The She-Devil with a Sword takes on a kingdom of jade, but is this an adventure worth your time and money?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

Khitai, the kingdom of jade. A land of rigid honor codes, and fanatical warriors loyal to their god-emperor. Where better for Red Sonja to ply her trade than a nation of master swordsmen?

The latest romp for Red Sonja, carries a rather stereotypical story but still manages to promote this heroine’s growing reputation.  Her journeys have taken her far, but after last month’s issue Sonja and her companions have arrived in a kingdom ripe with struggle.  Depending on which side they choose to back, this nation will surely enter into either a time of peace or one devastated by tyrannical rule.

Eric Trautmann delivers a wordy but solid script that makes use of all the tools necessary to make a decent adventure story.  Though some of the elements are tropes that have been used in other similar narratives, the series writer finds a way to keep his tale engaging enough that even when the issue reaches a rather predictable climax, readers will more than likely not feel cheated.  There is also an overuse of narration, that offers-up unnecessary facts and details that could either be gleamed from dialogue or thrown away altogether.

Marcio Abreu offers thick pencil strokes that render some very nice panels but lack a consistent level of desired detail.  These minor bumps in the road however fail to hold back the talented artist when the action starts.  The overall job done here gives a distinct nature to the story, but deformities and a few moments where the comic looks simply rushed detract from an otherwise solid effort.

Red Sonja #68 is a decent read that might entertain but it doesn’t really offer a story that’s unique enough to attract the run-of-the-mill adventure reader.  With all that in mind, this issue squeaks by with a light recommendation for already established fans.

3/5