Editing Red Sonja (section)

=== Bikini armor ===
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2017}}
Most artists depict Red Sonja wearing a very brief "[[chainmail bikini]]" costume of [[scale armor]], usually with boots and [[Gauntlet (glove)|gauntlets]]. As originally drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith for "The Shadow of the Vulture" and "The Song of Red Sonja" in ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' issues 23 and 24 (1972), she wore a long-sleeved mail shirt and short pants of red silk.<ref>''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' #23 - 24 (November - December 1972). [[Marvel Comics]].</ref>

As told by [[Roy Thomas]] in the introduction of ''Red Sonja Adventures'' Volume 1 (Dynamite Entertainment), Spanish artist [[Esteban Maroto]] submitted an uncommissioned illustration to him while Thomas was editing the magazine ''Savage Sword of Conan''. The illustration featured a redesigned silver "metal bikini", which resembled fantasy costumes that other Maroto heroines sported in the 1970s. This illustration was printed for the first time in [[Jim Steranko]]'s magazine ''Comixscene'' #5 in black and white. It was reprinted in ''Savage Sword of Conan'' #1, then in ''[[Marvel Treasury Edition]]'' #15 in color, and later restored and colored by [[José Villarrubia]] as an alternative cover for the Dynamite Entertainment edition of ''Red Sonja'' #2. Maroto drew her in this costume for a double page spread illustration in ''[[Savage Tales]]'' #3 and then for her first solo adventure in ''Savage Sword of Conan'' #1. [[John Buscema]] drew her in this costume in the same magazine and in issues 43, 44, and 48 of ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' (1974). [[Dick Giordano]] portrayed Sonja in the bikini for the first issue of ''[[Marvel Feature]]'' vol. 2 (Nov. 1975) before [[Frank Thorne]] took over from issue #2 (Jan. 1976).