Comic Title: Arak/Son of Thunder #12
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: August 1982
On Sale Date: May 6, 1982 Newsstand Date May 6, 1982
Source: Comic Reader, #201

Newsstand Date May 6, 1982
Source: Comics Journal, #72

Newsstand Date May 6, 1982
Source: Amazing Heroes, #11

Copyright Date April 13, 1982
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1982
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.60
Page Count: 32
Editor: Laurie S. Sutton

Title: (The Origin of Valda)
Pages: 7

Feature(s):
Valda

Writer: Roy Thomas
Writer: Danette Thomas
Artist: Ernie Colon
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Adrienne Roy

Feature Character(s)

• Valda (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #13)

Supporting Character(s)

• Carolus Magnus (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #13)
• Malagigi (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #13)

Other Character(s)

• Rinaldo (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #13)
• Liutgard (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #4)
• Ganelon (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #4)
• Archbishop Turpin (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #4)
• Bradamante (in flashback; no further appearances)
• The spirit of Amadis of Gaul (in flashback; no further appearances)
• Creston (the Knight All in Scarlet; not named in this story; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #27)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Roland (in flashback)

Comments:
This story, which was not originally titled, takes places years before Valda first met Arak.

Synopsis:
After proving herself on the battlefield in wars against the huns, saxons and saracens, the female warrior Bradamante is granted knighthood by Carolus Magnus and offered a place in his court. Sometime later Bradamante gave birth to a daughter named Valda. Rumors were that Magnus was the father.

Valda was given to the care of the wizard Malagigi. Bradamante then died in the ambush at Roncesvalles. Respecting the wishes of Valda's mother, Malagigi intended to raise the girl as a lady of the court. However, Valda had other wishes to follow in her mother's footsteps as a knight. Valda observed Malagigi summon the shade of a dead knight. She memorized the spell and was able to summon the knight herself. The spirit agreed to teach Valda.

After years of training, Valda is allowed to squire for a new knight during a tournament. When the knight suddenly falls ill, Valda dons his armor and rides in the joust. She defeats her uncle Rinaldo, a renowned warrior. After her victory Valda removes the helmet that masked her identity. Carolus Magnus reluctantly knights her despite his own promise that Valda would be a lady. Malagigi and the knight who fell ill then meet to acknowledge that their plan succeeded. The wizard had known all along of Valda's training, and he arranged for her impromptu stand-in for the knight.