Red Sonja She-Devil with a Sword PF

[Golden_Boy]

I speculated on this elsewhere, and people vehemently disagreed with me. But I KNOW you and the other several people here are not the only ones that have reservations about the gorey base.

That is one reason I honestly believe that we'll see a more mild variant of this- probably without any kind of slaughtered creature. The figure sculpt of Sonja alone is a superior piece of work and I don't think SS is going to be content using it on a one off piece. Especially when a more generic base variant will be more displayable by more people (think just a general mossy stone platform with Hyborina hieroglyphics or maybe a skeleton or dry bones).

Not 100% sure this will happen, but I would be willing to be money by the end of the decade we'll see a second statue. And if it's done well enough and the color choices are good, I could easily imagine people that love this as it is right now, actually wanting to sell theirs and get the new one.

I'd say if the ES on this is relatively low (in relation to the enthusiasm for it which is the highest of anything coming out of SDCC this year from SS), then it would seem a lock to me we'll get a less gorey variant down the road. SS is going to milk this sculpt one way or the other. Either a huge ES to start or variants.

There's a reason people vehemently disagreed with you...you -- and those turned off by the base -- are in the extreme minority. Sideshow will not make a variant to this with a "less gory" base to appease the extreme minority who just want a sexy woman warrior statue. There are plenty of those...just order the regular edition of the first statue.

Even if you don't just want a sexy woman warrior statue (which you basically do if you want this with no gore) and you want this exact statue and sculpt, you're not going to get it without the snake base. I can guarantee that. If they were going to do that, then the snake would've been the EX, which would've been silly. I have no doubt Sideshow will make another Red Sonja down the line, but they're not going to "milk" this statue and make one where she's just...sneaking through rocks or something. And really, if you want/like Red Sonja, you should be used to this type of gore and excited to see it in statue form.

And you could easily imagine people who love this now selling theirs to get another version of this Sonja on a mild, plain base? That'd never happen. Extreme minority. Fans of Red Sonja, or the style she's often drawn in...I mean, that's what's appealing about this statue. She slaughtered the hell out of a giant snake and is walking over his carcass! She's not worried about getting dirty...

The first Sonja sold well! The EX sold better because -- low and behold -- people wanted her holding up a decapitated head that she just sliced off with her bloody arse sword! That's the character. Could a simple, non-gory posed Sonja sell? Sure, it may...she's an attractive gal. Will Sideshow make a variant of this for those who don't want to display this base? No. That'd be ridiculous. Why would they waste their time with that? They'd just make another Sonja in two or three years with some other form of gore in it.

I honestly can't understand the repulsion about the base...it's blood and guts from a giant monster snake, killed by a warrior woman who fights insane monsters and warriors all the time. It's not like it's a bunch of dead babies surrounding her...that'd be messed up and worthy of being disgusted by. That said, if you don't like a big, dead snake cut in half, as this bad ass warrior chick who did it continues forward on her quest, well, I'd get over the statue and look elsewhere because this is how this one will always be.

If you can handle it, and don't want to just have it out on the dining room table, or in the family room, well that makes sense...toss'r in your office and you're good to go!

 

[Xenoburger_]

I can't fathom why anyone would be put off by the base. Sideshow has done dozens of dead fantasy creature bases. And even more statues with blood on them.

This is just like the Tauntaun seen from ESB with blood for me.

It would be a shame for them to change the base because that snake sculpt is phenomenal, maybe even more so than Sonja. The scales, the fangs, the mouth, the tongue, the eye, etc.

 

[garygerani]

Imo, the organic nature of the savage Sonja figure and the gutted serpent base makes these components inseparable, at least from an artistic standpoint. They compliment each other perfectly and add up to a magnificent statue that has a "double-whammy" effect on viewers: we admire the sheer fearlessness and audacity of the concept, even as we're being stimulated by it. But, like any extreme decoration, it needs to be displayed in a room that allows these excessive qualities to be appreciated without seeming garish or out of place. A hobby room or funky personal office is best. So... don't change this grandly gory statue. Just display it in a place that makes sense!

 

[Transient]

I have to agree that there will probably be no variant of this. And with the very successful Simone run of the new series coming to an end, I doubt there will be a push from Dynamite to make any new statues either unless she is picked up for another series or the current series is picked up by a new author.

The reality is likely that the gore disgusts the people who do not read her comic books. This is evident in the people complaining about her having an axe because the 'statue' is 'The She Devil with a Sword', not even knowing that that is her moniker. And that she uses basically anything that cleaves heads.

It'd be like people going into a Superman statue thread with no prior knowledge of anything and complaining about this man wearing a blue and red suit when clearly he should be made out of steel. I mean, he is the 'Man of Steel' right? Why would be be wearing some kind of corny blue and red suit?

As to the violence, in the last 12 issues she decapitates probably a dozen people, stabs like 3 or 4 people straight through the skull with various stabby instruments, and brains a guy with a rotisserie chicken. That's who Red Sonja is. That's what we are getting. I don't see the problem.

 

[gyro]

Quote *and brains a guy with a rotisserie chicken*
It dosnt get better than that

 

[Mose Harper]

People seem to think I am arguing against gore.
What I am actually saying is that the base, as cool as it (and I agree, it is cool), is also busy. For many people this is only a positive- more detail to be able to peruse. I'm looking at this from a different angle. The figure work is SO strong, that the base actually steals attention away from it.
A simpler base (which would likely have less gore) would possibly offer a more elegant design that would put attention firmly on the figure with little distraction coming from elsewhere.
And that is elegant in terms of overall form and composition- not elegant as in a cleaner, neater barbarian.

Would you guys buy it over this? probably not.
Would someone that passed on this buy it , if this were now sold out? Depending upon how well that simpler design came out, the answer could be a "hell no!" to a resounding "Hell, Yes!"

And as to the idea of people ever selling this to get a simpler version- again, I am foolishly asking people (most of whom are probably not artists themselves) to use their imaginations, which I realize is futile. Let's say for the sake of argument there came about an alternate base that looked wicked cool, while being somewhat simpler and less gorey. With the way people get tired of their stuff here, and always hoping for a low ES so that the "perfect" statue they can't wait to own will retain some value for when they get tired of it, I can easily imagine, after the novelty has a worn off of the snake base, someone 'side-grading' purely to inject some novelty into their collection. Again, assuming for the sake of argument the new base were still wicked cool, albeit in a different way.

I honestly don't see that as an unreasonable, or outrageous idea. certainly not enough to get worked up over.

But, it's silly to argue this as only time will ultimately tell.

 

[SAB]

I get the concern about displaying gore in a family or work environment but find it slightly baffling that the largely naked woman with clearly visible ass and porn star boobs apparently doesn't fall into the same category.

 

[Mose Harper]

People are funny. Some people actually have snake phobias- imagine that! Maybe if it were a slaughtered ape they might not have a problem. But anything associated with a snake is just too unpleasant for them to look at.

I work alongside an amazing artist who is deathly afraid of frogs. He had a great deal on a house but he couldn't take it because of the possibility coming into contact with frogs if he lived in that area.

 

[Collectorcol]

Jeeez! It is what it is.
Don't like the base? Don't even consider this then and move on It's a statue designed for adults.

My son won't like it and guess what? I won't make him look at it. He didn't like the severed head on the original but it's not like it gave him nightmares.
If you display your statues in a family environment I'm sure you can find a thread with some family themed Disney characters.

What would you prefer? Fluffy bunnies, cute puppies and newborn chicks running around her?

It's like entering the Pinhead thread and saying he's too creepy.

 

[Mose Harper]

Imo, the organic nature of the savage Sonja figure and the gutted serpent base makes these components inseparable, at least from an artistic standpoint.

Have to disagree there.
I do agree with your further statement that they compliment each other. But as far as inseparable goes, I would reserve that for something like a pose where she is actually hacking or gutting the snake.
The way the figure is here is a fairly generic fighting stance. You change the props around her and you change the context. But it is a pose that can easily work in more than one context.

Again, I'm not petitioning for SS to change the base nor am I trying to convince anyone here the base is "wrong" and should be something else.
I'm just once again butting up against a belief amongst a lot of people that something they see is absolutely 100% perfectly perfect as it is and could never be as remotely attractive any other way than the way they see it now.

I understand admiring it as it is and not wanting to see it altered for fear of degrading what is already great- but at the same time I find not being able to entertain other possibilities a sign of a very restrictive, narrow sense of imagination.

 

[grphyx1]

Once again I'm reminded that you really just love to hear yourself talk and preach. You didn't like the first Sonja because her shoulders did not fall anatomically correct, now this. Go watch the nature channel and petition them to stop showing animals eating other animals.

Have to disagree there.
I do agree with your further statement that they compliment each other. But as far as inseparable goes, I would reserve that for something like a pose where she is actually hacking or gutting the snake.
The way the figure is here is a fairly generic fighting stance. You change the props around her and you change the context. But it is a pose that can easily work in more than one context.

Again, I'm not petitioning for SS to change the base nor am I trying to convince anyone here the base is "wrong" and should be something else.
I'm just once again butting up against a belief amongst a lot of people that something they see is absolutely 100% perfectly perfect as it is and could never be as remotely attractive any other way than the way they see it now.

I understand admiring it as it is and not wanting to see it altered for fear of degrading what is already great- but at the same time I find not being able to entertain other possibilities a sign of a very restrictive, narrow sense of imagination.

 

[Xenoburger_]

I can agree that the base may be too busy - as glorious as it is - but will this really detract from the piece? In every photo posted I've instantly noticed and been amazed by Red Sonja before my eyes wondered down to the base. But that could just be because most of the pictures posted don't have much of the base in it.

I think we need to wait until the official photos are released, or maybe even until we get it in-hand to judge whether the base detracts from the statue or not.

Personally I don't think I'll mind either way though.

 

[Collectorcol]

Nothing needs changing. Put it up and I'll order

(Actually I'll order once the ES is announced).

 

[Golden_Boy]

And as to the idea of people ever selling this to get a simpler version- again, I am foolishly asking people (most of whom are probably not artists themselves) to use their imaginations, which I realize is futile. Let's say for the sake of argument there came about an alternate base that looked wicked cool, while being somewhat simpler and less gorey. With the way people get tired of their stuff here, and always hoping for a low ES so that the "perfect" statue they can't wait to own will retain some value for when they get tired of it, I can easily imagine, after the novelty has a worn off of the snake base, someone 'side-grading' purely to inject some novelty into their collection. Again, assuming for the sake of argument the new base were still wicked cool, albeit in a different way.

Man, you're a pretentious prick. Just flat out, no rebuttal to that needed. It's 100% undeniable. I actually responded to other parts of your post, but just deleted it all because you're not worth the time. What a ridiculous, condescending statement from someone who's basically talking out of their arse.

Once again I'm reminded that you really just love to hear yourself talk and preach. You didn't like the first Sonja because her shoulders did not fall anatomically correct, now this. Go watch the nature channel and petition them to stop showing animals eating other animals.

 

[Collectorcol]

I usually like reading your posts Mose but on this occasion I gotta agree with grphyx and G_B.

Some people like simple bases that draw the eye to the statue others like Diorama bases that tell a story.
Horses for courses... No need to insult anyone.

 

[ehren]

Perhaps the people that don't like it should try sculpting their own version. Please be sure to post your progress pics here so we can see what we are missing out on. LOL

 

[mutant-man]

Perhaps the people that don't like it should try sculpting their own version. Please be sure to post your progress pics here so we can see what we are missing out on. LOL

If you do that, I want to see your work since it would be pretty wicked. Mine would like like a deformed Play-Doh snowman or something, though.

 

[gyro]

We are lucky SS isn't making cookie cutter statues that please everyone

 

[Golden_Boy]

If you do that, I want to see your work since it would be pretty wicked. Mine would like like a deformed Play-Doh snowman or something, though.

 

[CallMeTheDoctor]

My only problem with the base is what would be on SS' part. For example I haven't seen a well done base from SS in a while. Cap was well done, but in comparison to Sonja; I wonder if they could nail the details and paint. Also I'd imagine it might be a bit heavier and more use of material giving a higher cost. That's all. The gore, the gutting, everything is perfect by me, and that's from someone who didn't want to put up the decapitation of the last one. Though she won't fit amazingly in my collection, I plan to order the first minute.