Set Description:
An extension of my Marvel Red Sonja sets – Dynamite Entertainment’s Red Sonja Vol 1, really is an amazing modern set. I know that many collectors aren’t all that excited about variant covers and all the options that are available – but what other modern set includes covers by in the first 25 issues by Dick Giordano, George Perez, Pablo Marcos, Alex Ross, Adam Hughes, Jim Lee, Frank Cho, and Mel Rubi, as well as bringing in classic Red Sonja artists like Art Adams, Frank Brunner, and John Romita Sr.? Artists who drew Red Sonja for Marvel.
Dynamite also made excellent use of existing art by Neal Adams and Estaban Moroto, which must have been included in the Red Sonja license, for incentive covers on issues 2 and 3 (that I am aware of)
On top of that, this run has more that twice as many issues as all the Marvel Red Sonja runs combined – including Marvel Feature Vol 2, and great storylines.
I’ll never be one to try to chase down 9.9s or all the RRP editions of the early issues, but I do love a good run – and this is definitely a good run.
As to my interest in Red Sonja – well, I love red headed swordswomen so much, I married one. Together with my love of cover art and my 25+ years of stage combat, jousting, & teaching swordsmanship for stage, left me with some strong opinions on how you stand, how you wear armor, and how you hold your damn sword. So, hold on to your sword, keep your shield up, and let's cut to the bone.
This is fun and interesting - so, originally, CGC said that they were not going to differentiate between the various 1:1 ratio covers that Dynamite put out. You can clearly see in the notes on the right side of issue 1 that 5 different covers exist by Ross, Turner, Rivera, Cassady (that's a typo - it's Cassaday), & Linsner. Technically, I think that Rivera cover is cover 1C. But if you look at the other books in this set, you'll see that I have the Cassaday cover of issue 1, which is labelled as "Cassaday Variant" and when the set listing gets updated I'll add the Ross cover of issue 1, which my copy is labelled as cover 1E (I know the set has to be updated, it won't let me put that book in the slot for issue 1). So sometime in the great scheme of things, CGC grading and labelling has decided that they *will* differentiate the different 1:1 covers, which is going to make an absolute mess out of this set listing as issues 1 through 3 have at least five 1:1 covers and all the issues up through 51 have at least three 1:1 covers and most have four. Additionally, they're not even labelling them the same - with Cassaday variant in one instance, but 1E in another, later instance. What do you do when some of the books are graded and labeled one way, and other books are graded and labeled a completely different way, which is incompatible with the set listing as it was originally set up? I wonder what happens if I send my books back in to be re-labelled.
In addition to this fun - CGC also mixed up the Giant Size Red Sonja issues and the Red Sonja Annual issues - as the book I have uploaded as Red Sonja Annual 1 is actually Giant Size Red Sonja 1.
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| The gallery tab shows only items with images. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. |
| Slot: |
Giant-size Red Sonja 2 Edgar Salazar Cover |
| Item: |
Giant-Size Red Sonja 2 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1025067010
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Owner Comments
1:1 ratio cover 2B by Steven Segovia. This is obviously not cover 2A by Edgar Salazar, no matter what the slot says. On the other hand, it is a very dynamic cover by Segovia with Sonja locked in combat with a bunch of armored undead. There's no background. Or foreground. Or ground, for that matter. So, I guess I can't really speak about the footwork.. Sonja is holding her sword reversed for some reason while she simultaneously straddles a skeleton to death? I'm not sure I would object to her killing me like that. But the sword being upside-down in her hand, that rankles me. The thing is, one of the attacking dead-ites is also holding one of his two swords this way, and another in the back is holding a spear? like a sword. I don't know.
The armor is cool though. And the combat is - like I said - very dynamic.
Overall? I don't know. I didn't buy this issue from my LCS - but that is probably because I often don't pick up annuals and specials that aren't part of the series storyline. Too often they are fleshed out (haha - I make myself laugh) with reprint material where I already own the original printing.
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 0 |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 0 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4222681001
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Owner Comments
I don’t want to discuss how badly this was graded – I’m just going to assume that Greg Land blew his nose on it or something. There really isn’t anything to this cover – it is just a portrait and it lacks the interest of the Alex Ross, birds-eye-view on the issue 0 retailer incentive issue. I guess the skulls are a little bit interesting, but they don't go all the way up or down - they're just a weird banner? I don’t really care for the cover – but I’m not really a Greg Land fan either, so maybe that’s on me.
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 0 Dynamic Forces Sketch Edition |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 0 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3931914003
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Owner Comments
Dynamic Forces Sketch A - limited to 600 copies. Mel Rubi's pencils really are beautiful - and I didn't know Mel's art before I started reading this run back in 2005. Red Sonja is drawn how she was originally written, strong & confident. And maybe a little smug. I like it.
I didn't get a chance to pick this up when it was issued - so I'm very happy I got the chance to add it to my collection now. Not all sketch covers work out, particularly ones that weren't designed as sketch covers from scratch - but this one is a beauty. While not a true wraparound cover - this is one of the few issues with back cover art, so I have included it. Excellent work twice over by Mel. The art from the front cover is taken from the splash page (page 2), and the rear cover is taken from a panel on page 1 of the interior.
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 0 Retailer Incentive Edition |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 0 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4238734001
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Owner Comments
Retailer Incentive Edition. This – this is sexy. Then again, I am a huge Alex Ross fan. I think this partially completed, half-sketch/half-painting with the strong ant’s-eye view is a solid portrait of RS. Looking up the flat of the sword really sets the tone that maybe, just maybe, you’re lying there prone, begging for your life and the end of Sonja’s blade. Sonja looks strong and confident, and her grip on her sword is correct. I think the background fade from dark to light, makes this a stronger cover than cover 1E, where the background is black. Finally, Alex’s use of light makes this a masterpiece. Overall – one of my favorite RS covers of all time.
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 1 |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 1 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1253081007
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Owner Comments
1:1 ratio cover. Paolo Rivera cover - and not one I would have pre-ordered as the the preview on the back of issue #0 had a grey background. I have to admit that whoever was in charge of the color change to this beautiful yellow-orange background made the right decision. This is kind of an ordinary cover with Red Sonja posed it a weird position, with that back foot so high. Her hair is so 1990 though - I kinda like it, and I kinda hate it. The skull is a nice tough though. Her grip on the sword looks good and I like the reverse grip on the dagger, although that can be risky with a curved blade the way she has the curve aligned, as you can catch yourself with the tip - right in the elbow.
Each of the five books shown in the reverse image are 1:1 ratio covers, but neither the Ross nor Cassaday covers slot here, as they are labeled differently.
Overall - this cover is just a little too weird for me and wasn't able to compete for my $4 with a stunning Alex Ross cover as one of the other options
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 1 Adams Variant Cover |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 1 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0230728006
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Owner Comments
1:25 Art Adams cover. The cover has a lot going for it - the idea of Sonja standing on a defeated giant is cool, I'm pretty down with that. The big pouch is cool, but would probably be better if Sonja was looting it already. I like the idea of armor - pauldrons & knee cops aren't much, but they're totally more than just the maille bikini. Even Sonja's sword, her grip on the sword, and even her stance say swordfighter. But the face of Adams' Sonja looks like she was ripped from Elfquest - too soft, terrible facial features, and just generally not fighter material. I don't think it matters what equipment he draws her with or what stance, there's just no way that an Adams' body & face look like anything but a helpless, lost-ass waif that needs to be rescued. Like 1000% not in the spirit of Conan & Sonja.
Overall - well, shit I did buy it off the shelf, so I guess it worked - but I am choosier about my variant covers now than I was 2005
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 1 Cassaday Variant Cover |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 1 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2761783004
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Owner Comments
1:1 ratio cover. I have to be honest here - I generally like Cassaday's cover art, but this one is rough. Sonja looks horrible, and I can't even with her boob armor, like how do you make that look so bad? I do know that I had to pick this up as a back issue, having not chosen it off the rack at my LCS. I can't even comment on this cover without ranting about how bad it is - so, I'm just going to stop now.
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 1 Dynamic Forces Edition |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 1 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4344417003
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Owner Comments
Limited to 999 copies. One of the quieter cover compositions for issue 1 - this piece by Mel Rubi feels rather static. I do love that Sonja is on horseback, but she feels oddly detached from all the chaos behind her. Is it supposed to evoke her riding away from the chaos of her youth? IDK. The image does give the impression that she's giving the whole thing some serious side-eye. I guess the cover doesn't work for me very well - I'm not particularly interested in buying this book based on the cover image.
Overall? meh.
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 1 Retailer Incentive Edition |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 1 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4344417001
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Owner Comments
1 in 65 ratio retailer incentive cover. Can someone please explain to my how this easy to acquire, ugly, half-assed effort of a variant cover is worth four times as many points as the absolutely awesome, hard to find, gorgeous 1:65 ratio cover of issued #2 by Moroto? I'm no fan of Lindsner's covers - but this is an all time slacker job variation of the 1:1 ratio cover 1D. I have nothing nice to say about it and I only have it to fill this slot.
Overall? If Lindsner had been the full time cover artist for Volume 1, I probably would not have bought them at all from my LCS.
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 1 Variant Cover E |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 1 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2125953007
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Owner Comments
1:1 ratio cover. I have already waxed on at length about this cover image under Red Sonja 0 Retailer Incentive Edition, but it really is one of my favorite Red Sonja covers, plus I love Alex Ross' work. His ability to capture light reflecting off of surfaces really brings his images to life.
Overall? This cover could be why I started buying this series off the rack. 100% it does what cover art should do.
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 2 |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 2 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0793835001
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Owner Comments
1:1 ratio cover. I picked this up specifically for the JG Jones sig to add to my collection. I gotta be real here - this cover is awesome. The green background really makes Sonja's hair and skin tone pop, really focusing the eye on her - which is the point. Sonja appears to have worked herself to a rock outcropping preventing the numbers of assailants from encircling her which is tactically sound and the cover catches her in a cinematic moment just after she's rushed the group and swung her axe and shield in a big opening move injuring the man to her right side and knocking the man on her left back with the shield leaving him vulnerable for the follow up swing with the axe. She'll want to get her shield back in front of her before engaging the idiot that doesn't know how to use a dagger. And who doesn't know not to bring a dagger to an axe fight. Obviously Sonja's pose is an open one to show off her assets, but notice that more focus is on her face and her sweet biceps and toned abs than her tits. I like that. a lot. Another thing I really like is the design of the axe. It's built to have a lot of power on the swing without being dumb bulky like many artists want. its also a size that really could be used one handed by a strong combatant.
Overall - one of the sweeter RS covers in my collection.
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 2 Dynamic Forces Foil Edition |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 2 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3749741003
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Owner Comments
Limited to 599 copies. These Dynamic Forces editions were totally unavailable at my LCS when they released, so I have had to find the ones I have out in the wild. This is just a really bizarre cover image from Mel Rubi - and I generally like Mel's work. It's good stuff. But this leaves me speechless, and if you read all of my owner comments, you know that's uncommon. It's just freakishly funky in a bad way.
Overall? Yeah - I don't know what's going on here and I don't know that I would have purchased this from my LCS if it had been available
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 2 Retailer Incentive Edition |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 2 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2073611009
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Owner Comments
1:65 ratio retailer incentive cover. An absolutely stunning cover by pin-up and Warren artist Esteban Moroto. Obviously this is recolored from the original image by Moroto which was used in ComixScene #5, and which is credited as the first appearance of the chain mail bikini as Red Sonja's armor. I'm kinda old, but I have to say, with the exception of her hair color - I like the 70s color better. It has such a cool period vibe to it. The image I've uploaded doesn't even do it justice - the strong diagonal, the use of blue in the foreground and red in the background, Red Sonja's hair standing out against the light grey sky, the absolute barrage of details. You can tell Moroto worked at the same time as some of the greatest artists to grace the pages of Warren books. There's so much glory in this cover image. I love that Sonja has just finished a backswing, slicing her opponent open, creating an image that is open, yet active. I love the art of this cover.
Looking at Sonja the badass swordswoman, we see her grip on her sword is correct for just having completed a backswing, and her footwork and balance are about as good as she's going to get standing on that incline. Plus - she has the high ground.
Overall - this is probably one of my top ten Red Sonja covers of all time - from all publishers; and I'm glad it got to see the light of day as a cover image.
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 3 |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 3 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0977039013
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Owner Comments
1:1 ratio cover. One of the best things about this 2006 Dynamite run is the number of absolute comic icons they got to do covers - in this case, Romita Sr. While this will never be my favorite cover for any number of reasons, yet it is so cool that Romita did one. And I love having it in my collection. Since I mostly collect sword and sorcery books, this is a rare treat.
The cover itself? I don't care for the way Sonja's body is twisted - it's too much and her feet are too much in line with her toes pointed forward for her to not be horribly off-balance. It just doesn't make her look competent. And then the coloration is boring. Nothing has been done to really make her stand out against the background - and all that needed to be done was some cool colors - maybe a blue/grey rock outcropping? Or better yet, a moss covered one?
Overall - happy to have the book - but no, I did not chose this one from my LCS in '05
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| Slot: |
Red Sonja 3 Variant Cover E |
| Item: |
Red Sonja 3 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0744734001
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Owner Comments
1:50 ratio Neal Adams cover. While it isn't difficult to get a Red Sonja story that Neal Adams worked on, there are very few covers he worked on - I mean, maybe he worked on Conan the Barbarian 44 as part of Crusty Bunkers - but most of his RS work was in Savage Sword of Conan and he didn't do any of those Red Sonja covers. So, this is pretty much it. Dynamite should have him do another (EDIT - too late now). Anyway - classic Neal - coy, but dangerous. Super detailed swords. I don't know about the huge borders on the sides - but who knows what kind of decision was made at the time. Feels forced to me. Overall - I like it.
EDIT: Well, I understand the huge borders on the sides now. This was originally printed in Kull and the Barbarians #1 as part of this weird set of panels like pin-ups? I don't get it. The overall image in K&B isn't that good, and the Sonja image isn't bad - but there wasn't something better?
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