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Red Sonja - Comic Number 2

• Published by Dynamite Entertainment
• Written by Michael Avon Oeming and Mike Carey
• Art by Mel Rubi
• Colors: Caesar Rodriguez and Richard Isanove
• Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft
• Cover: Adam Hughes, Art Adams, Frank Brunner, J.G. Jones, Estaban Maroto, Billy Tan, Mel Rubi (wraparound), Mel Rubi

First Issue Synopsis by Marc Mason

The high priest of Gathia narrates as a lethal barrage of arrows flies towards Sonja. He believes her coming is a blessing. After she deflects all but one arrow, the Gathian swordsmen begin their own attack, and Sonja begins to overwhelm them as well. The priest, named Fa, notes to the head swordsman that he and his men have a true fight on their hands and quietly notes that he needs Sonja for some purpose. Eventually, she has killed all but a couple of warriors, but before she can exalt in triumph, the ground gives way beneath her.

Sonja drops into a deep, darkly lit pit which is spewed with dead bodies and broken swords. Fa grimly intones that no one survives the pit, when horrific growling suddenly comes from the dark. However, Sonja immediately uses a dead man's skull, the torches that light the walls, and some pieces of rope to create a weapon and takes the fight towards the gruesome creature that stumbles out of the shadows. After a fierce battle, Sonja vanquishes the beast, but her efforts finally leave her drained and she passes out. Fa, seeing this, believes that Sonja is someone he saw in a vision and determines that he needs her.

Fa tells the surviving soldiers that the Celestial wants her for a sacrifice and tells the men to clean her for their Lord and they carry Sonja off. The priest then enters into an audience with the Celestial and begins to discuss Sonja's deeds. Fa is praised for his actions and loyalty, but he subtly attempts to dissuade the Celestial from sacrificing Sonja because of her impurity. Seeing through this attempt, the Celestial chides Fa and inquires if he was hoping to have Sonja for sex. Chastised, Fa offers to make a sacrifice of himself, but the Celestial brushes off Fa and tells him that Sonja will be sanctified by the touch of his altar. The Celestial then orders that a dam be built to block a river and flood the Zedda tribes as revenge for killing Gathia's messenger.

Sonja awakens in a bright room, having been dressed in a ceremonial garment. A slave girl washes her and expresses her jealousy at Sonja being sacrificed, wishing her turn would come soon. Sonja tells the girl to stop bowing to her and tending to her, but Fa shows himself and explains that there is nothing she can do about the girl's attitude. The redheaded warrior curses the priest, offering her contempt for he and his fellow clergy for the hold they exert on the populace. He tries to make her understand that he is different, but she does not believe him. Fa leaves to prepare the ritual, and the slave girl implores Sonja to understand how lucky she is, but Sonja verbally cuts her down, telling her that her life is precious and her beliefs are foolish.

The ceremony begins, and Fa narrates the tale of how the Celestial fell from the sky, a moment prophesized in dreams sent to the Gathians by their lord, Borat-Na Fori. The Celestial united the Gathians, guided them through building the city, and helping them become "pure" for their Lord. The priest, seeing no other choice, takes a ceremonial dagger in hand and expresses his regret over Sonja's imminent demise. Chained to the altar, Sonja can only watch as the dagger plunges into her heart. Fa breaks off the knife and leaves it in her chest. Never emitting a single scream, she dies.

Also See

• Red Sonja - Comic Number 1
• Red Sonja - Comic Number 2. Public article, open to additions and changes.

External Links

Dynamite Entertainment