Red Sonja – Volume 01 Issue 02

My Rating

“The Demon Of The Maze!”

Trapped in an underground maze filled with magic and monsters, Red Sonja must find her way back to the sewers from which she was kidnapped. Why, oh why, did she choose to come to Venzia? Nothing but trouble has followed the She-Devil with a Sword since her arrival in this wretched port city. Maybe the old man lying on the floor can help? He looks nice. Wait, is he dead?!

Sonja has one chance to escape the evil plans of a deranged sorcerer controlling an ancient, lustful demon. That chance rides on a bag of bones and a mysterious blue pot that sank to the bottom of a port city. But first, she must free herself from a magical prison cell made of crystal mirrors. How does one escape a prison with no bars, no locks, and seemingly no way out? Brute strength and a sharp blade may not be enough to overcome this particular enchantment.

With a mad sorcerer pulling the strings and an unspeakable demon awaiting its prize, time is running short for our red-haired warrior. Can Sonja unravel the mystery of the blue pot and its connection to the bag of bones? Or will the She-Devil with a Sword discover that some prisons are built to hold more than flesh and blood?

Review

We get the best of the best here in issue two of Marvel Comics’ Red Sonja. Roy Thomas and Frank Thorne were a powerhouse when it came to presenting the Hyborian Age. I don’t know if sword-and-sorcery comic books could get much better than this when it was originally released in 1977. The combination of Thomas’ storytelling and Thorne’s magnificent artwork is enough to make any Robert E. Howard enthusiast sit up and take notice.

This second installment throws our favorite red-haired swordswoman into another predicament filled with dark sorcery, ancient demons, and enough supernatural mischief to make even Conan the Barbarian think twice. Trapped beneath the streets of Venzia, Sonja must contend with a deranged sorcerer, a lustful demon, and a magical prison constructed from crystal mirrors. Oh, and let’s not forget that mysterious bag of bones and the blue pot resting somewhere beneath the waters of the port city. What a strange collection of ingredients for a sword-and-sorcery adventure!

The Thorne Effect

Frank Thorne’s artwork is undoubtedly the highlight of this issue. His distinctive illustrations bring an almost theatrical quality to the characters and their surroundings. From the elaborate costumes to the grotesque creatures lurking within the underground labyrinth, every page feels like a journey into a forgotten fantasy world. Thorne had a remarkable talent for presenting Red Sonja as both a beautiful woman and a formidable warrior. His interpretation of the character remains one of my favorites from Marvel’s Bronze Age.

Roy Thomas deserves just as much praise. His ability to weave supernatural threats, unusual characters, and dangerous situations into a single adventure is on full display. The story moves along at an entertaining pace, never allowing Sonja or the reader much time to catch their breath. Furthermore, the combination of humor, danger, and fantasy gives this issue the kind of charm that made Marvel’s sword-and-sorcery titles so enjoyable during the 1970s.

Overall, Red Sonja #2 is another excellent addition to Marvel’s Bronze Age sword-and-sorcery library. While the adventure may not break any new ground, the creative partnership between Roy Thomas and Frank Thorne makes it a pleasure to read. I would gladly spend another twenty pages wandering through the dangerous streets and mysterious underworld of Venzia with these two gentlemen guiding the way.

I give this issue four out of five stars!