With the stakes rising and the threat of open war ever present, can the She-Devil with a Sword successfully prove her warrior mantle while trying to save her people?  Read on to find out.

The official description Dynamite:

Atlantis Ressurected! Even as five armies converge on Emora, Thulsa Doom returns, and brings the Atlantean Empire with him. Sonja must prove her innocence for the string of royal assassinations that occurred during her tournament, and try to bring the armies of the region together to repell the advancing Atlanteans.

Conspiracies abound as royal armies march toward a climactic battle that is instigated by the invisible hand of King Sartor.  The only hope for a fitting resolution to this burgeoning conflict is our scarlet heroine, Red Sonja.  In the end what we have here is something that as a package is an utterly engaging yet satisfying romp that simply oozes with intrigue.

Our protagonist has faced down many threats in her day but as the script by Luke Lieberman illuminates, this may be the most politically emboldened one yet.  The emotion inherent in some very charged scenes belies a concentrated effort and intent to evolve not only the characters but the ongoing series as well, which is surprising considering the root of all this.  There were more than a few moments where the pace slowed due to some rather inconsequential dialogue but overall the author strikes a balance between what is there and what is necessary.

The art by Milton Estevam is superbly executed as he single-handily elevates the narrative to new heights with some simple but lavishly detailed panels.  His character work in particular offers some striking visualizations as our hero comes face to face with loss just as the seeds of vengeance are clearly sown. From the first page to the beautifully realized cliffhanger his pencils do exactly what they need to in order to realize form in these truly chaotic and trying times.

Queen Sonja #33 is a great outing that embodies both the strength of the creative team and the more than worthy history of this storied protagonist. Recommended.

4/5