REVIEW: 'Invincible Red Sonja' #2 by Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, and Moritat

 You can't mess with Red Sonja. Whether you're a would-be assassin or some kind of monster, you're no match for the She-Devil with a Sword. The sweeping saga of 'Invincible Red Sonja' by Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Matt Carter and Moritat continues. 

Invincible Red Sonja #2

writer: Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner | artist: Moritat, Matt Carter

letters: Dave Sharpe

covers: Amanda Conner (A), Joseph Michael Linsner (B), Celina (C) Frank Cho "Outrage" (D), Dominica Cosplay Variant (E), Carla Cohen (RI), Amanda Conner (RI/Line Art), Dominica Cosplay Variant (RI/Virgin), Joseph Michael Linsner (RI/ Line Art), Carla Cohen (RI/Virgin), Amanda Conner (RI/Line Art Virgin), Joseph Michael Linsner (RI/Line Art Virign)

FC | 32 pages | Sword and Sorcery | $3.99 | Teen+

Our award-winning duo of AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI continue Red Sonja’s mission to protect a young (and, shall we say, precocious?) princess as her wedding day arrives. But as the preparations for the festivities continue, a coveted icon of the kingdom is stolen and its protector, the Kings wizard, sets a bounty Red Sonja cannot resist. All this can be yours, featuring the strikingly beautiful sequential art of MORITAT and another killer cover by AMANDA CONNER and PAUL MOUNTS!

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

After an action-packed first issue that found our beloved She-Devil with a Sword fighting everything from barbarians to mermaids, Red Sonja is bodyguard to the soon-to-be-wed Princess Zaria. Issue two gives us a chance to catch our breath but not for long. Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti are writing an epic grand adventure for the infamous redhead and it's a complete blast so far. 

After a brief opening explaining the important ritual of removing the bejeweled royal crown from the vault for the wedding ceremony, it doesn't take long after arriving to the Kingdom of Erkhara before Red Sonja's bodyguard skills are put to the test. An assassination's attempt spurs Sonja into action providing artist Moritat another sequence to shine. Conner and Palmiotti put Moritat through his paces in the first issue with wall-to-wall action creating one heart-racing scene after another. 

Moritat really outdoes himself here. As chaotic and jam-packed as issue one was with adversaries, issue two has a more streamlined approach with less enemies but the framing and staging of its biggest set piece is reminiscent of the rooftop chase in The Bourne Ultimatum. Viewed through the eyes of Sonja, the action is shot from below where we get full view of colorist Matt Carter's rich bold backgrounds. That's just one sequence but there's a shot of Sonja after vanquishing a deadly threat emerging from the shadows that belongs on a poster. With so much going on, Dave Sharpe has his hands full with not just lettering dialogue but sound effects like grunts, crashes, flying ninja stars, roars, growls, I mean you name it. If you read our review of issue one, you'll be happy to know that Moritat is a lot more consistent with character noses this time around.  

In the hands of Palmiotti and Conner, Red Sonja feels more fleshed out and adventurous. A combination of take-charge warrior and savvy entrepreneur.  She not only gets by on her muscle but also her wits. No one is getting over on her. On the surface, she's always drawn like Jessica Rabbit but she's as tough as Conan the Barbarian. 

'Invincible Red Sonja' #2 stays true to its title as Sonja stays winning against assassins and monsters. This sweeping adventure is a complete blast and worthy of the She-Devil. Full of action and intrigue, 'Invincible' sets a standard for Dynamite's franchise heroine. The creative team's obvious passion is infectious as Sonja battles all comers while finding new ways to enrich herself. This is Red Sonja at her best.