*Marvel: Forget the Frank Thorne drawn daft ha’p’orth in the chainmail bikini – the proper Red Sonja, who, you know, wore clothes and had a brain, made her first appearance in issue #23 of Conan’s title (Marvel rather dropping the ball by not having her on the cover, but we promise you, she’s in there) and truly making her mark in #24’s sumptuous epic ‘The Song of Red Sonja!’ wherein our heroine does a great deal more than sing, proving herself Conan’s equal, if not superior. Sadly, the popularity of Sonja’s appearances in these two issues led Marvel to produce a more sexualised and less competent version of the character for her solo series – but these stories, by Roy Thomas and superbly drawn by Barry Smith, remain as good as ever! Issue #23 is FN+ £40, #24 FN p £45.