Valda the Iron Maiden

Valda
File:Valdadcu0.jpg Cover of Arak, Son of Thunder #37 Art by Ernie Colón
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Arak, Son of Thunder #3 (August 1981)
Created by	Roy Thomas (writer) Ernie Colón (artist)
In-story information
Team affiliations	Twelve Peers of Carolus Magnus' court Shadowpact
Notable aliases	The Iron Maiden
Abilities	Brilliant swordsmanship, Superb hand to hand combat, Excellent horse riding

Valda the Iron Maiden is a fictional character created by Roy Thomas and Ernie Colón for DC Comics. She debuted in Arak, Son of Thunder #3 (August 1981).

Unlike other sword-and-sorcery heroines (such as Red Sonja), Valda is practically dressed in a full mail shirt, flat-heeled boots and (often) leather trousers.

Fictional character biography

Valda the Iron Maiden was a female knight and one of the Twelve Peers of Carolus Magnus' court. She was born in Aix-la-Chapelle, Frankland in the 8th century A.D., the daughter of Bradamante and (reputedly) Carolus Magnus.

After her mother's death in the ambush at Roncesvalles, Valda was brought up by Carolus Magnus, his court sorcerer Malagigi and Bishop Turpin. She was tutored as a swordswoman by the ghost of Amadis of Gaul, who she had summoned with a spell that she had overheard Malagigi using. Initially refused knighthood by the king, she posed as the "Knight All in Scarlet" and defeated her uncle, the great knight Rinaldo, in a joust to earn the honour.

She was 5' 6" tall, weighed 113 lbs, and had blue eyes and dark brown hair.

She first met Arak, Son of Thunder while she was under the spell of the sorcerer Baledor and later joined him in searching for Malagigi who had been captured by the sorceress Angelica. Valda and Arak adventured together and fell in love.

More recently, she was transported to the present day to become a member of the extended Shadowpact in the Day of Vengeance special.