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Queen Sonja (Collected Editions)
Queen Sonja Volume 1
RED SONJA LIVES! Dynamite Entertainment presents a bold new direction for the mother of all warriors, Red Sonja! Sonja finds herself with more than she bargained for as she takes the throne of her homelands! Under the direction of writer Joshua (Death Dealer) Ortega, Queen Sonja #1-6 (collected here along with a complete cover gallery) also features the return of artist Mel Rubi!
125 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2010
About the author
Joshua Ortega
94 books14 followersJoshua Ortega is an author and journalist best known for his novel Frequencies, as well as his comic book and graphic novel work on entertainment properties such as Star Wars, Spider-Man, Batman, Star Trek, The Escapist, and The Necromancer.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 14, 2021
Second series, follows Red Sonja's defense of the Sogarian nation in the Hyborian Age.
May 15, 2021
Why do I read these silly graphic novels again?
Oh, right.
So yeah, it is really hard to take any Red Sonja story seriously, though a few runs under different publishers and writers have treated her as a more serious character than others. The Dynamite runs mostly lean heavily on the cheesecake (not only does Sonja wear that chainmail bikini as an all-purpose outfit for every occasion, but she also apparently manages to find eyeshadow and blush even while dungeon-crawling) but otherwise put her in epic adventures suitable for any fantasy hero. Unfortunately, they also don't really distinguish her from any other fantasy hero, aside from the chainmail bikini.
Queen Sonja volume 1 (the first of four volumes) puts Sonja on a throne. Well, Conan gets there, so why not Sonja? As with most of the Dynamite graphic novels, the geopolitics and geography of Sonja's world are handwaved a lot, as are military tactics. Where do all these armies come from? How are plucky peasant ex-slaves suddenly defeating armies made up of professional soldiers reinforced with undead? Well, because they are led by Red Sonja, of course. Who in this volume, for once, puts on something other than a chainmail bikini as she rides a war chariot that chops up enemies like a battlefield blender.
Sonja leads an uprising against an evil empire, becomes queen when the rightful queen dies, and is now faced with the evil empire, still ruled by some sort of low-rent Thulsa Doom sorcerer type.
It's very cheesy dumb S&S, but I liked this better than the rather stupid "Wrath of the Gods" storyline.
Oh, right.
So yeah, it is really hard to take any Red Sonja story seriously, though a few runs under different publishers and writers have treated her as a more serious character than others. The Dynamite runs mostly lean heavily on the cheesecake (not only does Sonja wear that chainmail bikini as an all-purpose outfit for every occasion, but she also apparently manages to find eyeshadow and blush even while dungeon-crawling) but otherwise put her in epic adventures suitable for any fantasy hero. Unfortunately, they also don't really distinguish her from any other fantasy hero, aside from the chainmail bikini.
Queen Sonja volume 1 (the first of four volumes) puts Sonja on a throne. Well, Conan gets there, so why not Sonja? As with most of the Dynamite graphic novels, the geopolitics and geography of Sonja's world are handwaved a lot, as are military tactics. Where do all these armies come from? How are plucky peasant ex-slaves suddenly defeating armies made up of professional soldiers reinforced with undead? Well, because they are led by Red Sonja, of course. Who in this volume, for once, puts on something other than a chainmail bikini as she rides a war chariot that chops up enemies like a battlefield blender.
Sonja leads an uprising against an evil empire, becomes queen when the rightful queen dies, and is now faced with the evil empire, still ruled by some sort of low-rent Thulsa Doom sorcerer type.
It's very cheesy dumb S&S, but I liked this better than the rather stupid "Wrath of the Gods" storyline.
July 13, 2017
Someone do me a big favor? Redraw this entire series with Sonja in reasonable armor. Please. Pretty please. I would give anything to be able to read this, but I just can't bring myself to read it while she's running around in nothing but three square inches of chainmail. I've heard such great things about Sonja as a character and the series in general, but I just... cannot.
February 25, 2022
My attempt to read every single Red Sonja comic ever made continues with the story of how Sonja became queen by her own hand. It's a pretty obvious plot idea and lifted from Conan's destiny but I am the kind of comic book fan who thinks there's much to be gained from putting protagonists in positions that you never thought they'd end up in. In this case, Sonja helps lead some rebellious princesses to retake their land only to find out they're rather comfortable following rather than leading.
None of these countries are from Robert E. Howard but part of the fun of Red Sonja is they've been willing to color outside the lines of the Hyborian Age more than Conan's stories. The ruthless Roman like Emperor, complete with Caligula like figure, is a decent enough villain and it's easy to see why Sonya would be picked by her armies to be the new monarch over the actual royalty. I don't quite buy that Sonja would accept with the heirs alive but that's a minor issue.
It's also mostly big epic battles, which we rarely see in these kinds of stories. Usually Sonja is soloing her way through problems rather than part of a large-scale military offensive.
None of these countries are from Robert E. Howard but part of the fun of Red Sonja is they've been willing to color outside the lines of the Hyborian Age more than Conan's stories. The ruthless Roman like Emperor, complete with Caligula like figure, is a decent enough villain and it's easy to see why Sonya would be picked by her armies to be the new monarch over the actual royalty. I don't quite buy that Sonja would accept with the heirs alive but that's a minor issue.
It's also mostly big epic battles, which we rarely see in these kinds of stories. Usually Sonja is soloing her way through problems rather than part of a large-scale military offensive.
July 27, 2020
This is my first experience with Red Sonja but I'm a huge fan of badass attractive ladies wielding swords so I'm not sure why its taken me so long. I started with this particular entry point mostly because I found all the Queen Sonja volumes for cheap on ebay. Seemed as good a place as any.
The art is ok, not mind blowing, not bad. The storyline is about what I expected. Sonja is suitably badass. The bad guys are suitably bad. There is lots of blood and action. The plot is not mind blowing, but competent and what you'd expect. Now that the story has started to unfold I am curious to see where it will go. It hasn't turned me into an instant super fan but it has grabbed me enough to check out some more as long as the rest of Queen Sonja maintains this level.
The art is ok, not mind blowing, not bad. The storyline is about what I expected. Sonja is suitably badass. The bad guys are suitably bad. There is lots of blood and action. The plot is not mind blowing, but competent and what you'd expect. Now that the story has started to unfold I am curious to see where it will go. It hasn't turned me into an instant super fan but it has grabbed me enough to check out some more as long as the rest of Queen Sonja maintains this level.
May 28, 2026
Grade: 74% (C)
Queen Sonja Vol. 1 is a surprisingly accessible and easy read for someone coming in with zero familiarity with the character or her world. The story wastes no time establishing Sonja as a capable, no-nonsense warrior, and the central conflict, a growing resistance against an empire built on intimidation, murder, and slavery, is straightforward enough to follow without any prior context. The raider women turning out to be daughters of the slain royalty is a nice touch, and Antonius being a mole was telegraphed early but still satisfying when it pays off.
The art is the most consistent complaint. Murky, lacking the stylized energy that makes a character like Red Sonja truly pop, and it never quite matches the boldness the story occasionally reaches for. The chainmail bikini is iconic and understood for what it is, but even as a newcomer to the character there’s a sense that a costume honoring that legacy while offering something slightly more practical could make her look just as striking without the pure fanservice quality it carries here. The narrative is also fairly by the numbers, hitting familiar beats without doing much to distinguish itself beyond competent execution. Intriguing enough to make you curious about what this character looks like at her best, which is ultimately the best thing a jumping on point can do.
Recommend? For a newbie like me, sure.
Queen Sonja Vol. 1 is a surprisingly accessible and easy read for someone coming in with zero familiarity with the character or her world. The story wastes no time establishing Sonja as a capable, no-nonsense warrior, and the central conflict, a growing resistance against an empire built on intimidation, murder, and slavery, is straightforward enough to follow without any prior context. The raider women turning out to be daughters of the slain royalty is a nice touch, and Antonius being a mole was telegraphed early but still satisfying when it pays off.
The art is the most consistent complaint. Murky, lacking the stylized energy that makes a character like Red Sonja truly pop, and it never quite matches the boldness the story occasionally reaches for. The chainmail bikini is iconic and understood for what it is, but even as a newcomer to the character there’s a sense that a costume honoring that legacy while offering something slightly more practical could make her look just as striking without the pure fanservice quality it carries here. The narrative is also fairly by the numbers, hitting familiar beats without doing much to distinguish itself beyond competent execution. Intriguing enough to make you curious about what this character looks like at her best, which is ultimately the best thing a jumping on point can do.
Recommend? For a newbie like me, sure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2024
This seems to be the "first" Sonja what sacrificed herself to kill Kulan Gath, or maybe it's just an entirely different continuity?
Joshua Ortega takes some care in establishing Sonja as a badass action hero and surrounds her with other cool fighting girls, which you'd think would be a no-brainer, but afaik he's been the first to do it. Also features the return of Mel Rubi, my personal favorite Sonja artist -- love that weary look he gives her.
The Totes-Not-Romans are suitably despicable wrestling heel villains, and Sonja in a position of rule would be an interesting proposition, but the Humble Bundle did not include volume 2 of this series so too bad!
Joshua Ortega takes some care in establishing Sonja as a badass action hero and surrounds her with other cool fighting girls, which you'd think would be a no-brainer, but afaik he's been the first to do it. Also features the return of Mel Rubi, my personal favorite Sonja artist -- love that weary look he gives her.
The Totes-Not-Romans are suitably despicable wrestling heel villains, and Sonja in a position of rule would be an interesting proposition, but the Humble Bundle did not include volume 2 of this series so too bad!
July 20, 2017
So somebody got a good idea to make Sonja a queen because Conan is king? Did it work?
Well.... here and there it did. Sonja's trek to queendom was fun and gorey but will it work now she has the power? Time will tell.
Nice and sexy sleek art, though.
Well.... here and there it did. Sonja's trek to queendom was fun and gorey but will it work now she has the power? Time will tell.
Nice and sexy sleek art, though.
December 8, 2018
Not recommended
Art wasn't great, story felt incredibly rushed. Honestly, I'd just recommend reading Gail Simone's stuff instead.
Don't get me wrong, I've read worse things, this is just a bit dull.
Art wasn't great, story felt incredibly rushed. Honestly, I'd just recommend reading Gail Simone's stuff instead.
Don't get me wrong, I've read worse things, this is just a bit dull.
July 14, 2023
This is the story of Sonja's Conan-esque rise to the throne.
It was simple and somewhat generic in terms of dialogue as well as characterisations. But the art was beautiful. It helped the story to move towards a sharp finish that raised expectations for subsequent volumes.
Recommended.
It was simple and somewhat generic in terms of dialogue as well as characterisations. But the art was beautiful. It helped the story to move towards a sharp finish that raised expectations for subsequent volumes.
Recommended.
June 16, 2026
It's a bit odd to see Red Sonja step into this role. I feel like she'd only accept being in charge if there were no one else able to do it. For her to step in front of the established royalty feels forced. Otherwise, this is a bit of cliched story and plot elements didn't always feel earned.
June 19, 2026
Not a bad Red Sonja story. The art is fine but visually Sonja feels more like a lounge singer (albeit in a chain mail bikini) than a barbarian queen to me. The people who dislike the story seem to have little clue about the 50 years of comics that have defined the character.
September 28, 2018
This book hit all the notes for a sword and sorcery story. We get limbs being hacked off, magic, battles, and the chain mail bikini. It was entertaining. Read it if you are a fan of Red Sonja.
January 22, 2020
Solid artwork, solid fantasy war story, I feel that Sonja's a little flat though personality-wise in this run.
October 17, 2025
4/5 - Graphic Novels
3/5 - High Fantasy
3/5 - Characters
4/5 - Story
3.5/5 - Rating
3/5 - High Fantasy
3/5 - Characters
4/5 - Story
3.5/5 - Rating
June 14, 2026
The story is fine if pedestrian. The art is so-so. Sonja doesn’t quite look like herself here.
June 21, 2026
Story not good enough. Art not good enough. Covers were decent thought.
June 21, 2026
Queen Sonja is a bad***
February 1, 2014
The character of Red Sonja is known for a few different reasons. These range from the low fantasy setting her stories take place in, to the extreme gore and violence of the tales, to the title character's ridiculously impractical wardrobe.
This put me off some when reading Queen Sonja, Vol. 1, and truly, if the comic hadn't turned out so good, I would have skipped the story altogether. It seems like an outfit designed solely for titillating the male reader through the use of an extremely, literally impossibly beautiful warrior woman dressing in a skanky outfit. But the story actually makes sense by the origin and abilities of Sonja.
Yes, she is slim and athletic, but, to put it simply, Sonja has super-powers. She is supernaturally good at fighting. The extent of her strength or other powers is uncertain so far in this incarnation, but that she possesses them can not be doubted. As for her outfit, it is justified in-story (not here, but in a previous comic tale) by the claim that Sonja does so for tactical reasons. She knows that men will be distracted by her extreme beauty and not fight as well.
I personally think that's a bogus justification. They illustrate her that way to appeal to young men, but that seems to have worked for their sales. What that says about the perversion of young males is not necessarily good, mind you. For those of us who don't like such things, or at least don't morally approve of such things, rather, we at least have been given a reasonably good story to maintain our interest.
As for why I picked up this title, well, I always liked both this character and Conan the Barbarian. To see a new story that is a) an easy point to start the story at, and b) moves the story forward to her being a warrior queen (an interesting development in and of itself), was too much to not at least give a read.
Despite the absurd outfit and fanservice, the story was reasonably good and worth a read. DC Comics should learn how to write such a character and apply the lesson to their Starfire, for the sake of that character. If Starfire were as fun to read as Sonja, she might not be so repellant right now.
This put me off some when reading Queen Sonja, Vol. 1, and truly, if the comic hadn't turned out so good, I would have skipped the story altogether. It seems like an outfit designed solely for titillating the male reader through the use of an extremely, literally impossibly beautiful warrior woman dressing in a skanky outfit. But the story actually makes sense by the origin and abilities of Sonja.
Yes, she is slim and athletic, but, to put it simply, Sonja has super-powers. She is supernaturally good at fighting. The extent of her strength or other powers is uncertain so far in this incarnation, but that she possesses them can not be doubted. As for her outfit, it is justified in-story (not here, but in a previous comic tale) by the claim that Sonja does so for tactical reasons. She knows that men will be distracted by her extreme beauty and not fight as well.
I personally think that's a bogus justification. They illustrate her that way to appeal to young men, but that seems to have worked for their sales. What that says about the perversion of young males is not necessarily good, mind you. For those of us who don't like such things, or at least don't morally approve of such things, rather, we at least have been given a reasonably good story to maintain our interest.
As for why I picked up this title, well, I always liked both this character and Conan the Barbarian. To see a new story that is a) an easy point to start the story at, and b) moves the story forward to her being a warrior queen (an interesting development in and of itself), was too much to not at least give a read.
Despite the absurd outfit and fanservice, the story was reasonably good and worth a read. DC Comics should learn how to write such a character and apply the lesson to their Starfire, for the sake of that character. If Starfire were as fun to read as Sonja, she might not be so repellant right now.
August 23, 2013
This volume certainly is action-packed, but it also seemed overly compressed and abbreviated, making Sonja's rise to power bafflingly sudden. It's also disappointing that despite printing Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age setting map at the front of the book they set the story in some generic, unconnected kingdom called Sogaria. Still, the premise of the series is intriguing. Hopefully future volumes will ease up on the pace a bit.
March 31, 2014
Nothing terribly deep and riveting here and the artwork isn't as attractive as other Sonja titles, but it's still a helluva lot of fun. And that's the whole reason to read Red Sonja stories, right? Good stuff.
March 31, 2012
Wow. Much bloodier than the regular Red Sonja series. I've put off reading this series until now. Can't wait to read the next book.
December 6, 2015
Totally entertaining tales of Red Sonja.
April 1, 2021
Sonja's rise to Queen!!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews