Expert: Justin Case - 12/1/2008

Question
QUESTION: How many times has the death or perceived death of Red Sonja occured in comics?  And in what issues?  If you don't know, then how do I go about finding out?

ANSWER: Hi Gino -

Thanks for using the website!  I never got much into barbarian comics and honestly do not know the answer however, listed below is a link that many of the comic experts on the website and I use to figure out storylines, artists, plotlines and values on most comics in the world.

The Grand Comic Database will have every title where the character appears and detailed plot descriptions that can help you determine if she was killed in that particular issue.  Take a look at this and see if it is of any help to you.  If you need some further research done, please let me know and I will be happy to see if I can track down someone who knows a little more about the character than I do.

Hope that helps, the link is:

http://www.comics.org/

Sincerely,

Deran

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the link to the comic site; I can see how it is useful.  However, it is not nearly comprehensive enough in scope to cover my question.  In all fairness to you, however, I should have been more specific in my query, meaning I should not have expected you to know the answer to such an elaborate question off to the top of your head.  So allow to refine my question.  I heard there was a specific scene where Red Sonja was beheaded; perhaps this is incorrect, but I'm still curious.  Instead I asked for the entire history of her "apparent” deaths, and I should've been more specific.  I know such a thing has not occurred in the current series, as I am currently reading it; she has (apparently) died twice.

A brief background: I collect comics that feature death scenes and intimate scenes with characters; I like to see how other characters deal with loss, and how they come back from their (apparent demise).  Also, intimate scenes sometimes are a place to show character development, plus I'm mushy.  Superman's death against Doomsday is a must have issue, and by the same token, so is Red Sonja's sex scene--e.g., Red Sonja is treated like a “forbidden fruit,” and such a development in her life is potentially great storytelling, and interesting to read (me being mushy).  I’m referencing Red Sonja because that is what I have recently discovered and researching.  My tastes cover comics in general—e.g., I was equally diligent in collecting the comics that showed the tension between Superman and Maxima.

So, if you know anyone who knows about the sword and sorcery genre of comics I would been interested to know about that specific manner of death—beheading—for Red Sonja.  I also want to know what issues show her in romance situations, but I’ll save this question for another time.

Answer
Hi Gino -

That is an interesting genre of comics!  Okay, the best thing I can recommend is another of our experts named Brian G. Philbin who is also on the website.

I was never into the sword and socery comics like Conan and Red Sonja and, though I've read a few Conan comics, I know next to nothing about Red Sonja.

You're right in that the Superman/Doomsday death was a must have!  I bet you also have X-Men #137 wherein Jean Grey/Phoenix committed suicide (back in those 'old days' it was assumed her death was permanent, can you believe that?)

Anyway shoot Brian a question and see if he knows, he's usually the one I go to when I get a question I can't answer.

Thanks for using the site and please contact me anytime if I can help out or answer another question for you.

Hope that helps

Deran