REVIEW: 'Red Sonja: Black, White, Red' #2 by Jonboy Meyers, Jeff Parker, David F. Walker, Natalie Nourigat, Will Robson

Three new stories from the industry's best offer an entertaining set for this anthology. 

Red Sonja: Black, White, Red #2

writers: Jonboy Meyers, Jeff Parker, David F. Walker

artists: Jonboy Meyers, Natalie Nourigat, Will Robson

covers: Lucio Parrillo (A), Jonboy Meyers (B), David Nakayama (C), Tabitha Lyons Cosplay Variant (D), Jonboy Meyers (RI-E/Line Art), David Nakayama (RI-F/Line Art), Jonboy Meyers (RI-G/BW), Tabitha Lyons Cosplay Variant (RI-H/Virgin), David Nakayama (RI-I/BW), Lucio Parrillo (RI-J/BW)

FC | 40 pages | Sword and Sorcery | $4.99 | Teen+

The greatest tales!

The most amazing storytellers!

Red Sonja, like you’ve NEVER seen before… all presented in beautiful black, white, and red!

JONBOY MEYERS (Teen Titans) presents an aging Queen Sonja, face-toface with a long-forgotten foe who threatens to change the world for the worse…

JEFF PARKER (Aquaman) and NATALIE NOURIGAT (Disney) toss Sonja into a living sentient fungus bog, with no easy exit out…

DAVID F. WALKER (Naomi, Bitter Root) and WILL ROBSON (Fantastic Four) feature a creature from myth, with a craving for the blood of a She-Devil…

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

'Red Sonja: Black, White, Red' #2 is another solid installment of the anthology as Jonboy Meyers, Jeff Parker, David F. Walker, Natalie Nourigat, and Will Robson take their turn at creating their own Red Sonja short story. Just as the first issue, these interpretations of the She-Devil with a Sword are uniquely told in a style all their own but hold on to the mythos that makes Sonja a legendary badass. These stories are enjoyable enough on their own for new readers but really a treat for longtime fans. 

PROELIUM FINALIS: A RED SONJA TALE by Jonboy Meyers, Pat Brosseau, and Nate Cosby

An older Queen Sonja must defend her kingdom from a charging horde of Lemurians straight from the bowels of the earth. It's a beautifully written piece that has Sonja narrating the action in what could be described as poetry. She describes her position in life, older but still sharp, before engaging in battle. The calmness of her words contrasts sharply with the bloody action at the end of her blade she yields. Meyers' attention to detail and designs are eye-popping. The mass horde has a distinct ugliness reminiscent of Orcs that make them frighteningly dangerous. Per the premise of this "Black, White, Red" series, those colors allow for clear sight of Meyers' intricate line work, and the red of blood and Sonja's hair stand out marvelously. Pat Brosseau does an outstanding job with sound effects that are part of the visceral action taking place. A neat little poem set to carnage. 

EDIBLE by Jeff Parker, Natalie Nourigat, and Nate Cosby

The art style by Natalie Nourigat is a total shift from Meyers' more realistic look with a charmingly playful cartoon style. Desperate villagers enlist Sonja to find a missing girl from a mysterious Bog where all who enter never return. It's really a sweet story but even an adorable-looking Sonja can swing a mean sword. It's sort of a middle-grade version of Red Sonja and it works really well. I could see an entire line of MG Sonja books. 

LISTEN CLOSE... by David F. Walker, Will Robson, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, and Nate Cosby

This is a fable about Sonja hired by a creepy king to rescue his bride-to-be from a creature that captures women and girls. It's a twisty tale from David F. Walker that is more than meets the eye. Will Robson's art is super clean with fantastic creature designs. Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou gives the lettering a regal look befitting a fairy tale. It's a satisfying story with a good lesson. 

'Red Sonja: Black, White, Red' proves you can never have too much Red Sonja. Having some of the best talents the medium has to offer to create this anthology of entertaining short stories is a great way to honor the She-Devil with a Sword.