Dynamite Entertainment is poised to give us a new ‘Red Sonja‘ comic and now Mark Russell is sharing how this series will be different from previous outings of the character. We know that Russell is set to work with Mirko Colak to bring the book to life, but the main change here is that we’ll be seeing Sonja lead in a way that isn’t how she would generally deal with problems.
Before we go into the details, here is the official synopsis from the first issue which does shed some light on the subject:
No man knows the place of her birth, nor where she learned to wield a sword to shame many a male. They know only that she is called The She-Devil of The Hyrkanian Steppes. That, and RED SONJA. MARK RUSSELL (The Flintstones) and MIRKO COLAK (Conan) bring a savage tale of metal and blood. A world conqueror possesses a massive army and a fatal prophecy. A bastard sorceress craves revenge. And a fearsome red-haired warrior is made wartime ruler of a homeland set for decimation.
While we do see Red Sonja having to prepare for war, it won’t be the typical battles that we’ve seen her fight in the past. According to the writer:
“My approach to Sonja will be different in that it will be rooted more in actual characters and events in ancient history. That, and as queen, she will be forced to fight more with her mind. Using leadership, strategy, and deception to outflank and defeat her foes, more than her sword and physical strength.”
While the history buffs out there should appreciate that some real-world events might be referenced, it is the new take on Sonja that should be interesting to longtime fans. Having to show her skills as a leader will give Russell the opportunity to flesh out the She-Devil. I doubt this will mean she will be showing more in the way of restraint but it will be fun to see her showing how she is one of the most amazing warriors from this era and how she can inspire others into battle as well.
Are you looking forward to a new take on ‘Red Sonja’? Do you feel that having her as a leader instead of just a warrior will deliver the same intensity and action-packed stories that fans have gotten used to over the years? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
‘Red Sonja’ will be slicing her way back into your local comic shop in February of 2019!
Source: Red Sonja
