Having said goodbye to her friends, Red Sonja is now traveling through some nasty weather, intent on killing a wizard who has been terrorizing the local villagers. Unfortunately, this wizard is every bit as powerful as he claims to be and sticks her with a nasty curse.
Simone confronts Red Sonja with several different kinds of battle in this issue, and, to make things more interesting, she cooks up an unusual and nasty curse for the Hyrkanian, one I have never seen before, and that a swordswoman is going to find very difficult. Red Sonja narrates this adventure in her distinctive voice, claiming that she is “Certainly, undeniably, not surly!” as she hikes through the downpour, and who reminisces about previous adventures and friends; she is not, truly, a loner on these adventures and indeed picks up another companion to play off of in this issue.
Geovani allows the warrior woman to get bedraggled in some of the images, and, though her clothing at the beginning remains tight-fitting, it is nevertheless mostly suited to the kind of hike she proposes; the top may be questionable, but she has good, sturdy pants on and her boots are even practical flats that look like they would give traction on slippery mountain sides. He also knows how to highlight her face when she is furious, and to reflect her mood in her full pose. Lucas’s lettering is also worth mentioning here as it gives Sonja’s voice its tone, highlighting her moods. The choice to scatter many of the initial comments in smaller blocks also gives the speech rhythm and emphasis.
Interested in curses and their consequences? Pick up Red Sonja #13. The book is also recommended to those who like strong-willed, grumpy, flawed warrior women.
Red Sonja #13 is available November 2, 2014 from Dynamite Comics.
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Walter Geovani
Colors: Adriano Lucas
Letters: Simon Bowland
Covers: Jenny Frison, Renade De Liz, Stephanie Buscema
