Today’s cover of the day is Kendrick “Kunkka” Lim’s Red Sonja: Birth of the She-Devil #1 retailer exclusive variant from Silent Partner Comics.
Red Sonja: Birth of the She-Devil #1 is written by Luke Lieberman with interior art by Sergio Davila. The book will be published by Dynamite Entertainment.
Take a look.
According to Comic Book Invest, the retailer exclusive variant will only be limited to 500 copies.
Comic Book Invest was running a contest where they were giving away the exclusive variant to three lucky winners. However, the contest ended on May 24th.
Silent Partner Comics announced the cover had been sold out. They were originally charging $19.99.
At least five copies of the variant cover have already been sold on eBay for $39.99.
The first issue of Red Sonja: Birth of the She-Devil is expected to hit comic book shelves on June 12, 2019.
Here’s the official description of the upcoming story:
“An early tale of the She-Devil! Explore the early years of the wild and untamed Sonja the Red, before she became the scourge of Hyboria – Red Sonja! Retaining her trademark armor and flame-filled hair – and temper, writer Luke Liberman (Red Sonja: Doom of the Gods) and artist Sergio Davila (Conan) deliver high adventure and horror as they introduce the demon conqueror Raka and his devil’s brew, which turns men against their fellow men (and everyone in their way!). Also featuring the return of Sonja’s early mentor, Ozzyus!”
Red Sonja was originally created by Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith for Marvel Comics back in 1973 and was based off Robert E. Howard’s Red Sonya of Rogatino and Dark Agnes de Chastillon. She made her first appearance in Conan the Barbarian #23.
The character would crossover into novels in 1980s in a story written by David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney.
Red Sonja would eventually get her own feature film and would be played by actress Brigitte Nielsen in 1985. There have also been television and animated adaptations.
Red Sonja’s character design is iconic with her bikini scale mail armor. However, Red Sonja did not originally have this design. It was actually a fan submission by Spanish artist Esteban Maroto. The iconic design seen in Lim’s retailer variant cover first appeared in Jim Steranko’s Comixscene #5. Maroto would depict Red Sonja in the costume in Savage Tales #3 and Savage Sword of Conan #1.
Robert E. Howard described Red Sonja:
“Tall, splendidly shaped, but lithe… with rebellious tresses that rippled red gold in the sun over her compact shoulders. She stood as a man might stand, booted legs braced wide apart, thumbs hooked into her girdle, but she was all woman.”
What do you make of Kendrick “Kunkka” Lim’s Red Sonja variant cover? Do you plan on getting your hands on one of them?