Red Sonja #3 (Marvel Comics, 1977)
Red Sonja #3 (May 1977), published by Marvel Comics, is titled, "The Games of Gita." Red Sonja enters the wealthy town of Athos, which, under the direction of its queen, hosts games that challenge its slaves from the city of Zotoz. She joins the games on Zotoz's side and makes the Athosians look like fools. Then, she fights the queen!
Red Sonja #3 Story Summary
After escaping from the weird maze in the port of Venzia in Red Sonja #2, Sonja rides her horse through the woods towards the city of Athos, a city famed for its wealth and opulence. She encounters a fat, wealthy man in the woods in a carriage pulled by a struggling slave. Sonja tries to convince the man to give his slave a break, but instead, he mocks her and whips his driver. Red Sonja intervenes, smacking the portly man with her sword, and frees the slave.
She kicks the man from his chariot and sends him scurrying off, and then runs into a strange hooded man named Mikal, who watched the whole thing. He explains to Sonja that the wealthy denizens of Athos are served by the poor citizens of its neighboring city, Zotoz. He then explains how the Queen of Athos arranges games of sport to challenge the Zozozians, but the games are always rigged! If a man of Zotoz wins, he dies. If they lose, they die.
Red Sonja sees an opportunity to get into a fight with someone or something, and the two companions enter the city of Athos.
Inside the city, they see a strange arena filled with athletes running, jumping, and competing. A man from Zotoz wins a race against his portly opponent from Athos, and he is promptly dragged off and killed. The vile Queen Sortilej watches the spectacle from her throne. She throws a fit that her men are losing, even if they win anyway. She heads to her dungeon and enlists a group of muscular slaves bred for combat.
Sonja decides to join the games and compete for Zotoz because, of course, she does. As the crowd cheers "red hair!" she easily defeats the slaves from Athos in running and javelin throwing. Queen Sortilej, jealous it would seem, joins the competition and competes against Sonja. Sonja bests her at events like archery, so the queen decides that hand-to-hand combat will decide her fate.
Red Sonja wrestles Queen Sortilej to the ground and narrowly avoids being stabbed by one of her guards. As she stands above her to claim victory, the queen turns into a giant spider monster! Barely phased by this bizarre sorcery, Sonja picks up a nearby javelin and tosses it into the beast's side, killing it, and Queen Sortilej instantly.
The crowd cheers, and Sonja declares peace! Then, she rides away with Mikal to continue their adventure in Red Sonja #4.
Red Sonja #3 Creative Team
- Writers: Roy Thomas and Clara Noto
- Illustrator, Lettering, and Colorist: Frank Thorne
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Red Sonja #3 FAQ
Q. What happens in Marvel Comics' Red Sonja #3?
A. In Marvel Comics' Red Sonja #3, Sonja competes in a series of rigged games between two cities on the side of the slaves. She wins, embarrassing the queen, and fights her in hand-to-hand combat. Then the queen turns into a giant spider, which makes an easy target for Sonja's javelin.
Q. Is Conan the Barbarian in Red Sonja #3?
A. No. Conan the Barbarian does not appear in Red Sonja #3.
Q. Is Red Sonja #3 from Marvel Comics a good issue of Red Sonja?
A. Yes. Red Sonja #3 from Marvel Comics is a good issue because of Frank Thorne's dynamic artwork and the spectacular, fast-paced action scenes. Although the script is a bit weak and somewhat nonsensical, Sonja's bravery and heroism are fun to read, and it's enjoyable to watch her hand the queen her own ass.
Q. Who is the enemy in Red Sonja #3?
A. The enemy in Red Sonja #3 is the beautiful but deadly and conniving Queen Sortilej.
