I was torn apart in the debut issue of the new series Sonja Reborn. This takes place in one of the multiverse alternative universes of Dynamite. I admire dynamite who wants to do something different to Red Sonja, but Christopher’s Priest and Alessandro Miracolo’s Sonjariborn #1 is a rocky start and introduces Margaret (Maggie) Sutherland.
The two face off against the guts of the New York City subway, leading to Maggie taking Alice into Akirine, one of the most civilized kingdoms in the world of Robert E. Howard’s sword and magic. Yes, Maggie is now in Red Sonja, wearing her trademark chainmail bikini style outfit (please someone put her in real fighting gear?), deep red hair and flesh sword, and she needs to quickly adjust to this new land.
Maybe this version of Sonja will grow up to me, but it seems like it’s more suitable for the series with a spoiled upper class woman from the 21st century and a red story and one-shot story. This concept of “Strangers in Strange Land” is a rich foundation for comedy, and here we get some interesting situations, but should Sonja be a comedy character?
dynamite
What I’ve always loved about Sonja is her intensity, her harsh anti-hero flavour. She loves money in combat, but more than anything, she loves justice and dignity. She was willing to decline a big payment if it meant giving up her dignity. Well, here we are groping Songja falling off the horse. This Sonja is no longer a powerful Amazonian warrior, but Gilda Radner from Chainmail. It’s like reading a strange smart style take on a wild warrior.
As the series progresses, she is a warrior and I’m sure she will grow into the tragedy of Hyboria, but it all seems very unnecessary.
There is a much better way that Sonja could have been modified. For example, they may have made her a magician instead of the wild man who swings his sword and explored what the spellcasting Sonja looked like. Will she embrace dark magic? Will she still be fully involved in murder when the magic of murder sacrifices a part of her soul? Christopher’s priest is a great writer and I love his work with Vampirella. He took the bland overdone character, made her his own, revitalised her, made her interesting again. Redsonja, but? Not that much.
On the positive side, Alessandro Miracolo’s art is dynamic and cartoon-inspired, and fits well with the tone of the comic book. It will be interesting to see how the inevitable battle scenes will be handled as the series progresses, and this version of Sonja (hopefully) will hit her path with future issues.
“Sonja Reborn” #1 is about to reinvent a tough anti-hero
Sonja Reborn #1
Sonja Reborn #1 falls into introducing a new version of Red Sonja, which leans heavily towards the concept of “strange land strangers.”
Alessandro Miracolo’s art fits perfectly with the comical circumstances of the book as a whole.
At least in this first issue, it seems that not only is a corrupt upper class woman from modern times become Red Sonja.
It’s strange to see this version of Sonja groping. Sonja should not be a comedic character.
