The Altered States alternate reality for Dynamite characters took off with an impressive launch last week with the introduction of the Vampirella version of the character, but the application to try something new with familiar characters is a lot more sedate when it comes to Red Sonja.  As opposed to Vampirella which chose to alter the character’s background as well as to thrown her into a new setting this issue sticks closer to the same format, even if there are a number of differences to make this a new take on the old character.

Whereas the Vampirella version bypassed the familiar almost completely, this issue does not.  Instead it reads as a “What-If?” concept of how to use Sonja in a modern day setting, and even incorporates Sonja into the story, somewhat throughout by way of capturing her essence in her sword.  It tells the story of Sonja, a museum researcher who comes upon two separate but related items, one belonging to the she-barbarian, the other to her enemy.  When the power of the first is released Sonja and the entirety of New York City is thrown into a version of the past, with fantasy taking the place of technology.  By grabbing her sword she is able to channel the powers of her namesake, and she must fight her old enemy to revert New York to the way it ought to be.

The idea behind the Altered States is to try something new, but it does not really work here.  While Vampirella was able to use some of the old to mix into something different, the formula doesn’t work here.  Instead this reads as just another case of an Egyptologist stumbling upon some untold power, as was common in the golden age of comics with the likes of Hawkman, Doctor Fate and the Blue Beetle (among others.)  While not a failure, the end product here is equally not really inspired, using too much of the familiar and not enough of the new.

Story: Brandon Jerwa  Art: Juanan Ramirez
Story:  7.3 Art: 7.3  Overall: 7.3  Recommendation: Pass

Dynamite provided Graphic Policy with a free copy for review.