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Red Sonja

Hyborian Age

Red Sonja, "warrior woman out of majestic Hyrkania ", was created by Roy Thomas (writer) and Barry Smith (pencils, inks, and color). She made her début in "The Shadow of the Vulture" and "The Song of Red Sonja" in Marvel Comics Conan the Barbarian 23-24 (1972).

Red Sonja, "warrior woman out of majestic Hyrkania ", was created by Roy Thomas (writer) and Barry Smith (pencils, inks, and color). She made her début in "The Shadow of the Vulture" and "The Song of Red Sonja" in Marvel Comics Conan the Barbarian 23-24 (1972).

She was loosely based on the character Red Sonya of Rogatino in Robert E. Howard's short story " The Shadow of the Vulture " (The Magic Carpet Magazine January 1934). Thomas rewrote this as a Conan story for the Marvel comic, reinventing REH’s Red Sonya, making her a heroine of Conan’s Hyborian Age, tweaking the spelling of her name, and replacing Sonya's guns (and sword) with (only) a sword.

"The Song of Red Sonja" won the 1973 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards: Best Individual Story (Dramatic). In Conan the Barbarian, two panels were censored by John Romita. The uncensored story was reprinted in Marvel Treasury Edition 1 15 (1977), where it was recolored by Glynis Wein and the artwork was slightly cropped to fit the page format.

The She-Devil with a Sword has become the archetypal example of the fantasy figure of a fierce and stunningly beautiful female barbarian who typically wears sexy, but skimpy armor.

Biographical sketch

The origin of Red Sonja, "The Day of the Sword", first appeared in Kull and the Barbarians #3 by Roy Thomas, Doug Moench, and Howard Chaykin. This story was later redrawn by Dick Giordano and Terry Austin for Savage Sword of Conan #78.

Red Sonja lived with her family in a humble home in the Western Hyrkanian steppes. When she had just turned 17 years old, a group of cruel mercenaries killed her father, Ivor, her mother, and two younger brothers before burning down their house and all their possessions. She survived but was raped by the leader of the group. Answering her cry for revenge, the red goddess Scathach appeared to her and instilled in her incredible skill in the handling of swords and other weapons on the condition that she would never lie with a man unless he defeated her in fair combat.

Physical appearance

Most artists depict Red Sonja wearing a very brief bikini-like costume of scale mail. As originally drawn by Barry Smith for "The Shadow of the Vulture" and "The Song of Red Sonja" in Conan the Barbarian #23 and #24 (1973), she did not have as full a figure and dressed a little more conservatively, in a chainmail long-sleeved shirt and red cloth (maybe leather) shorts.

As told by Roy Thomas in the introduction of Red Sonja Adventures Volume 1 (Dynamite Entertainment) Spanish artist Esteban Maroto submitted an uncommissioned illustration to him when he was editing the magazine Savage Sword of Conan where he redesigned the character and for the first time showed her wearing what would become her famous costume, the silver “metal bikini”, which resembled other fantasy costumes that other Maroto heroines sported in the 1970’s. This illustration was printed for the first time in black and white in Savage Sword of Conan #1, was later reprinted in Marvel Treasury Edition #15 colored but poorly reproduced, and finally restored and colored by José Villarrubia as an alternate cover for the Dynamite Entertainment edition of Red Sonja #2. Maroto drew her in this costume for her first solo adventure in Savage Sword of Conan #1, and John Buscema drew her in that costume in the same magazine. Buscema drew her again in that costume in issues 43, 44, and 48 of Conan the Barbarian (1974) and Dick Giordano in the first issue of Marvel Feature (1975) before Frank Thorne took over from issue 2 (1976). For some reason, her "bikini" armor proved popular, becoming well known through the paintings of Boris Vallejo and others.

Traits and skills

As noted above, Red Sonja has incredible skill in the handling of swords and other weapons.

Stories featuring Red Sonja

Red Sonja appeared in solo stories or as a "guest" alongside Conan, in several Marvel comics.

What is following is the list of canonical stories featuring Red Sonja ordered according to her chronology, based on Fred Blosser/Roy Thomas order from Conan Saga 96, updated based on the Marvel Chronology Project.

Period in Hyrkania:


Travelling outside Hyrkania:


Mikal and Suumaro arcs:

  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 1 (1976): "The Blood of the Unicorn", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto/Ed Summer (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 2 (1976): "The Demon of the Maze", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto/Ed Summer (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 3 (1977): "The Games of Gita", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto/Ed Summer (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 4 (1977): "The Lake of the Unknown", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 5(1977): "Master of the Bells!", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 6 (1977): "The Singing Tower", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto/Wendy Pini (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i).
  • The Savage Sword of Conan 23/3 (1977): "Wizards of the Black Sun", Roy Thomas /Clara Noto (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i)
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 7 (1977): "Throne of Blood", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i)
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 8 (1977): "Vengeance of the Golden Circle", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i)
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 9 (1978): "Chariot of the Fire Stallions", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i)
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 10 (1978): "Red Lace (Part I of IV)", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i)
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 11 (1978): "Red Lace (Part II of IV) - Sightless in a Strange Land", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto (w), Frank Thorne (p), Frank Thorne (i)
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 12 (1978): "Red Lace (Part III of IV) - Ashes and Emblems", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto (w), John Buscema (p), Joe Rubinstein (i)
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 13 (1978): "Red Lace (Part IV of IV) - Shall Skranos Fall?", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto (w), John Buscema (p), Al Milgrom (i)


A wanderer in Hyborian kingdoms:

  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 14 (1978): "An Evening on the Border", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto (w), Sal Buscema/Al Milgrom (p), Al Milgrom (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 1 15 (1979): "The Tomb of Three Dead Kings!", Roy Thomas/Clara Noto (w), John Buscema (p), Tony DeZuniga (i).
  • The Savage Sword of Conan 45/2 (1979): "Master of Shadows", Christy Marx (w), John Buscema (p), Tony DeZuniga (i)
  • Conan the Barbarian 115 (1980): "A War of Wizards!", Roy Thomas (w), John Buscema (p), Ernie Chan (i).


Return to Hyrkania (and switch to a blue tunic or fur-lined garment)

  • Marvel Super Special Vol.1 9/2 (1978): "Day of the Red Judgment", Roy Thomas/Christy Marx (w), Howard Chaykin (p), Howard Chaykin (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 2 1 (1982): "The Blood That Binds!", Christy Marx/Roy Thomas (w), Tony DeZuniga/Ernie Colon (p), Mel Candido/Alan Kupperberg (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 2 2 (1982): "The Sea That Steals!", Christy Marx/Roy Thomas (w), Alan Kupperberg/Ernie Colon (p), Alan Kupperberg (i).


Lassusar and Ice Queen arcs:

  • Conan the Savage Vol. 1 9/2 (1996): "City Under Siege", Chuck Dixon (w), Enrique Alcatena (p), Enrique Alcatena (i).
  • Red Sonja: Scavenger Hunt (1995): "Scavenger Hunt", Glenn Herdling (w), Ken Lashley (p), Harry Candelario (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 1 (1983): "While Lovers Embrace - Demons Feed!", Tom DeFalco (w), Dave Simons (p), Vince Colletta (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 2 (1983): "Blood Debt!", Tom DeFalco (w), Mary Wilshire (p), Nestor Redondo (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 3 (1983): "Siege!", Tom DeFalco (w), Mary Wilshire (p), Nestor Redondo/Rudy Nebres/Danny Bulanadi/Ian Akin/Brian Garvey (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 4 (1983): "Lassusar Must Die!", Tom DeFalco (w), Mary Wilshire (p), Ernie Chan (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 5 (1984): "The Armies of the Inland Sea!", Bill Mantlo (w), Pat Broderick (p), Pat Broderick (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 6 (1984): "The Endless Swamp!", Bill Mantlo (w), Pat Broderick (p), Pat Broderick (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 7 (1984): "Harvest!", Bill Mantlo (w), Rudy Nebres (p), Rudy Nebres (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 8 (1984): "The Queen of Ice and Blood!", Louise Simonson/Mary Wilshire (w), Mary Wilshire (p), Marie Severin/Geof Isherwood (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 9 (1985): "The Queen of Hearts!", Louise Simonson (w), Mary Wilshire (p), Art Nichols (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 10 (1985): "Strangers!", Louise Simonson (w), Mary Wilshire (p), Art Nichols (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 11 (1985): "Buried Alive!", Louise Simonson (w), Mary Wilshire (p), Vince Colletta (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 12 (1985): "Descent!", Louise Simonson (w), Mary Wilshire (p), Vince Colletta (i).
  • Red Sonja Vol. 3 13 (1986): "The Demon's Tooth", Louise Simonson (w), Mary Wilshire (p), Art Nichols (i).


With the Free companions:


War of Khoraja and Zula arc:


Linneus arc and sparsed tales:


The Ring of Ikribu (comic version):


Time displacement and Kozaki confederation:


Late tales:


Graaskal mountains:


Final mention (probably not Red Sonja because she shoudl be in her 60s):

  • Conan the King Vol 1 28 (1985): "Call of the Wild", Alan Zelenetz (w), Marc Silvestri (p), Geof Isherwood (i).

Additional non canonical appearances are found in:

  • Red Sonja The Movie 1-2 (Marvel Comics) (1985)
  • Red Sonja in 3-D (Blackthorne) (1998)
  • Red Sonja: A Death in Scarlet (Cross Plains) (1999)
  • Red Sonja (New series) 0-present (Dynamite Entertainment) (2005)
  • Conan/Red Sonja #1 (Dark Horse and Dynamite)

Red Sonja also appeared in a crossovers with Spider-Man in Marvel Team-Up #79 and Wolverine in What if? Vol. 2, #16. In the former, the spirit of Sonja possesses the body of Mary Jane Watson to face her old enemy Kulan Gath. In the latter, Sonja is defeated by Wolverine and becomes his lover.

Marvel Feature #4 was reprinted in the book The Superhero Women edited by Stan Lee. She was featured on the cover in a painting by John Romita, marching among Marvel Comics's characters.

Sonja has been featured in several novels by David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney with covers by Boris Vallejo:

  1. The Ring of Ikribu (Ace 1981) (Adapted to comics by Roy Thomas and Esteban Maroto in The Savage Sword of Conan issues 230-31)
  2. Demon Night (Ace 1982)
  3. When Hell Laughs (Ace 1982)
  4. Endithor's Daughter (Ace 1982)
  5. Against the Prince of Hell (Ace 1983)
  6. Star of Doom (Ace 1983)

The Song of Red Sonja

"When the plundering hordes of Yezdigerd, scourge of Hyrkania, hammered at the doors of thrice-doomed Makkalet... she was there.

When Khengor, conqueror of the east, set the night ablaze in Black Khitai and made a pagan temple from the skulls of his fallen foes... she was there.

And when the black spectre of world-devouring Turan looms dark above the Hyborian world?

Aye, perhaps she'll be there then, as well...!

All the world's a gore-rimmed sea,

Lo, the devil laughs with glee.

Come and dance then, you with me,

come and caper wild and free.

With red blood those fires are lit,

Hades' smoke is tinged with it".

-- The Song of Red Sonja

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