REVIEW: Spider-Man/Red Sonja #4
Writer: Michael Avon Omeing
Artist: Mel Rubi
Dynamite Entertainment/Marvel Comics
You either hate this book or you love it. Me? I love it.
Yes, I know that the covers by Michael Turner are – even by the lax standards of Michael Turner covers – abysmal. By Crom, Sonja appears to be a ballerina stretching on a pole rather than a warrior maiden wielding a sword!
Yes, this book is based on an unmitigated silly concept. It’s centers around the concept that an evil wizard is awakened, transforms New York City into a Hyborian metropolis, everybody but Peter Parker is changed along with it and Mary Jane is possessed by the spirit of Red Sonja.
Yes, I know that the fact that it is an unmitigated silly concept that has its’ roots in a story that was created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne back when they were both at the top of their game excuses nothing.
Yes, I know the fact that this book is being overseen by Mel Rubi and Michael Avon Oeming – the team who brought Red Sonja back to greatness in her only monthly book – also excuses nothing.
And yes, even I admit that Kulan Gath being possessed by the Venom Symbiote is probably one of the stupidest things I’ve seen in comics all year.
And yet, I don’t care.
Because all is shattered by the sheer unadulterated awesome that is Joeseph, Son of Robert; Rebel Leader!
Seriously. You do not get better comics than the Joseph “Robbie†Robertson speaking faux-Shakespeare wielding a sword and getting ready to put the smack down on a group of trolls without help. And if you can’t appreciate that, then you really can’t appreciate this book.
Yes, this book is a bit silly. But it is unashamedly silly, like a child with a towel tied around their neck insisting in all seriousness while smiling widely that they are in fact Superman. More than a lot of comics today, this book is fun. And that can allow me to forgive a lot these days when so few comics – even the ones I enjoy – are truly fun.
