Book Review: Altered States Red Sonja - One Shot

Book: Altered States Red Sonja - One Shot by Brandon Jerwa with illustrations by Juanan Ramirez with color by Rohvel Yumul

Edition: Single Print Issue

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

This opens with Red Sonja losing a battle against the wizard Kulan Gath and his army of monsters. But as she is dying, she says a prayer to Scáthach in the hopes that her will and desire for war will not be lost. In the end, all that was left of Red Sonja was her sword.

The story then takes place in our modern time where a team at an archeological dig have unearth Red Sonja's sword. At some later time in New York, the story follows Sonja Majeure, a 26 year old museum curator who just so happens to have red hair had been examining the newest item on display, the sword of Red Sonja when she received a call informing her that her latest acquisition has now arrived at the museum. The item turned out to be a mummified Kulan Gath along with his spell book.

With plans to send the book to a translator, Sonja was thrilled by these latest developments. Once she was e-mailed the translations, Sonja made the mistake of reading them out loud near Kulan Gath's display. As the mummy came back to life he caused a lot of damage to the displays including the one that held Red Sonja's sword.

Thinking she needed to protect herself Sonja picked up the sword and immediately transformed into the legendary Red Sonja (well, appearance wise). Although she may look like Red Sonja, she has none of Red Sonja's skills which is what she's going to need to defeat the wizard who took off to find his spell book.

But Sonja wasn't completely on her own, Red Sonja's consciousness was there to guide her as Kulan Gath was trying to make over the modern world to suit him. The world was turning back in time and Sonja needed to right the world as soon as possible before it was too late.

I like this, it was definitely different. Yes, this story doesn't feature the usual ruthless warrior Red Sonja but it's well written and gives you a very interesting alternate reality that shows the strength and drive of this modern Sonja as she tries to save the world.