Writer: Erik Burnham, Tom Defalco, Anthony Marques, Liam Marques
Artist: Tom Garcia, Anthony Marques, Avery Marques
Colors: Morgan Hickman
Lettering: Taylor Esposito
Cover: Reilly Brown
Publisher: Dynamite
Spoilers
This special is comprised of two stories, the second being a brief little number at the back. I am usually down for a decent Red Sonja tale, and these two were pretty typical of the stories we all associate with the She-Devil. I’m not sure if I was expecting much more than what I got, but it would have been nice to be surprised, especially for a holiday themed oneshot. However, I wasn’t let down or anything, so that’s always a plus.
The first story is titled Curse of the Wolf and features an even bustier than usual Sonja encountering the supernatural during a festival that marks the time of year when spirits can cross into the fleshy world most easily. I liked the premise, but the missing word in the second text box immediately had me on my guard. It ended up being a pleasantly creepy plot, if a little predictable. The dialogue seemed somewhat bland and not quite up to par with the epic dialogue in many of the other stories of Conan and Red Sonja.
I did like the art of the first story quite a bit, despite the exaggeration of certain anatomical parts. The faces were drawn really well and the colors were great. Likewise, though a completely different style, the art in the second story, Hail Halcoose was also appealing. It had a more animated feel to it, that made it super fun and refreshing to read.
Although the plot of this second story was lightning fast, it served its purpose. I enjoyed the cheekiness and light-hearted kind of feel (though the stakes were high in the tale).
All in, a solid holiday read, if not the most memorable. It’s nice for a short break during a rainy October afternoon.
Overall: 7/10
