Marvel Feature presents Red Sonja No. 3

Marvel Feature was created by Marvel Comics as an opportunity to test the popularity of new characters. The second volume of the title, running for seven issues between 1975-1976, featured the female warrior, Red Sonja, a character introduced within the publisher's popular fantasy series featuring author Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian. The fiery haired heroine was a success with readers, leading to the introduction of a self-titled comic in 1977.

Red Sonja, Marvel's "she-devil with a sword" was loosely inspired by "Red Sonya of Rogatino," a character introduced by Howard in his story The Shadow of the Vulture. Unlike Howard's creation, Marvel's Sonja resides in the same "sword and sorcery" milieu as Conan, living as a mercenary and adventurer. Over the years, the female sword-master has been the subject of numerous interpretations, including a 1985 film starring Bridgette Nielson.

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