Red Sonja Volume 1: Queen of Plagues

Going into reading this TPB I really had no idea who or what Red Sonja was. I'd heard the name of course, and I'd seen a lot of the art/covers on various sites around the internet. But I'd never read any of the other comics or seen the movie about her either. I was a Red Sonja newbie going into this, and wow, I think I need to find more.

I mainly decided to read this book because Gail Simone wrote it and I pretty much get around to reading everything that she writes eventually. But her authorship aside, wow it was a great TPB. The art was amazing, the covers were even more amazing, and the story was pretty awesome too.

It's the tale of two different stories basically, the one in the present, where Dimath, a King who was once very, very show more kind to Sonja calls for her help after not seeing her for three years. She gets intertwined in a big ole heap of trouble that involves a plague, and a bunch of people who are called Zamorans (which appear to include both humans and mermen? That threw me off a little bit). And then there's the past where we get to see how Red Sonja was sort of... created. I really liked that part of the story because it wasn't how these Sword and Sorcery heroes usually get created, some big event and --poof they're a hero--. It was a process that was disturbing and interesting and very bloody.

The two stories fit together so perfectly too. The narrative went back and forth between the present and at different times in the past and I never had a problem figuring out where or when I was in the story, and the two stories just complemented each other so well. In the future story I'd be wondering about some detail, and in the next part, there in the back story would be the answer to my question.

Honestly, these last few years I've read quite a few TPBs, good, bad and everything in between, and this is right up there with Lazarus, Vol. 1. It's truly a TPB that can be called a Graphic Novel and not just a 'comic book'.

I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of Dynamite Entertainment and Diamond Book Distributors. show less

This was great. At first I wasn't sure I wanted to give this book a try but knowing that it was written by Gail Simone made up my mind. I am so glad I read it. Sonja is tough, she's uncouth, often drunk. She's a barbarian. But she's also loyal, honorable, and protective.

In this book Sonja is surrounded by women. Women from her past, women she's just met, and women she will mold into the future. And each of these women, like Sonja, has a story.

I truly enjoyed this. I'm a huge fan of the trope of your best friend becoming your worst enemy and I'm also a huge fan of a hero who behaves with honor and compassion.

(Provided by publisher)

I came across this volume while searching for Conan stories and I have to admit that this is one of the better stories in Conan universe.

Red Sonja is called to help a king who saved her life. Strange plague is decimating the people of his kingdom and he needs a fearsome and loyal sword at his side to find out who is behind all of this.

So the adventure starts. We are given glimpses of Red Sonja's youth in Hyrkania and how she became the fearsome She Devil. There are comic elements in the story too, I especially like Sonja's rage when taverns are closed or if there is no more ale to drink.

Art is great and I have nothing but words of high praise for the works that grace the covers of comic series edition (collected in this volume). They show more are just mesmerizing.

I am now on look out for other volumes in this series.

Highly recommended to all fans of the fantasy adventure. show less

I've never been particularly into the barbarians and had been turned off the chicks-in-chainmail overly sexualized look of Red Sonja covers in comic books stores, but I bought some Humble Comics Bundle specifically for this book, as I've liked Gail Simone's other work.

Reading this book brings me back to that time when S decided to carry a dead cat through all of Icewind Dale. She'll know what I mean, maybe most of you won't.

So instead I'll say that I wasn't disappointed. This book features a Red Sonja that makes her strangely reminiscent of my sister: fierce in protecting her friends, determined to see things through to the end, occasionally capricious, and also quite happy to disregard the opinions of others when they're stupid. ;) show more I'd never really thought of the barbarian fighter in this way except when S is playing them.

It's a fun read, both a little subversive and a tribute to the genre. show less

Overall Impression: Surprisingly good. Red Sonja pretty badass, and I want to read more.

Recommended for: Fans of barbarian and action comics. Fans of female heriones

I learned about this graphic novel from Sam Maggs' book The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy. She said that it was pretty awesome, so I decided to take her word for it, and I'm glad I did.

I ended up requesting most of the books and graphic novels that she suggested in the book, but I almost didn't get this one. This isn't normally something I would read, but then I thought, maybe that should be the reason I should get it. It's good to try new things since you never know when you might fall for something.

Basically, Red Sonja is a badass. She's a woman who does her own thing, and show more has no loyalties to anyone but herself and the king who rescued her from the fighting pits. So when he asks for her help to save his people, she answers his call. There, she learns that she must fight a woman that she used to fight alongside in the pits. What follows is an epic tale of war, betrayal, revenge, and redemption.

Red Sonja is an amazing fighter who brings down her foes swiftly, and in great fashion. Sometimes while hungover. It's no secret that Sonja likes her alcohol and at some point exclaims that she wants to "get drunk in legendary fashion". A phrase that I believe I will adopt. She hates dressing in anything but armor and furs, and while her metal bikini number seems a little impractically, she does don some pretty sweet armor for the epic battle near the end.

I couldn't put this graphic novel down and read it all in one sitting. It was so refreshing to read a comic where women took center stage and were the kickass heroes that save the day. Not only does Red Sonja take the leading role in the plot, but the two girls who are appointed as her "bodyguards" gradually come into their own, learning to both fight and lead an army—made up of both women and men—to defeat those that aimed to oppress and kill them. Pretty awesome stuff.

So, if you're looking for a graphic novel/comic that feature women being awesome, and that has a pretty rocking story along with it, this is the series for you. You won't regret it. I know I didn't! show less

Red Sonja Volume 1: Queen of Plagues written by Gail Simone and illustrated by Walter Geovani is, somewhat obviously, the first volume of a new Red Sonja reboot. It contains the first six issues of the ongoing series. Long-time readers of mine will know that I've only gradually started getting into comic books this year, so I do not have a lot of background to go off. I got this comic (and a bunch of others) from the most recent and still-running (for 11 more days, as of writing) Humble Bundle, an excellent deal.

Gail Simone (Batgirl, Birds of Prey) gives the iconic fantasy heroine a fresh new attitude! Red Sonja, the She-Devil with a Sword, intends to pay back a blood debt owed to the one man who has gained her respect... even if it show more means leading a doomed army to their certain deaths! Who is Dark Annisia, and how has this fearsome warrior accomplished what no god nor demon has been able to do: force Sonja to her knees in surrender? An epic tale of blood, lust, and vengeance, Queen of the Plagues takes Red Sonja from the depths of her own grave to the heights of battlefield glory.

This is forms an introduction and origin story for Red Sonja. Not having read about her before — in fact, the main reason I'd even heard about her was thanks to my mother talking about her in the context of Conan the Barbarian books. But I wanted to give it a go because of the female lead character and because I've heard lots of good things about Gail Simone.

The story is split between the "present" and events that happened three years earlier. Sonja's city is threatened by both plague and a supernatural (or, well, non-human) army, and it is her job to defend it. With the help of two teenage body guards. The story is filled out by flashbacks to Sonja's time as a gladiator-type slave three years earlier and to her childhood.

It was an interesting story and I enjoyed learning about Sonja as I turned the pages. I also liked the progression of her clothing. Although the start of each issue had a full-page illustration of the traditional chainmail bikini, and she was wearing aforementioned bikini at the start, she gradually acquires more clothes as the story progresses. By the end she was even in full-body armour, which was exciting. I don't know if it will stick in subsequent issues, but it made me happy. That chainmail bikini is SO incredibly stupid.

Anyway, I highly recommend Red Sonja Volume 1: Queen of Plagues to anyone with a passing interest in the character or barbarian-type stories in general. I'll definitely be getting the second volume when it comes out (later in the year, according to Goodreads).

4 / 5 stars

You can read more of my reviews on my blog. show less

As someone who only knew about Red Sonja through the movie made back in the 80s with Brigitte Nielson, I had a lot to learn about the myths, legends and world of Red Sonja. This graphic novel did an excellent job of acquainting me with that world and giving me enough of a background story that I feel I'd now like to read more of this legendary warrior.

The artwork, penciling, layout and graphics in this book are outstanding. The flow from panel to panel is perfect and the backstories are just enough and done in such a way that they aren't distracting or confusing.

I would highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone who is a fan of sword and sorcery epics, beautiful artwork, or just a rousing good story.