Red Sonja #6: Offering Beasts of the Ground and the Sky

Sonja the Red makes the decision to take a stand in the ongoing war against the Zamoran Empire invaders, showcasing her acquired wisdom while still never losing focus on her relentless brutality. It’s ultimately an exercise of strategy, emphasizing her new role bestowed by the Hyrkanians. 

The new series kicked off in issue #1 earlier this year by ushering Red Sonja in as the Queen of Hyrkania faced immediately with the threat of war. This is a change of pace for the character, as she finds herself burdened by the responsibility of her people’s seemingly doomed plight. The focus on tactics and maneuvering in warfare has resulted in the series being something of a slow burn, but it’s one that I think is both engaging and satisfying. 

The implications of her role in Hyrkania inherently foster new and interesting dynamics for Sonja the Red as a character, but it’s important to remember to stay true to the core of who she is while undergoing these changes. Luckily, the creative team seems to understand this by paying respect to her journey thus far and using her legacy to propel the story forward. The humor is on point and the bloodshed, though used a bit sparingly, makes a violent impact. It’s effective and feels that isn’t gratuitous simply for the sake of it. 

The pacing of the story might not be striking for everyone, but the artwork certainly will be. The visuals have been superb throughout the series so far, and issue #6 is no exception. All of the character work is expressive and the lettering truly powerful, but the lack of backgrounds in certain panels sometimes feels like a missed opportunity. Sonja is such a fierce badass though! The last panel leaves us with an exciting moment that promises great things to come. 

The story is split between flashbacks to Sonja’s past and the current conflict between Zamora and Hyrkania. The series thus far has smartly used this to provide context for the overarching narrative, but issue #6 really brings everything together. The loss of her mentor Domo sets Sonja on a new path, perfectly segueing into her role as Queen of Hyrkania. As we move into the upcoming Red Sonja: Lord of Fools one-shot and issue #7, it will be interesting to see how she utilizes her experience to lead her people against the Zamoran Empire. 

Overall, Red Sonja #6 is an excellent step forward for the epic story being told. The world building is comprehensive and character developments are compelling, but more importantly, Red Sonja is a complete badass that you just can’t help but root for. Her violent charm drives the series, ultimately making it a must read for longtime fans of the character or anyone with a penchant for dark fantasy.