Graphic Novel Review - Red Sonja Volume 1: Queen of Plagues

Name - Red Sonja Volume 1: Queen of Plagues
Published by - Dynamite Entertainment
Writer - Gail Simone
Artist - Walter Geovanni

Even before starting this graphic novel I knew reading about a red haired bikini clad warrior would be fun, but I didn't know it would be this fun and fun for all the other reasons except the obvious ones. This book is a very well done sword and sorcery story with enough humor, emotion and action to fill a complete novel. And with awesome drawing and coloring to boot.

On its core this first volume by Gail Simone has a simple story. Trying to give back to someone, for a favor that they have over you. It starts with a war and we see Sonja freed from a slave pit by a kind king, then the story jumps 3 years ahead when this same king asks her for help to save his people. And a story of loyalty and revenge ensues. In between there is thrown in nice action and quality humor as well as a emotional background of fighting a villain with whom Red Sonja shares a past, who is almost a sister to her.

Gail writes a killer Sonja, you gotta love her attitude, this is a woman who drinks like a bad-ass, swears like a lunatic and fights like a madman on steroids. And to boost is the fact that she doesn't give a crap about what others think of her. We learn a story of emotional consequences cause we find not one but two characters to whom Sonja kneels in the story and we find the reasons behind this. Writer also throws in a somewhat re-imagined origin story in between the plot, which once again shows her unique style. The other characters including the villain were given fair treatment in case of the writer's imagination but really none even compares to Sonja on a level of bad-assery (although some did try quite admirably).

The drawing was quite spectacular and really conveys so many emotions and adds to the over all experience quite a lot. The artist does the story justice. The variant covers were nice additions too.
But to be honest the story is the driving force here despite everything else done right.

A nice story in the end. I will definitely be checking out the next volume just to see what Gail Simone has to offer for us next with this new and improved Red Sonja.

4 out of 5 stars.