Conan the Barbarian

**Conan the Barbarian** is a comic series published by Marvel Comics, featuring Conan the Barbarian and Red Sonja . It was originally published in 1970 and lasted for 275 issues, plus 12 annuals, ending in 1993. Red Sonja appears in 28 regular issues of this volume and two annual issues, with her first appearances in issues 23-24 in 1973.

Marvel rebooted the Conan character in *Conan the Adventurer* with a new number 1 in 1994 which ran for 14 issues from 1994-1995. Another series, *Conan*, followed that with 11 issues from 1995-1996. Neither title featured Red Sonja.

## *Conan the Barbarian* issues featuring Red Sonja

### Issue #23

"The Shadow of the Vulture", February 1973

Conan delivers message from Makkalet to Pah-Disha. Red Sonja saves Conan's life twice. Conan kills Mikhal Oglu [The Vulture] and sends his head to Yezdigerd.

This issue's story is adapted from the 1934 "Red Sonya" story *The Shadow of the Vulture*.

### Issue #24

"The Song of Red Sonja!", March 1973

Conan and Red Sonja start a bar-fight, bathe in a fountain, scale temple walls, break in and steal a snake-tiara, and fight a magical snake. At the end Sonja tricks Conan, and leaves for Pah-Disha.

"The Song of Red Sonja" is highly desired by collectors for several reasons. It is the first full appearance of Red Sonja in comics (after having a brief cameo in the previous issue). It is the last Conan issue done by Barry Windsor-Smith and features some of his finest artwork where he did all of the penciling, inking, and coloring, as well as the cover. It also won the Academy of Comic Book Arts Award for Best Individual Story in 1973.

### Issue #43

"Tower of Blood!", October 1974

Script: Roy Thomas (adaptation of the story "Tower of Blood" by David A. English); Pencils: John Buscema; Inks: Ernie Chan (as Ernie Chua); Colors: Glynis Wein; Letters: John Costanza

Tower of Blood, Part 1 - Conan saves Red Sonja (twice). Conan and Red Sonja are captured by Uathacht & Morophla.

### Issue #44

"The Fiend and the Flame!", November 1974

Script: Roy Thomas (adaptation); Pencils: John Buscema; Inks:
Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, Larry Hama, Ralph Reese (collectively as the Crusty Bunkers); Colors: Glynis Wein; Letters: John Costanza

Tower of Blood, Part 2 - Afterlings save Conan and Red Sonja. On last page, Red Sonja knocks out Conan with rock and goes her own way.

### Issue #48

"Episode!" (second story), March 1975

In Darkwood, Red Sonja is captured by Vincentius, frees herself and Hunwolf and also kills Vincentius and Hunwolf.

Red Sonja's next appearance in Marvel chronology is her starring role in *Marvel Feature* Volume 2 issues 1-7

### Issue #66

"Daggers and Death Gods!", September 1976

Conan and Belit compete with Red Sonja for the Book of Skelos. Conan and Belit mistakenly battle one-another.

Issues 66-68 were published concurrently with the final issues of *Marvel Feature* Volume 2, which also involve the Book of Skelos.

### Issue #67

"Talons of the Man-Tiger!", October 1976

Red Sonja beats Belit at swordplay (and takes page of skelos). Conan kills Man-tiger, and frees Yusef from prison. Conan and Belit chase Red Sonja in last panel

### Issue #68

"Of Once and Future Kings", November 1976

Conan battles Kull, kills a Stygian wizard, and returns King Kull back to his time.

Red Sonja's next apperance in Marvel chronology would be issue #1 of her first self-titled series.

### Issue #78

"Curse of the Undead-Man!", September 1977

Conan and Red Sonja battle Costranno (who comes back to life when his ring and finger magically reattach to his corpse).

This story depicts Red Sonja's second meeting with Conan. This is a reprint of a story from *Savage Sword of Conan* #1 (August 1974) but with a redrawn page 14 is replacing the original double page 14 and 15, so story is 1 page shorter than original.

### Issue #115

"A War of Wizards!", October 1980

Conan defeats Red Sonja at swords. Conan captures and brings Karanthes to Zukala in exchange for bringing Belit back to life. When the cost is Red Sonja's life however, Conan kills Zukala instead.

### Annual #7

"Red Shadows and Black Kraken", 1982

Red Sonja appears briefly in a recap of past events.

### Annual #12

"Legion of the Dead", 1987

The Devourer of Souls takes Solaise with him to Arallu. Conan travels to Arallu to stop the Devourer. He is forced to ally himself with Thulsa Doom against the Evil Dead. Red Sonja regains her skill with a sword after the Scavengers kill Mad Simeon. Sedrick regains his human form by helping the Devourer take the power of the Elder Gods.

This is Red Sonja's first appearance in Marvel chronology since the conclusion of *Red Sonja* Volume 3, her last self-titled series.

### Issue #195

"Blood of Ages", June 1987

Devourer of Souls is revived. Conan becomes increasingly agitated. Strabonus hires Red Sonja to remove or kill Conan. Kobe is captured by Bahkt and his men. Solaise interacts mystically with Sedrick the cat.

### Issue #196

"The Beast", July 1987

Devourer gives Bahkt power to battle Conan; Red Sonja returns to harass Conan. A dinosaur wanders into the village and stirs things up.

### Issue #197

"Stand", August 1987

General Freja rouses the local people against Conan. The demon Bahkt ravages Red Sonja. Devourer captures Solaise.

### Issue #198

"The River", September 1987

Conan kills Bahkt to avenge Red Sonja. Solaise uses her powers to slaughter Freja and his men after they threaten Sedrick. Kaleb attacks Conan when he tries to question Solaise on the Devourer.

### Issue #199

"Revelation in the Mists", October 1987

Devourer captures Solaise and removes Kaleb's enchantment which keeps him young and powerful. The origins of Solaise, Kaleb and Sedrick are revealed. Red Sonja believes her warrior strength is gone, since the demon Bahkt defeated her.

### Issue #200

"Fall of Acheron", November 1987

The Devourer takes on the identity of Acheron to win the love of a woman and fulfill his debt to Xuthl. Conan battles the Devourer. Devourer both wins and loses.

### Issue #204

"Goblin!", March 1988

Red Sonja attempts to steal the treasure of Strakkus and releases a monster.

### Issue #205

"Necropolis", April 1988

Kobe and Anneka travel toward El Shah Maddoc. Conan is seeking Red Sonja, who has gone through a mystic portal with Strakkus.

### Issue #241

"All Roads Lead to Zamora", February 1991

The Sorceror and the She-Devil, Part 1 - Red Sonja is getting married, and Conan is anything but the best man when he suspects sorcery, and not love, is her motivation.

### Issue #242

"They Came to Castle Zukala", March 1991

The Sorceror and the She-Devil, Part 2 - Conan, Red Sonja and Karanthes arrive at El-Ron's castle for the wedding of El-Ron and Red Sonja. El-Ron's past is revealed and Conan is taken by Jaggta-Noga to his home dimension.

### Issue #243

"Dawn and Death-God", April 1991

The Sorceror and the She-Devil, Part 3 - Conan escapes from Jaggta-Noga's realm and stops the marriage of Red Sonja and El-Ron.

### Issue #244

"Fiends of the Flaming Mountains", May 1991

Captured by Strabonius' men, Conan, Red Sonja and Zula escape into an underground cavern.

### Issue #245

"Empire of the Undead", June 1991

Conan and friends are trapped by the Lord of Vampires.

### Issue #246

"Chaos in Khoraja", July 1991

Almaric and his sellswords are hired by Princess Yasmela. Red Sonja and Zula meet with local rebels.

### Issue #247

"The Sword That Conquers All", August 1991

Conan and his troops arrive at the city-state of Yamman.

### Issue #248

"The Peril and the Prophecy", September 1991

Conan and Zula battle to the death in Katuman's arena.

### Issue #249

"Red Wind", October 1991

Conan confronts Thugra Khotan while Red Sonja and Zula battle demons.

Events following this story are depicted in *Savage Sword of Conan* #194-195's Red Sonja stories, and events from the Red Sonja stories in *Savage Sword of Conan* #207-210 follow immediately after.

### Issue #250

"Chaos Beneath Kuthchemes", November 1991

Based in part on the story "Gates of Empire" by Robert E. Howard.

## Locations

* Hyboria
* Hyrkania

## References

* ComicVine
* Comics.org