Red Sonja: Age of Chaos #1: Ascendance is at Hand

Red Sonja confronts the characters of Chaos in this new exciting #1 from Dynamite, bringing together a brutal cast that sure knows how to deliver both violent action and plenty of frights!

Before diving into this issue, I feel obligated to mention that this is somewhat my first real experience with the cast of Chaos characters. I’ve followed the most recent Chastity title but my experience to date is quite limited. Luckily, Red Sonja: Age of Chaos #1 doesn’t care about those limitations at all! This issue is a great primer for the Chaos cast and will have you ready for more.

But this isn’t just a book for Chaos characters. This issue brings the She-Devil with a Sword to the fray for an action-packed and blood soaked story centered around the infamous amulet of Kulan Gath. In the vein of Marvel’s current Savage Avengers run, we see a particularly violent cast of characters thrust into a situation where their confrontation seems imminent but darker forces are certainly gathering. The amulet is setting off a chain reaction of devastation and will unleash a fury that only Red Sonja can go up against, making for one exciting first issue.

The artwork is ultimately how this introductory truly shines though. These characters are visual powerhouses that allow so many great opportunities for the creative talent to shine. While Sakkara definitely steals the spotlight, each of the Chaos characters bring their own unique flair that matches up with Red Sonja’s aesthetic quite well. While there is a lot of lettering utilized, it’s all solid and adds dimension to the story without disturbing the reading process. It’s a chaotic experience (pun fully intended), especially with the stylized panel layouts, but nearly every page is a treat to look at.

Is Red Sonja: Age of Chaos #1 the most riveting and complex story you will read all year? Probably not. But you can immediately determine that this is a story with a purpose and concise direction, and that is it’s true success. This feels like a ride worth taking and the creative team has shown in just one issue that these are characters who can not just share a title together, but do it well.

As a fan of Red Sonja, I am very excited to see how she goes up against this dark and intriguing cast of characters. And as a newcomer to Chaos, I truly enjoy that this series serves as a great primer to fall into their world. It’s well worth the price and with such a magnificent cover, it will make a great addition to anyone’s collection.