Conan Red Sonja #1 is the first comic book crossover between the two gender-swapped, but otherwise identical characters in years, with Dynamite and Dark Horse Comics joining forces to set Red Sonja and Conan off on a simultaneous adventure. The first issue of the new Conan Red Sonja comic came out Jan. 14 and immediately justifies the collaborative effort with an adventure worthy of both characters. Conan Red Sonja #1 is written by Gail Simone, who recently reinvented Red Sonja for Dynamite, and Jim Zub, known for the Skullkickers webcomic.

Conan Red Sonja #1 Review (Check out the Cover!)

One of the best parts about Conan the Barbarian (and presumably Red Sonja, but I’m less well-versed on her) is his contempt for magic. Magic in Robert E. Howard’s Hyboria is a powerful force, capable of dire spells and the conjuration of massive snakes, giant spiders, and elephant-headed gods. The invisible powers of political, religious, and criminal institutions leave the realm of metaphor with magic. A cult in Conan’s world doesn’t have power because of its abilities to sway minds and steer ideas, it has literal, magical power. But, in the immortal words of GZA, “when I swing my swords they all choppable.” This is a big part of the appeal of Conan the Barbarian: he chops through institutions of power like unarmored necks.

So when Conan Red Sonja #1 opens on a mysterious priest of Thoth-Amon laying the groundworks for a bit of magic that will “destroy foes faster than any army,” with a “power fit for a king,” you know just what plans Red Sonja and Conan will be disrupting. Setting up the stakes on a single page, Conan Red Sonja #1 then take us to the gladiatorial pits of the city of Enshophur, where a fight between a lion and panther gets us jazzed for Red Sonja and Conan inevitably crossing blades.

What works about Conan Red Sonja #1 is its sharp understanding of the blend of high and low that characterize the best Conan stories. In this first issue for the comic book crossover, Conan and Red Sonja are on the perfect Robert E. Howard mission: steal a big jewel from a butthole prince. While we know some dirty magic is going on elsewhere in the world, that the stakes will soon be much higher, Conan and Red Sonja start their latest adventure as petty criminals out to make a buck.

Unlike the endless mistaken identities, macho posturing, and mind-control DC and Marvel deploys to give us beloved superhero versus beloved superhero fights, when Conan and Red Sonja cross swords it makes sense. They both want that jewel.

If you have any interest in Conan or Red Sonja than Conan Red Sonja #1 is worth picking up. Conan sneaking into a fortress by disguising himself as an old man and tugging on guard-beards is worth the price of admission alone. The art for Conan Red sonja #1 by Dan Panosian is painterly enough to evoke the alien, Hyborean landscape, but sketchy and fluid enough that action never feels bogged down by beautiful scenery. In fact, the only real complaint I have with the art is Conan himself, who looks far too much like Gaston from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

Conan the Barbarian Vs. Gaston

More than just a grab for nerd eyeballs (the same can’t be said for the recent Star Trek Planet of the Apes crossover, “The Primate Directive”), Conan Red Sonja #1 feels like a classic Conan the Barbarian story. In fact, Conan Red Sonja #1 is further evidence that when it comes to swords and sorcery comics may just be the perfect medium.

Please quote lines from the 1982 “Conan the Barbarian” movie in the comments or @AndWhalen.