Red Sonja (with a J), sometimes known as She-Devil with a Sword, debuted in 1973, fore Marvel Comics – written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith.
The character was a very free interpretation of the character Red Sonya (with a Y), that appeared in a single Robert E. Howard story, The Shadow of the Vulture, published in The Magic Carpet Magazine in January 1934. The story is currently reprinted in the excellent Sword Woman and other Historical Adventures, by DelRey Books.
The comic book Sonja had a long and distinguished career as a Marvel character, before being retired in the mid ’80s (there was an extra one-shot story in the ’90s). Sonja went on to star in an abysmally silly movie, portrayed by the statuesque but wooden Brigitte Nielsen, and starred in a series of six paperback novels, penned by Richard L. Tierney, with covers by Boris Vallejo.
(confessions of a sword & sorcery fan: I first discovered Red Sonja, in the mid-80s, via the Boris covers – so sue me)
2023 marks therefore the 50th anniversary of the coming of Red Sonja and Dynamite Entertainment (that revived the character in 2005) is offering a HUGE collection of digital comics via the Humble Bundle platform. For less than 17 quid, you get 21 collections – for a total of over 100 individual volumes – featuring the She-Devil with a Sword. Part of the money will go to a charity – in this case, the Hero Initiative, benefiting comic artists.
Great value for money, I think – especially considering the selection includes three volumes of Marvel reprints and a couple of weird cross-overs and stand-alones.
Because yes, reader, I purchased it – and I am toying with the idea of doing a Red Sonja 50th Anniversary reading somewhere. Who knows, someone might be interested.




7 July 2023 at 12:52
GREAT article! I had a copy of Conan number 24.. where she appeared for the first time. I waa 12. Barry Windsor Smith’s art was so unique… that it made me want to draw and become a cartoonist.
I have now been drawing my own comics for over 50 years.. and its thanks to that fantastic appearance of Red Sonja… so many years ago..
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7 July 2023 at 13:30
I envy you – I am notoriously helpless when it comes to graphics; which is the reason why I am so fascinated by comic books and illustrations. It’s something beyond my reach.
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8 July 2023 at 12:56
Here, my friend is a link to my art:
https://www.deviantart.com/jerrykimbro
Enjoy!
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8 July 2023 at 21:48
Wow!
Thanks for sharing!
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9 July 2023 at 18:53
Be advised that the 6 Sonja novels were co-authored by none other than David C Smith.
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9 July 2023 at 19:48
Be advised that the 6 Red Sonja novels were co-written with David C. Smith, who has written a great deal of S&S on his own.
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9 July 2023 at 21:28
Yes!
I usually think only of Tierney (I’m a huge fan of his work), but David C. Smith was also a great S&S guy.
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