She was at time humorous and merciless, savage and kind-hearted. This version of the character experienced humiliation and triumph, and she took no shit from no man. This was even more hammered home by Geovani’s spectacular rendition of the character.

Geovani excelled at allowing Sonja’s beauty to be ever-present, but he wasn’t afraid to stick her in mud, filth, blood, or bruises. Her actions were forceful – her sword swinging was powerful and purposeful and believable. She caroused and she drank and he made her emotions seem real.

So today we pay homage to the cranky beauty Red Sonja, brought to vivid life by Gail Simone and Walter Geovani. A gal any red-blooded heterosexual would ignore the stink for.

*Seriously, the fuck is up with that bikini? Did Robert E Howard, Roy Thomas, and Barry Windsor-Smith think this was sexy? Did nearly every artist Marvel or Dynamite ever assign to the book think this was a great idea for armor? And it got smaller over time! How is a kickass broad like Sonja going to be protected by a pair of silver dollars over her nipples and a chainmail thong?! Do cosplayers keep it going? Horny fanboys? AM I TAKING CRAZY PILLS?