Dynamite Entertainment Launches Altered States: Warlords #1 With Red Sonja on Barsoom
Dynamite Entertainment is opening the door to a wild new parallel reality with Altered States: Warlords #1, and the first stop is pure pulp adventure chaos.
The debut issue throws Red Sonja, the She-Devil of Hyrkania, into a strange new world: Barsoom, the ancient red planet better known to Earth readers as Mars. What begins as one warrior’s impossible journey quickly becomes something much bigger, setting up events that will ripple across worlds and pull in legendary characters like Vampirella, John Carter, Dejah Thoris, and even the Lord of the Jungle.
Written by David Avallone with art by Mariano Benitez-Chapo, Altered States: Warlords #1 kicks off Dynamite’s new alternate-reality adventure in a style that should immediately appeal to fans of classic sword-and-planet storytelling, multiverse twists, and “what if?” style comic book surprises.
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Welcome to Altered States
Altered States is Dynamite Entertainment’s parallel-reality playground, giving familiar characters unexpected new paths, strange new worlds, and reality-bending twists.
The idea is simple but exciting: take iconic characters readers already know, drop them into situations they were never supposed to face, and watch the universe change around them.
That makes Altered States: Warlords #1 a perfect starting point.
Red Sonja is already one of the fiercest warriors in comics, but placing her on Barsoom changes the rules. This is not Hyrkania. This is not her familiar battlefield. This is a red planet full of ancient danger, strange sorcery, brutal enemies, and larger cosmic consequences.
That is exactly the kind of setup a debut issue needs.
Red Sonja Lands on Barsoom
The central hook of Altered States: Warlords #1 is immediately fun:
Red Sonja is transported to Barsoom.
For longtime pulp fans, that is a huge crossover-style premise. Barsoom is a world of warriors, alien kingdoms, deadly creatures, and high adventure. Sonja belongs in a savage world of blades and blood, but Barsoom is not just another battlefield. It is a place where destiny can shift across planets.
The preview pages show Sonja moving from ancient Hyrkania into a strange new reality where the rules are different and the danger is immediate. One moment she is exploring a mysterious ruin; the next, she is caught in a supernatural event that hurls her into another world entirely.
That kind of sudden reality shift gives the issue a strong adventure serial energy.
Sonja is not gently introduced to Barsoom.
She is thrown into it.
A Sword-and-Planet Adventure With Big Crossover Energy
Altered States: Warlords #1 feels built for readers who love big pulpy concepts.
Red Sonja on Mars is already enough to sell the book, but Dynamite is clearly setting up something larger. The story promises ripple effects that will eventually draw in Vampirella, John Carter, Dejah Thoris, and the Lord of the Jungle.
That gives this debut issue a strong sense of momentum.
It is not just a one-off alternate reality experiment. It feels like the opening chapter of a larger adventure where multiple Dynamite icons and pulp legends will collide across worlds.
That is the appeal of Altered States as a concept. It gives creators room to mash together familiar characters in unfamiliar ways while keeping the stakes big, strange, and unpredictable.
David Avallone Brings the Pulp Adventure Heat
Writer David Avallone is a strong fit for this kind of material.
With credits including Elvira and Savage Tales, Avallone understands how to balance danger, humor, action, and throwback genre energy. Altered States: Warlords #1 needs that balance because it is working with several classic ingredients at once: sword-and-sorcery, planetary romance, alternate reality fiction, and crossover mythology.
The issue has to make Red Sonja feel like herself while also making Barsoom feel dangerous and strange.
From the premise and preview pages, this looks like a story that understands the fun of the setup. Sonja is confused, dangerous, and defiant, but never helpless. She is out of place, but not outmatched.
That is exactly how Red Sonja should enter a new world.
Mariano Benitez-Chapo Gives the Issue Scope and Fire
Artist Mariano Benitez-Chapo gives Altered States: Warlords #1 a big, colorful adventure look.
The preview pages move from shadowy ruins to electric blue energy to the red landscapes and architecture of Barsoom. The action is clean, the settings feel large, and Sonja’s arrival on Mars has the kind of dramatic visual impact a crossover debut needs.
The Barsoom sequences are especially strong because they immediately shift the atmosphere. The colors, cities, costumes, and desert-world design make it clear that Sonja has crossed into something far beyond her own world.
That sense of visual transition is important.
This is not just Sonja fighting different enemies.
This is Sonja stepping into another reality.
The Covers Bring Major Collector Appeal
Altered States: Warlords #1 arrives with all-cardstock covers and a strong lineup for collectors.
Cover A by Joseph Michael Linsner brings classic sword-and-sorcery energy, featuring Red Sonja alongside other legendary pulp icons. It is a bold, character-packed cover that immediately sells the crossover fantasy of the issue.
Cover B by Mike Rooth gives the book a darker red-world atmosphere, with Sonja walking across a brutal alien landscape while carrying the severed head of a monstrous creature. It is moody, savage, and very on-brand for this kind of adventure.
Cover C by Mariano Benitez-Chapo goes full battle-mode, showing Red Sonja standing over fallen enemies with sword raised against a burning red sky. This one captures the warrior-icon side of the book perfectly.
Cover D Cosplay Variant by Jackie Goehner gives collectors a live-action-style cosplay cover, adding another option for Red Sonja fans and cosplay-cover collectors.
Dynamite also notes that Mike Rooth and Mariano Benitez-Chapo have each created connecting cover sets for the series, which should make this launch even more appealing for collectors who like building full cover runs.
Why This Debut Issue Matters
Altered States: Warlords #1 is more than just a cool crossover pitch.
It is the first title in Dynamite’s Altered States line, which means this issue sets the tone for the entire concept. If this debut lands, it opens the door for more alternate-reality stories where familiar characters are pushed into unexpected directions.
That is exciting because Dynamite has a deep bench of pulp, horror, fantasy, and adventure icons.
Red Sonja is the perfect first lead because she can survive almost any reality thrown at her. She does not need to understand Barsoom to fight her way through it. She does not need to know the politics, the prophecy, or the cosmic rules before she starts cutting through the danger.
That makes her an ideal anchor for a new alternate-reality launch.
Perfect for New Readers
New readers should have no problem jumping into Altered States: Warlords #1.
The premise is clean and exciting: Red Sonja is pulled into Barsoom, and what happens there changes the fate of multiple worlds.
That is easy to follow, even if you are not caught up on every Red Sonja or Barsoom-related comic. The issue is built around the thrill of discovery. Sonja is entering the unknown, and readers get to enter it with her.
This is a strong pick for fans of:
Red Sonja.
John Carter and Barsoom.
Dejah Thoris.
Vampirella.
Sword-and-sorcery comics.
Sword-and-planet adventures.
Alternate reality stories.
Dynamite Entertainment crossovers.
Classic pulp adventure.
What If-style comic book twists.
Comic Book Details
Title: Altered States: Warlords #1
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: David Avallone
Artist: Mariano Benitez-Chapo
Cover A: Joseph Michael Linsner
Cover B: Mike Rooth
Cover C: Mariano Benitez-Chapo
Cover D: Cosplay cover by Jackie Goehner
Format: Comic Book
Pages: 32 pages
Price: $4.99
Color: Full Color
Covers: All Cardstock Covers
Genre: Adventure, Sword-and-Sorcery, Sword-and-Planet, Alternate Reality
Rating: Teen+
Release Window: June 2026
Final Thoughts: Altered States: Warlords #1 Looks Like a Big, Bloody, Reality-Bending Debut
Altered States: Warlords #1 looks like exactly the kind of debut issue that can pull in both longtime Dynamite readers and new fans looking for a wild jumping-on point.
Red Sonja on Barsoom is a great hook by itself, but the larger promise of Vampirella, John Carter, Dejah Thoris, and the Lord of the Jungle entering the mix makes this feel like the beginning of something much bigger.
David Avallone and Mariano Benitez-Chapo are launching this new parallel-reality line with sword-swinging action, cosmic weirdness, and classic pulp adventure energy. Add in the all-cardstock cover lineup, connecting-cover potential, and the sheer fun of seeing Red Sonja dropped onto Mars, and this becomes an easy book to watch.
The multiverse may be dangerous.
Barsoom may be unforgiving.
But Red Sonja does not run from strange worlds.
She conquers them.
Altered States: Warlords #1 arrives from Dynamite Entertainment in June 2026.
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Join the Conversation
Are you picking up Altered States: Warlords #1 from Dynamite Entertainment?
Are you here for Red Sonja on Barsoom, the alternate-reality setup, the connecting covers, or the promise of Vampirella, John Carter, Dejah Thoris, and the Lord of the Jungle joining the action?
Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know which Dynamite character you want to see thrown into an Altered States reality next.
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