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.
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