Review - Legenderry: Red Sonja #1 (@DynamiteComics)

"Boom."

Red Sonja is someone you want on your side and not someone you want to go up against. She has a way of running through opponents with an almost reckless abandon and that's no different despite the setting. In Legenderry: Red Sonja #1 from Dynamite Comics, the setting is new, but the outcome is the same. The issue is written by Marc Andreyko, illustrated by Igor Lima, colored by Adriano Augusto and lettered by Thomas Napolitano.

After sailing the high seas, Red Sonja returns to the Big City for some R&R, but when she tries to stop a simple kidnapping, she discovers that things ain't so simple! Red finds herself caught up in an adventure that will take her from the city to the sea to---- well, you'll find out! And who is that mysterious figure lurking in the shadows? All, well, some anyway, will be revealed in a story that had to be called "The Body Electric"!

What's immediately apparent in Legenderry: Red Sonja #1 is how Andreyko essentially introduces the reader to Red Sonja all over again. That's not a bad thing per se, but a little more than half the issue is Red Sonja on the run from brigands whom she beat in cards with some inner monologue peppered in for good measure. A lot of the dialogue throughout the issue really just letting the reader know more about Red Sonja herself--almost at the expense of moving the story forward much in the first issue. Andreyko gets to the meat of the series towards the end of the issue with the introduction of a new character (and the story's likely accelerant) while still maintaining the look and feel of the Legenderry series. The supporting cast are pretty solid all-around and Andreyko leans on them for further embellishing the world of the series.

Lima's artwork is very bombastic in many ways. His linework is very well-defined, emphasizing the details in the physique and facial expressions of Red Sonja in particular, but also giving the reader some rather unsavory looking criminals for her to win games against. The action-sequences in the book are well-rendered, with Lima infusing the book with an appropriate level of kinetic activity befitting of a warrior who's as capable in combat as Red Sonja is. The panels are arranged quite neatly with empty gutters further allowing the artwork to stand out well and carry the story along. Augusto's colors are very bold, especially the shock red of Red Sonja's mane that always brightens up the page.

Legenderry: Red Sonja #1 is an interesting twist on the character and her mythos in that it places her in a somewhat anachronistic setting. Red Sonja is no less dangerous though and that ability to win in just about every scenario ensures she's always one step ahead. Andreyko's script shows respect for the character and her traits, giving her a new challenge that requires her to be smarter to solve as opposed to just a warrior. Lima's artwork is a great fit for the tone of the book as well in that it blends together some more traditional elements of Red Sonja with the steampunk setting of the Legenderry setting. Legenderry: Red Sonja #1 is a lot of fun while also paying homage to the character.

Legenderry: Red Sonja #1 is available now.