Red Sonja: Age of Chaos #5
Writer: Erik Burnham
Artist: Jonathan Lau
Cover: Lucio Parrillo
FC | 32 pages | Fantasy/Horror | $3.99 | Teen+
All hell breaks loose in Red Sonja: Age of Chaos #5 — and it’s just the penultimate chapter in this limited series. Will anyone still be around for the finale?
As previously reported, Red Sonja meets the Chaos! characters Chastity, Purgatori, Jade, and Evil Ernie for the first time ever in this limited series from Dynamite Entertainment.
And chaos is an understatement when all these characters throw down in this action-packed issue. Can Red Sonja and Chastity stop Jade and her thralls, and a newly powered Purgatori?
Spoilers ahead.
Clash of the Chaos! characters
In last issue’s review, I mentioned that Red Sonja: Age of Chaos features a lot of humor that doesn’t feel tacked on. While Erik Burnham’s writing is as excellent as ever, this issue has no time for witty dialogue.
It’s nonstop action after Red Sonja and Chastity finally reach the abandoned temple of dark magic. But the sun has already set, and the creatures of the night are determined to claim the power of the amulet.
These Chaos! characters certainly don’t hold back as they try to tear each other apart. First up is the vampire-sorceress Jade and her thralls. She gives Red Sonja and Chastity a choice.
Jade: “Now give me the amulet, and you have my word I’ll end you and your companion quickly. Otherwise, I’ll allow my children to feed on you for an eternity.”
Chastity: “‘Feed on us for an eternity?’ Do you understand how dumb that sounds? You can’t be intimidating when your threats don’t square with reality. You just sound like Jabba the Hutt. And you know what happened to him?”
OK, fine, there’s still time for some witty dialogue.
Have sword, will slash
Chastity and Jade face off, and the punk vampire that Jade sneeringly calls half-breed emerges victorious.
She and Red Sonja don’t have time to celebrate, however, because the thralls don’t scatter even after their master dies. And just after Chastity says that at least it can’t get worse, it actually does.
Because Purgatori has arrived.
Jade’s thralls attack Purgatori, and Chastity tells Red Sonja to run to the temple. Chastity says she will buy the She-Devil some time.
Red Sonja tries to restore Kulan Gath by spilling her own blood. But things don’t go according to plan. And that’s an understatement.
How will this all end? I have no idea, but all I know is that I can’t wait for the last issue to arrive!
(Editor’s note: This review is based on an advanced review copy provided by Diamond Entertainment. Red Sonja: Age of Chaos #5 shipped on July 15.)
