Acclaimed author Steve Niles left his mark on characters like Batman and Spawn. Now, Niles stands poised to do the same with Red Sonja. Dynamite Entertainment announced that Niles and artist Alessandro Amoruso will bring horror to Hyboria in a new miniseries, Empire of the Damned.
The story opens with Red Sonja imprisoned after a night of drunken revelry. A fellow inmate, Morgo, tells her a tale of a city, hidden deep within a mountain valley. Cursed by a warlock, the city’s streets are filled with the bones of two armies, still locked in battle after all this time. There is also great treasure, for those bold enough to claim it.
It is a compelling story, and Red Sonja does not fear the dead that do not rest. Yet there is still the problem how to escape prison first. With that accomplished, the two thieves will meet other companions for their quest. This includes a young witch named Luna, who has her own tale.
“Red Sonja is such a classic character,” notes Steve Niles. “She was ahead of her time, an incredible warrior, pretty much unkillable and always ready to fight.” Niles promises “violence and great monsters” in the story to come.
Check out the first-look preview of three pages from Red Sonja: Empire of the Damned #1 below:
Red Sonja: Empire of the Damned Covers
Steve Niles and Alessandro Amoruso are joined by an impressive team of cover artists. The series’ main cover will be provided by Joshua Middleton. The other variant covers for the first issue are by Joseph Michael Linsner, Philip Tan, and John Tyler Christopher. There is also a cosplay cover, featuring cosplayer Rachel Hollon as Red Sonja.
Red Sonja: Empire of the Damned #1 is slated for release in April 2024
