Swords of Sorrow #2 Asked to Squabble

Swords of Sorrow #2 is the kind of character-filled, action-packed book I was hoping for this series. The women the Traveler called are starting to put the pieces together, and more and more are meeting. The majority of this book focuses on Red Sonja and Dejah Thoris as they fight and exchange barbs. Interwoven with this are scenes from several other places as the women face their adversaries, outfighting and/or outthinking them.

Gail Simone likes writing thinkers as well as fighters. The women in this issue possess a variety of talents, but all keep their wits about them during strange times. As the messenger protests frequently, they do tend to squabble, but that is part of the fun for those of us reading the issue. I do want to know, though, why the women recruited by the Prince are kept fully informed of events and intentions while the women recruited by the mysterious traveler are left to fend for themselves. It is a given that they will be outnumbered, but here they are being left in the dark as well!

Sergio Davila keeps the panels active but not overcrowded, giving the T-Rex room to roar when it needs to and providing Woola with a most impressive entrance. He focuses here on the similarity of style and appearance between Red Sonja and Dejah Thoris—who do sport strangely similar armor. Panel height and shape are varied to give different views of the action, and the view of the fighting moves from close-up looks at the faces to silhouetted figures in action.

Highlights of this issue include Vampirella fighting a T-Rex, watching Red Sonja meet Woola, and seeing Lady Jane Greystoke go from a proper Englishwoman to a formidable warrior. In short, Swords of Sorrow is shaping up to be a wonderfully fun adventure.

Swords of Sorrow #3 comes out from Dynamite Comics on June 3, 2015.

Writer: Gail Simone
Art: Sergio Davila
Colors: Jorge Sutil
Letters: Erica Schultz
Cover A: Tula Lotay, Cover B Variant: Emanuela Lupacchino and Ivan Nunes, Cover C: Robert Hack