative. But if Marvel taught us anything, it's that hot, metal bikini clad redheads do not guarantee and successful book.

Luckily Lieberman and Ryker provide us with a gripping first issue. A red haired youth named Gamble tells Sonja that her red hair marks her as one of the Budini, a people perpetually cursed as the scapegoats of other peoples. With a shining ruby, he pays Sonja to go to Wodinaz, the home of the Budini. There is trouble there, and they need the help of a powerful fighter...like Sonja.

Lieberman and Ryker keep the mysteries abounding making us desperate for the next issue. Surely Gamble is hiding something. And when Loki appears on the last page, an army of monsters in tow, looking for Gamble, we're trapped. We'll pick up the next issue because we must know what is going on.

And, of coourse, who can pass up that metal bikini?