Everyone’s favorite flame-haired warrior is getting a special one-shot this summer thanks to writer Mark Russell and artist Bob Q. The pair are set to join forces again after their successful The Lone Ranger partnership for Red Sonja: Lord of Fools, an oversized issue featuring two stories following June’s Red Sonja #6. The one-shot will also feature a stunning cover by Christian Ward (Thor, Black Bolt), colors by Dearbhla Kelly, and letters by Hassan Ostmane-Elhaou.
The first full length story continues the sword and sorcery political intrigue that fans have been following in the ongoing series. While Dragan the Magnificent is at war with Sonja the Red, his son Cyril is at the capital palace of the Zamoran Empire. The high priest Oracon shares the philosophy of the Lord of Fools, which may reveal a deep secret that could unravel Dragan’s plans.
For the second tale, Russell joins artist Katie O’Meara to tell the lore-building story Cerkus, Sonja the Red’s tongue of fire. The one-shot sets up Bob Q as the primary artist on Red Sonja’s ongoing series for issues 7 through 9. Current artist Mirko Colak will return for issue 10.
“I’m really happy to be working with Bob Q again, especially on such an epic story that leans more heavily into the fantasy element of this world,” said Russell. “This issue ends with a bombshell which will change what readers thought they knew about the first six issues and sets them up for the next six, more fantasy-heavy, issues.”
Bob Q shared, “I’ve been hoping to do some big time butt-kicking, barbarian bombast, and along came the opportunity to work on Red Sonja. I took it the moment it was offered. I’ve been following this series since issue one, and I can only hope to continue the extremely high artistic benchmark set by Mirko Colak. As if the pot weren’t already sweet enough, I get to team up with Mark Russell and Dearbhla Kelly again. Who’s the winner? Bob’s the winner!”
Newcomer O’Meara said, “Getting to contribute to the long-running mythos of Red Sonja has been such a wonderful honor, particularly for a one-shot so focused on character and world-building, a great love of mine. I feel so lucky to have been given this opportunity by the Dynamite crew, after Nate [Cosby] so deliberately went out of his way to take a chance on a newcomer such as myself.”
Red Sonja: Lord of Fools is available for preorder in May. Check with your favorite comic shop to get your copy. The one-shot is set for release in July and will be available digitally on Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more.
