'Red Sonja Volume Three: The Forgiving of Monsters' – Gail Simone, Walter Geovani (Dynamite)


Well, it ended up being a little later than I planned but I got there in the end (eventually). It was too hot, last night, to do anything but curl up (next to the open fridge), eat a Mars ice cream and read one of the many comic books that lurk, unread, in my tiny flat. Last night's read was Volume Three of Gail Simone and Walter Geovani's run on 'Red Sonja', a run that I've had a lot of fun with and am so glad that I took a chance on. 'The Forgiving of Monsters' was no exception, of course it wasn't, let me tell you about it.

While the Hyrkanian warrior aids a small village against the ravages of a rampant parasite, she picks up the trail of the man she hates and distrusts most in the world: the last survivor of the marauders who murdered her family. In the grip of a vengeful obsession that is all-consuming, the heroine barely recognizes herself. Can even the unconquerable Red Sonja return from a darkness so complete?

Having finished Volume Three, I'm left in a little bit of a stunned silence... I thought I knew where this book would go, was sure of it in fact; given the nature of the villains that Sonja had already faced (and the friends she had made), it was looking fairly nailed on that she would have to face the man who had made her life what it was. And she does but Sonja faces a far worse enemy at the same time, one who will fight harder than any other... You know who I'm talking about ;o)

It takes an evil wizard to kick things off (although it's a bit of a rubbish curse, he is only bringing out what was already there) but Sonja was always going to find that the main obstacle to her leading the life that she actually wants is herself, more specifically the rage and obsession that has defined her up until fairly recently. And that's the beauty of what Simone has done, over the last two Volumes, and continues to do here. Sonja now has a choice that she never thought she'd have, she can be that person... if she can let go of the past.

What Sonja goes through to be able to make that decision... The outcome is obvious but is only half the point. The journey is far more important than the destination and Simone crams it chock full of, well... the scale of what Sonja is up against. It's heartbreaking and the sort of story where I realise that I have to keep reading as it would be disrespecting the lead's sacrifices if I stopped. Does that make any sense or am I the only person who does this? Anyway...

Simone and Geovani have been on this journey for a while now and with the end in sight, they pull out some of their best work yet and it dovetails perfectly. There is no point where there is any doubt over what it all means, to Sonja in particular, and that means the pages just have to keep turning (which they do). And if that wasn't enough (and just when you thought there was no more story to tell), Red Sonja still manages to find time to rescue nuns and ancient knowledge which again, made for some really touching moments as Sonja manages to reconcile herself with a difficult part of her childhood.

It goes without saying that I absolutely recommend that you read Simone and Geovani's run and I can tell you, very confidently, that the best is saved until last. 'The Forgiving of Monsters' is the perfect end to a near perfect tale.

While you're here, have a click on my other reviews...

Volume One - Queen of Plagues.

Volume Two - The Art of Blood and Fire.

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