Red Sonja #2 Review: Dynamite Entertainment Cuts Deeper Into Blood, Debt, and Revenge
Red Sonja #2 from Dynamite Entertainment hits stores on June 10, 2026, and this issue proves the new run is not wasting time.
After a strong opening chapter, Red Sonja #2 sharpens the blade with a story built around old debts, royal mercy, battlefield consequences, and the kind of violent justice only the She-Devil with a Sword can deliver. This is a bloodier, more emotionally grounded issue that gives Sonja more than enemies to cut down. It gives her a reason to care.
Written by Rory McConville, with art by Pablo De Bonis, colors by Salvatore Aiala Neto, and letters by Carlos M. Mangual, Red Sonja #2 blends sword-and-sorcery action with political betrayal and a growing magical mystery.
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Red Sonja #2 Starts With a Debt From the Past
The issue opens with a flashback that immediately gives the story emotional weight.
Several years ago, Sonja stood accused of theft, destruction, drunkenness, unpaid debts, and plenty of other behavior that sounds exactly like Red Sonja. But instead of letting her punishment continue, Prince Eaymon steps in and offers mercy.
That scene matters because it gives Sonja a rare kind of debt: not money, not blood, but honor.
Eaymon does not treat Sonja like a monster. He sees something in her, helps her, and asks for nothing she is willing to give. Sonja, being Sonja, reacts with suspicion, pride, and a little defiance. But the moment stays with her.
That flashback gives the present-day violence more meaning. When Sonja sees what has happened to Eaymon, her rage is not random. It is personal.
The Present-Day Action Hits Hard
Once the issue moves into the present, Red Sonja #2 turns brutal fast.
Sonja is not in the mood for speeches. She is wounded, angry, and surrounded by people who either underestimate her or think numbers will save them. That is usually the last mistake anyone makes around her.
The action is quick, messy, and satisfying. Sonja cuts through attackers with the kind of direct force fans expect, but the issue does not make the violence feel empty. Every strike is tied to grief, loyalty, and rage over what has been taken.
That is where the book works best.
This is not just “Red Sonja fights bad men.” It is Red Sonja settling a debt the only way she knows how.
Rory McConville Gives Sonja a Strong Emotional Hook
Writer Rory McConville gives the issue a smart structure by connecting Sonja’s past to the current conflict.
The flashback with Eaymon makes Sonja’s choices feel sharper. She is not a sentimental character, but she does remember when someone treats her fairly. That gives the issue a stronger emotional engine than a simple revenge plot.
McConville also keeps Sonja’s voice strong. She is blunt, sarcastic, suspicious, and dangerous, but not one-note. There is guilt under the anger. There is loyalty under the violence. There is a sense that she knows she failed someone and now has to carry that failure forward.
That gives Red Sonja #2 more bite.
Pablo De Bonis Brings Classic Sword-and-Sorcery Energy
Artist Pablo De Bonis gives this issue the kind of physical storytelling a Red Sonja comic needs.
The fight scenes are clear and forceful. Sonja moves like someone who has survived every kind of battlefield and learned not to waste motion. When she strikes, the panels carry weight. When she pauses, the emotion still comes through.
De Bonis also handles the quieter material well. The flashback pages have a different emotional texture from the present-day violence, while the later scenes involving travel, hidden knowledge, and magical inheritance open the story into a larger fantasy world.
That balance is important. Red Sonja needs savage action, but she also needs a world worth cutting through.
This issue delivers both.
Salvatore Aiala Neto Gives the Issue a Strong Visual Mood
Colorist Salvatore Aiala Neto helps the issue shift between memory, violence, and mystery.
The flashback scenes have a warmer, more public atmosphere, which makes the later bloodshed feel harsher. The present-day fight sequences hit with stronger reds, shadows, and battle-worn textures. Later, when the story moves toward magic and inherited power, the color work helps give those moments a stranger and more ominous feel.
The result is a book that feels like classic fantasy adventure but still has a modern visual punch.
Carlos M. Mangual Keeps the Swordplay Moving
Letterer Carlos M. Mangual keeps the issue readable through action, dialogue, sound effects, and fantasy worldbuilding.
That matters because Red Sonja #2 moves through several modes: flashback, combat, political danger, emotional reflection, and magical setup. The lettering keeps the pacing clean and lets the action land without losing the dialogue-driven scenes.
A good Red Sonja issue needs rhythm.
This one has it.
Aretha Adds a New Layer to the Story
One of the most interesting parts of the issue is the introduction and development of Aretha, whose inherited magical properties become a major part of the plot.
Her presence gives Sonja someone to protect, question, and challenge. Aretha is not just a passenger in the story. Her bloodline and connection to the larger mystery pull Sonja into something more complicated than revenge.
That is a good move for the series.
Sonja can win a sword fight. That is never really in doubt. But magic, inheritance, political schemes, and hidden forces create problems that cannot always be solved by stabbing the nearest villain.
That makes the road ahead more interesting.
The Issue Builds Toward a Bigger Fantasy Conflict
Red Sonja #2 does a strong job expanding the scope of the story.
The early pages focus on one personal debt. The middle section brings in violence and pursuit. The later pages push Sonja toward a larger mystery involving inherited magic, dangerous knowledge, and people who clearly want to use Aretha for their own purposes.
That structure makes the issue feel complete while still setting up the next chapter.
By the end, Sonja is no longer dealing only with the death of one man or the enemies in front of her. She is being pulled into a conflict that has history, magic, and political ambition behind it.
That is exactly where a strong sword-and-sorcery series should go.
Cover and Collector Appeal
The cover for Red Sonja #2 immediately sells the book’s tone.
Sonja stands with sword in hand, surrounded by red light, painterly texture, and a dangerous sense of atmosphere. It is dramatic, intense, and built to catch the eye on the shelf.
Collectors following Dynamite’s new Red Sonja: She-Devil with a Sword run will want this issue because it pushes the story forward in a meaningful way. It is not just a continuation. It deepens Sonja’s motivations, introduces new stakes, and sets up a dangerous magical thread for the next issue.
For official publisher updates, visit Dynamite Entertainment.
Final Verdict: Red Sonja #2 Is a Strong, Bloody Step Forward
Red Sonja #2 is a strong second issue that gives the new run more emotional weight while still delivering the sword-swinging action readers want.
Rory McConville gives Sonja a personal reason to fight. Pablo De Bonis brings strong action and expressive character work. Salvatore Aiala Neto gives the issue atmosphere and impact. Carlos M. Mangual keeps the pacing sharp and readable.
The result is a comic that feels brutal, adventurous, and emotionally sharper than expected.
If you like Red Sonja, sword-and-sorcery comics, revenge stories, dangerous magic, and fantasy adventures with grit, Red Sonja #2 is worth picking up on June 10.
Review Score: 8.5/10
Comic Book Details
Title: Red Sonja #2
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Series: Red Sonja: She-Devil with a Sword
Writer: Rory McConville
Artist: Pablo De Bonis
Colorist: Salvatore Aiala Neto
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
Editor: Joseph Rybandt
Co-Executive Editors: Luke Lieberman and Joseph Rybandt
Based On: The heroine inspired by Robert E. Howard
Release Date: June 10, 2026
Genre: Sword and Sorcery, Fantasy Adventure, Action, Revenge Drama
Why New Readers Should Check It Out
New readers can jump into Red Sonja #2, but reading issue #1 first will give the story more impact.
That said, this issue does a good job showing what makes Red Sonja compelling. She is not just a warrior in a chainmail bikini. She is a survivor with pride, wounds, loyalty, rage, and a very low tolerance for cruelty.
This issue gives readers:
A personal flashback.
A brutal present-day fight.
A new companion with magical importance.
A bigger fantasy mystery.
A strong reason to come back for issue #3.
For anyone curious about Dynamite’s new Red Sonja run, this is a strong point to get invested.
Join the Conversation
Are you picking up Red Sonja #2 from Dynamite Entertainment?
Do you like this more personal direction for Sonja, or are you here mainly for the swordplay, magic, and revenge?
Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know where this new Red Sonja run ranks on your pull list.
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