D&D General D&D Red Box: Who Is The Warrior?

The Dungeons & Dragons Red Box, famously illustrated by Larry Elmore in 1983, featured cover art of a warrior fighting a red dragon. The piece is an iconic part of D&D's history.

WizKids is creating a 50th Anniversary D&D miniatures set for the D&D Icons of the Realms line which includes models based on classic art from the game, such as the AD&D Player's Handbook's famous 'A Paladin In Hell' piece by David Sutherland in 1978, along with various monsters and other iconic images. The set will be available in July 2024.

Amongst the collection is Elmore's dragon-fighting warrior. This character has only ever been seen from behind, and has never been named or identified. However, WizKids’ miniature gives us our first look at them from the front. The warrior is a woman; the view from behind is identical to the original art, while the view from the front--the first time the character's face has ever been seen--is, as WizKids told ComicBook.com, "purposefully and clearly" a woman. This will be one of 10 secret rare miniatures included in the D&D Icons of the Realms: 50th Anniversary booster boxes.

The original artist, Larry Elmore, says otherwise. (Update—the linked post has since been edited).

It's a man!

Gary didn't know what he wanted, all he wanted was something simple that would jump out at you. He wanted a male warrior. If it was a woman, you would know it for I'm pretty famous for painting women.

There was never a question in all these years about the male warrior.

No one thought it was a female warrior. "Whoever thought it was a female warrior is quite crazy and do not know what they are talking about."

This is stupid. I painted it, I should know.

- Larry Elmore​

Whether or not Elmore's intent was for the character to be a man, it seems that officially she's a woman. Either way, it's an awesome miniature. And for those who love the art, you can buy a print from Larry Elmore's official website.

 

[Gradine]

What I'm asking is "is sexuality in service to ideology?"

The answer is "no". Or at most "not always". Or perhaps most accurately: "not often to make it the default assumption." Even a woman seeking fleeting male companionship, and dressing accordingly, is not necessarily doing so at the behest of patriarchy. Sex is a common, and for many people, significant and positive activity. And I say that as a fellow Ace

I will admit I got my feminism waves mixed up though

 

[Reef]

With regards to gym memberships and how they pertain to the discussion, it definitely isn’t controversial to suggest many people (whatever gender) want to be considered attractive. But there is a difference between, say, wanting to look good in a bikini, and being forced to wear one at work (while the men wear suits). And that’s what happens in a whole lot of fantasy art (although thankfully, that’s been improving).

 

[Scribe]

With regards to gym memberships and how they pertain to the discussion, it definitely isn’t controversial to suggest many people (whatever gender) want to be considered attractive. But there is a difference between, say, wanting to look good in a bikini, and being forced to wear one at work (while the men wear suits). And that’s what happens in a whole lot of fantasy art (although thankfully, that’s been improving).

Absolutely agreed. Both sexes should be illustrated in the same style and tone.

 

[Reef]

Absolutely agreed. Both sexes should be illustrated in the same style and tone.

Well, that would look like equality on the surface (no pun intended...well, maybe a little). But you still run into the male/female gaze problem. They both could be completely naked, and he'd still be a muscular, athletic warrior, while she's still a bikini model.

In contrast, look at this:

While she is still wearing less clothing (it is from the 80's after all), she at least looks like she's physically capable of picking up a sword. And she is in a position of authority.

 

[Jahydin]

Was Red Sonja the beginning of the chainmail bikini? I can't recall an earlier instance myself...

Anyways, scantly clad warriors are never going to go away; they're iconic for a reason. For every person that sees it as sexist there's another that sees it as empowerment.

Lead singer for Castle Rat for example:

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Was Red Sonja the beginning of the chainmail bikini? I can't recall an earlier instance myself...

Anyways, scantly clad warriors are never going to go away; they're iconic for a reason. For every person that sees it as sexist there's another that sees it as empowerment.

Lead singer for Castle Rat for example:

I don't understand how something can't be sexist, iconic and empowering at the same time.

EDIT: I believe Red Sonja is the first warrior-woman to literally wear a chain-link bikini in fiction starting in the 1973, other important depictions would be Frazetta's drawing of Eowyn defeating the Witch-King of Angmar in 1975 and "Slave Leia" in Return of the Jedi in 1983.

 

[Jahydin]

EDIT: I believe Red Sonja is the first warrior-woman to literally wear a chain-link bikini in fiction starting in the 1973, other important depictions would be Frazetta's drawing of Eowyn defeating the Witch-King of Angmar in 1975 and "Slave Leia" in Return of the Jedi in 1983.

I've never seen that Frazetta drawing. You can really feel the weight of that down swing!

 

[Sacrosanct]

Jim Holloway was one of my top 5 favorite artists because he kept it real. The figures looked like what actual adventurers would look like. In an era of cheesecake, he didn't go that route, even with his female depictions.

 

[MGibster]

While she is still wearing less clothing (it is from the 80's after all), she at least looks like she's physically capable of picking up a sword. And she is in a position of authority.

"Make no mistake! I'm exactly where I want to be!" -- Giant with Septum Ring

EDIT: I believe Red Sonja is the first warrior-woman to literally wear a chain-link bikini in fiction starting in the 1973, other important depictions would be Frazetta's drawing of Eowyn defeating the Witch-King of Angmar in 1975 and "Slave Leia" in Return of the Jedi in 1983.

Carrie Fisher said in more recent years she had been asked by fans how they can explain Leia in a metal bikini to their daughters. Fisher asnwered, "Tell them Jabba made me wear that outfit, so I killed him."

Jim Holloway was one of my top 5 favorite artists because he kept it real. The figures looked like what actual adventurers would look like. In an era of cheesecake, he didn't go that route, even with his female depictions.

I sometimes thing D&D art from previous decades gets a bad wrap on the cheesecake front. But cheesecake wasn't the only way women were depicted.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

I sometimes thing D&D art from previous decades gets a bad wrap on the cheesecake front. But cheesecake wasn't the only way women were depicted.

That's true; there's also sea hags.