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Wednesday, April 2, 2025
#IReadsYou Review: LORD OF THE JUNGE Volume 3 #5
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
#IReadsYou Review: DREAMOVER Original Graphic Novel
Thursday, March 27, 2025
#IReadsYou Review: THE MAGIC ORDER 4 #6
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
#IReadsYou Review: SUPERGUY #1
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #131
Thursday, March 20, 2025
#IReadsYou Manga Review: "TOMIE Complete Deluxe Edition"
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
#IReadsYou Movie Review: HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
#IReadsYou Review: GEEK-GIRL #15
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
#IReadsYou Review: SPACE GHOST #3
Saturday, March 1, 2025
#IReadsYou Movie Review: HELLBOY 2004
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
#IReadsYou Review: RED SONJA Black White Red #4
RED SONJA BLACK WHITE RED #4
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
STORY: Sanya Anwar; Phillip Kennedy Johnson; Chuck Brown
ART: Sanya Anwar; Steve Beach; Drew Moss
COLORS: Kike J. Diaz; Steve Beach; Drew Moss
LETTERS: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Lucio Parrillo
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Cat Staggs; Jae Lee; Lucio Parrillo; Rachel Hollon (cosplay)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2021)
Rated Teen+
Based on the characters and stories created by Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Robert E. Howard
Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated: February 1973) saw the debut of a high fantasy, sword and sorcery heroine, Red Sonja. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith, Red Sonja was loosely based on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a female character that appeared in the 1934 short story, “The Shadow of the Vulture,” written by Robert E. Howard (1906-1936), the creator of the character, Conan the Cimmerian.
In 2005, Dynamite Entertainment began publishing comic books featuring differing versions of the character. One of those is Red Sonja Black White and Red, an anthology comic book featuring stories from well known comic book writers and artists, with the art presented in black, white, and red.
Red Sonja Black White and Red #4 is comprised of three stories. The first is “The Iron Maiden,” and it is written and drawn by Sanya Anwar; colored by Kike J. Diaz; and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elahou. The second story is “The Iron Queen,” and it is written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson; drawn by Steve Beach; and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elahou. The third story is “Cold Monger,” and it is written by Chuck Brown; drawn by Drew Moss; and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elahou. I'll review each story separately.
THE LOWDOWN: Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department recently began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. One of them is Red Sonja Black White and Red #4, which is the third issue of the title that I have read.
“The Iron Maiden” by Sanya Anwar, Kike J. Diaz, and Hassan Otsmane-Elahou:
After being grievously injured, Sonja of Hyrkania passes out. When she awakens, she is under the care of Oenila, and two more different women there couldn't be. However, when Sonja later tries to save Oenila, she learns that a women can be a warrior on a different kind of battlefield.
“The Iron Maiden” is a nice story, but I think it doesn't show its power until the very end. I do like that the story shows that every woman does not have to be a she-devil with a sword in order to be brave in a struggle that she must face.
“The Iron Queen” by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Steve Beach, and Hassan Otsmane-Elahou:
This a tale of Red Sonja's past and present, one that finds her aged and waiting for the opportunity to be great again. It takes a young woman who idolizes her to remind the She-Devil that she was and still is a she-devil.
The art for “The Iron Queen” by Steve Beach is beautiful, and has a quality that recalls the “ink-wash” art that could be found in Savage Sword of Conan, the old Marvel Conan comics magazine. Johnson's story is nice, but I'm sure that I have read something just like it in the past.
“Cold Monger” by Chuck Brown, Drew Moss, and Hassan Otsmane-Elahou:
Red Sonja meets a stranger in a strange, cold land. He tells her of King Ole VII, “the Cold Monger,” who uses magic to keep the land frozen and him in control of fire. Can the hot-blooded She-Devil with a Sword melt down the Cold Monger's rule?
I like “Cold Monger.” It's like a fairy tale with Red Sonja as the unnamed hero who passes through a land, staying only long enough to depose a despot.
It is not hard for me to pick a favorite story of the three offered in Red Sonja Black White and Red #4. “Cold Monger” by Chuck Brown, Drew Moss, and Hassan Otsmane-Elahou really stands out in this issue, which I must admit that I find to be the weakest issue of this series that I have read, thus far.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Red Sonja will want to try Red Sonja Black White and Red.
B
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
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The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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Thursday, February 20, 2025
#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You #130
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
#IReadsYou Movie Review: VENOM: THE LAST DANCE
Friday, February 14, 2025
#IReadsYou Movie Review: CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
#IReadsYou Review: SAVAGE TALES #1
SAVAGE TALES #1 ONE-SHOT (2022)
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
STORY: Scott Bryan Wilson; David Avallone
ART: Mariano Benitez Chapo; Will Rios; Al Barrionuevo; Hamish Munro-Cook
COLORS: Adrian Woolnough; Dinei Ribero; Jordi Escuin Llorach
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito
COVER: Arthur Suydam
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Liam Sharp; Rafael Kayanan; Arthur Suydam
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (June 2022)
Rated Teen+
Savage Tales is the title of an anthology comic book series that has been used by both Dynamite Entertainment and Marvel Comics (twice). Dynamite recently brought its version back as a one-shot comic book.
Savage Tales #1 One-Shot contains four short stories. The first is a Vampirella tale entitled, “Horrible People Doing Horrible Things To Horrible People,” and is written by Scott Brian Wilson; drawn by Mariano Benitez Chapo; and colored by Adrian Woolnough. Next, is an Allan Quatermain tale, “Missionaries of Madness,” written by David Avallone; drawn by Will Rio; and colored by Dinei Ribero. The third is a Red Sonja story, “The Executioner's Sword,” written by Scott Brian Wilson; drawn by Al Barrionuevo; and colored by Jordi Escuin Llorach.
The final entry is a Captain Gullivar Jones story, “His War,” written by David Avallone; drawn by Hamish Munro-Cook; and colored by Dinei Ribero. All four stories are lettered by Taylor Esposito. I'll review each story separately.
THE LOWDOWN: Since July 2021, the marketing department at Dynamite Entertainment has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. One of them is Savage Tales #1 One-Shot, which is the first time I have read a Dynamite Savage Tales comic book.
“Horrible People Doing Horrible Things To Horrible People” by Scott Brian Wilson, Mariano Benitez Chapo, Adrian Woolnough, and Taylor Esposito:
Enjoying a drink in a bar, Vampirella meets an interesting fellow drinker who has interesting things to say about horrible people doing horrible thinks to other horrible people. At least, he thinks its interesting. Now, Vampirella is about to hand out a lesson in morality.
I Reads You says: I don't really remember any Vampirella tales from back in the Warren Publications days. Maybe, I need to buy some back issues. Anyway, this excellent tale by Scott Brian Wilson apparently recalls the good old days of Vampirella. The comeuppance Vampirella delivers does remind me of the fate of characters in the few original Warren comics short stories that I have read. Wilson offers enough brutality to make a reader feel pity for a man who likely does not deserve any, which I think makes this tale a winner. Mariano Benitez Chapo's smooth art gives the story a sense of impact; he makes the punishment mean something.
“Allan Quatermain and the Missionaries of Madness” by David Avallone, Will Rio, Dinei Ribero, and Taylor Esposito:
It is Durban, Africa, year 1883. The legendary big game hunter, Allan Quatermain, has come across a massacred village, and he knows who the culprits are. They call themselves “Servants of the Great Old Ones,” but they don't know that they are Quatermain's latest big game. Will his search for these “murderous missionaries, however, lead Quatermain to his own doom?
I Reads You says: Of course, Allan Quatermain is author H. Rider Haggard's (1856-1925) fictional big game hunter. Writer David Avallone's idea of bringing Quatermain into the realm of H.P. Lovecraft's domain is actually a good one, and I hope to see more. Will Rio's art and storytelling make “Missionaries of Madness” seem more like a Western than an African-set tale. This is also a welcomed bit of newness.
“The Executioner's Sword” by Scott Brian Wilson, Al Barrionuevo, Jordi Escuin Llorach, and Taylor Esposito:
Upon passing through a village, Red Sonja discovers that the local executioner has a very special sword which he uses to kill the condemned. But which, the executioner or his weapon, is cursed with an insatiable hunger?
I Reads You says: It is easy to create a good Red Sonja comics short story because the character is so special and has existed for so long that these stories practically write themselves. It is not easy to create a great Red Sonja comics short story; I know this because I have read enough to know. On writer Scott Brian Wilson's part, “The Executioner's Sword” is great story and an excellent piece of story craftsmanship in forging a morality tale in which the “She-Devil with a Sword” seems merciful and just rather than vengeful – which she often is.
Al Barrioneuvo's moody art conveys the sense of malaise and doom that hangs over the village in which the story is set. Barrioneuvo pulls off a rarity. He creates a Red Sonja who is different in spirit from every other Sonja, and that is something, indeed.
“His War” by David Avallone, Hamish Munro-Cook, Dinei Ribero, and Taylor Esposito:
Once upon a time, Captain Gullivar Jones was swashbuckling his way across Mars. Now, he is back on Earth and in the pit of the Great War (World War I). Is this return to Earth Gullivar's new beginning, and is it something he really wants?
I Reads You says: Captain Gullivar Jones is the science fiction military man created by Edwin Lester Arnold (1857-1935). By bringing Jones back to Earth to fight humanity's war, writer David Avallone creates the idea that his lead character needs healing and redemption. Beyond that, I can't say much. “His War” is more like a taste of a larger work, and this taste makes me think that the story could work as a graphic novel, prose novel, or even as an intriguing screenplay. Hamish Munro-Cook's art and graphical storytelling thoroughly sells the idea of man now grounded from his former fantastic realities.
If I have to reluctantly pick a favorite comics story in Savage Tales #1 One-Shot, it is a difficult choice. I think I will go with “The Executioner's Sword,” which is the most genuinely emotional and, dare I say it, human story of this publication.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of anthology comic books will want to read Savage Tales #1 One-Shot.
[This comic book includes “Dynamite Dispatch” July 2022, which features an interview with writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson about his new James Bond comic book series.]
A
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment
The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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