Spider-Man/Red Sonja #4
With Manhattan transformed by magic into something out of the Hyborean era, Spider-Man and Red Sonja find themselves surrounded by some of the web-slinger’s foes, the Hobgoblin, the Lizard, and the Scorpion. These villains have also been affected by the spell that has transformed the entire city and they are loyal servants to Kulan Gath. While Spider-Man and Red Sonja are busy, Joe Robertson rallies the people they have freed and leads them against Kulan Gath’s footsoldiers. As the battle rages on, Spider-Man continues to go out of his way to protect Red Sonja because he is concerned that whatever injuries she sustains will happen to Mary Jane, whose body Red Sonja is possessing. Still, Red Sonja leaps onto the Hobgoblin’s goblin glider and tries to fight him as they fly across the city.
The Goblin presses his luck by kissing Red Sonja on the lips, which she takes as an insult. Suddenly, they fly past the reach of Kulan Gath’s spell. Red Sonja is disorientated by the sight of a modern city. Cops on the scene confuse Hobgoblin with the Green Goblin, but when he tries to throw a pumpkin bomb at them, Red Sonja kicks the explosive back at her foe, taking him out. While on the other side of the mystical barrier, Spider-Man continues to fight with the Scorpion and the Lizard, which almost seems like old times. When Joe Robertson and his resistance fights arrive to help, that’s when Kulan Gath arrives, revealing that he has bonded with the Venom symbiote to become Kulan Venom. The Venom symbiote has amplified Kulan Gath’s mystical powers and as he attacks Spider-Man, Joe and the others swarm the Scorpion and the Lizard. Ultimately, Kulan Venom ensnares Spider-Man in his eldrich powered tendrils and orders the web-slinger to produce Red Sonja for him as he intends on sacrificing her to acquire more power. When Spider-Man refuses, Kulan Venom unleashes his magical power on the wall-crawler.
Outside the barrier, Red Sonja continues pursuing the Hobgoblin. Despite the strange world, she finds herself in, she manages to leap onto a passing subway train to leap back onto his goblin glider. The struggle sends them both crashing into a toy store where they land on a pile of Spider-Man dolls. The Hobgoblin manages to turn things around and begins choking the life out of Red Sonja. That’s when the voice of Mary Jane becomes stronger in her mind and encourages Red Sonja to keep fighting. She tells Sonja that she is trapped in some kind of limbo while the warrior possesses her body. She shares with Sonja how she loves Peter Parker, and how, as Spider-Man he fights to defend the city.[1] She pleads with Sonja to keep fighting as Peter needs her help to save the city.[1] When Red Sonja wakes up she discovers that the Hobgoblin is carrying her high above the city. Fighting her attack in midair causes them both to crash onto the George Washington Bridge where police orders Sonja to put her sword down. When she refuses to comply, the police officers open fire. One of the bullets strikes Red Sonja in the shoulder sending her falling over the side of the bridge.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Red Sonja, Kulan Venom, Lizard, Hobgoblin, Scorpion, Joe Robertson, Mary Jane Watson
Continuity Notes
Amid the memories, Mary Jane shares with Red Sonja is the day she and Peter Parker got married. That happened in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21. However, not long after this, Peter and Mary Jane’s marriage is erased from existence by Mephisto in Amazing Spider-Man #545. In the new timeline, Peter and Mary Jane are engaged but don’t get married. Presumably, Mary Jane would be showing Red Sonja another fond memory instead of the now non-existent wedding day.
