The She-Devil With a Sword is slicing into a brand new title this April, pairing with legendary writer Steve Niles for the first time ever for an epic tale overflowing with the undead!

After landing in jail following a night of drunken revelry, a frequent Sonja specialty, the Hyrkanian heroine hears a shocking story from a fellow inmate. This is the first she’s heard of the infamous “Empire of the Damned,” a dead city hidden deep in a valley amidst the mountains. Long abandoned and forgotten, the city’s haunting streets are littered with the bones of two armies, locked in battle but obliterated by a warlock’s curse. The evil spellcaster is long gone too, but he may have left around his vast treasure or the clues to find it.

Sonja’s new pal Morgo claims that not only is this legend true, but he’s got a map and the drive for adventure. He’s just met a willing and fearsome companion for his quest. They just need to prioritize breaking out of lockup first! Fans will get to hang out with even more fun new characters in the series, like a powerful young witch named Luna.

Through his works, Niles is also known for often collaborating with artists of a similar wavelength, such as superstars Bernie Wrightson, Ben Templesmith, and Kelley Jones. The next to join that legacy of artists will be Alessandro Amoruso, set for his breakout story.

The team is joined on their quest by a party of top talents contributing covers. Joshua Middleton‘s gorgeous style mixes perfectly with the horror twist here. Joseph Michael Linsner, Philip Tan, cosplayer Rachel Hollon, and a signature color bleed/negative space cover from John Tyler Christopher round out the set on the first issue.

Red Sonja: Empire of the Damned delivers monsters, magic, and mayhem in equal measure. It’s a can’t-miss chapter in the chronicles of the Hyborian Age!