The Pull List – Red Sonja #18
Publisher: Dynamite Comics
Writer: Mark Russell
Art: Bob Q
Colorist: Dearbhla Kelly
Letter: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
In a decisive victory against the Vendhyan army at a supply fortress, Sonja and her army of young Khitai soldiers get a moment to calm themselves. She had once again turned a weakness into a strength to overcome the odds. But her tactics may not stand a chance when a reinforced Vendhyan army returns to retake the fortress. Meanwhile, King Jo’Qhan hears of Sonja’s victory and decides to travel to the fortress to bask in the conquest. The glory of battle sits too long for neither Sonja, Jo’Qhan, and the Vendhyan reinforcements. Everything comes to a head when leadership and lives are at risk.
Sonja was careful to outwit the much larger seasoned Vendhyan squad, but the pressures of being overwhelmed have not diminished. At this point, her victory now causes more of a threat to her soldiers. Things also don’t fair well for the kingdom of Hyrkania either. Food rations are exhausted, leaving the citizens to starve. The once tough and resourceful Hyrkania has been left severely weakened. King Jo’Qhan’s agreement with Sonja was to send food to the kingdom, but it seems his boasting words do not carry weight.
Issue #18 nicely carries the dramatic weight that was set up in previous chapters. There is a great sense of duty and courage in Sonja’s actions, and her gentler side comes out more. King Jo’Qhan nearly reaches the same cocky attitude of Dragan the Magnificent with his easy-to-hate charisma. But unlike Dragan, Jo’Qhan does not have much battle experience and makes for an interesting moment to see how he handles a big leadership role.
The story was a great read with sharp and powerful visual work from the creative team. The series so far has captured the grand epicness of the rise and fall in Sonja’s journey.