Literally Graphic reviewed Conan Red Sonja by Gail Simone
Review of 'Conan Red Sonja' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
One of my favourite people writing women in mainstream comics today, I've already talked about Gail Simone a couple of times. Follow her twitter, it's a fun time. Jim Zub on the other hand, I shall linger on for a moment for the novelty of it all. A writer, artist and art instructor Jim Zub is based in Toronto, Canada. Over the past fifteen years he’s worked for a diverse array of publishing, movie and video game clients including Disney, Warner Bros., Capcom, Hasbro, Bandai-Namco and Mattel.
The official description of this little romp is as follows: Gail Simone and Jim Zub team up to bring together two legendary warriors: Conan and Red Sonja! This volume collects issues #1–#4 of the smash-hit crossover! In a tale spanning three eras in the lives of these classic characters, Conan and Red Sonja become comrades to take down a sorcerer-priest hell bent on …
One of my favourite people writing women in mainstream comics today, I've already talked about Gail Simone a couple of times. Follow her twitter, it's a fun time. Jim Zub on the other hand, I shall linger on for a moment for the novelty of it all. A writer, artist and art instructor Jim Zub is based in Toronto, Canada. Over the past fifteen years he’s worked for a diverse array of publishing, movie and video game clients including Disney, Warner Bros., Capcom, Hasbro, Bandai-Namco and Mattel.
The official description of this little romp is as follows: Gail Simone and Jim Zub team up to bring together two legendary warriors: Conan and Red Sonja! This volume collects issues #1–#4 of the smash-hit crossover! In a tale spanning three eras in the lives of these classic characters, Conan and Red Sonja become comrades to take down a sorcerer-priest hell bent on creating a new age in Hyborian warfare!
Diving into my own feelings a bit, I'll admit that the first time I read it a couple of years ago (mostly because I couldn't get my hands on her other Red Sonja series) I wasn't too sure. But after watching the Red Sonja movie and reading the other comic etc. I really enjoyed the dynamics between Conan and Red Sonja. Especially because the sexuality was so relaxed.
Comparing and contrasting the artwork between this and the stand alone Gail Simone, while I certainly don't take too much offense to the depiction of Sonja herself I still prefer the other series a bit more. The actual chainmail bikinini was minimal there, and her literally wearing said bikini all the time ended up looking extremely one note. That said, she owns it, and that goes a long way. If you can't even get a fictional character to believably consent to "sexy outfits" that speaks to something at least adjacent to rapy. That said, the way Sonja's body became more rugged in the second half - really subverting the whole bikini thing to begin with. That said, Conan's boss lady's outfit would not work in reality and isn't really all that attractive.
Other gender and sexuality notes hit. Sonja is impatient and ends up killing a lot more as a result, but it doesn't end up biting her in the butt either. She's bi or pan, and having casual - no strings attached - consensual sex with Conan the barbarian.
Class is a thing in as much as their are the haves and the have nots. There's a bit of singular genius going on in the initial narration, but ultimately the narration is a joke so that works out I suppose.
Race is once again washed away and none existent. Fun!