Name: Valda
Universe: Earth-1
Alter Ego: None
Occupation: Knight
Marital Status: Single
Group Affiliation: The Twelve Peers of Carolus Magnus's court
Base of Operations: Aix-la-Chapelle, Frankland, in the 8th Century
Known Relatives: Bradamante (mother, deceased), Carolus Magnus (Charlemagne, reputed father), Rinaldo (uncle)
Height: 5 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 113 lbs.
Hair Color: Brwn
Eye Color: Blue
First Appearance: Arak/Son of Thunder #3

History:
Valda is the daughter of Bradamante, the legendary female knight of the time of Carolus Magnus, the monarch who is also known as Charlemagne and who ruled the Franks in 8th Century Europe.

Not many months afterwards, Bradamante left for battle, and had Carolus Magnus's court sorcerer, Malagigi, vow that if she did not return, he would have Valda raised as a lady of the court and not as a warrior. Bradamante extracted the same vow from Carolus Magnus before she died valiantly in the renowned Ambush at Roncesvalles. Valda was brought up under the supervision of Carolus Magbus, Malagigi, and Bishop Turpin.

Malagigi did not want to keep his vow to Bradamante if Valda wished to become a warrior like her mother. When Valda was a child, Malagigi allowed her to overhear him use a spell to summon the spirit of the heroic warrior Amadis of Gaul. Valda herself used the spell to summon the ghost of Amadis, who tutored her by night in the skills of a warrior.

Eventually, Valda asked Carolus Magnus, Malagigi, and Turpin to let her stand for knighthood, but Carolus Magnus, heeding his vow to Bradamante, refused. Malagigi instead made her a squire to a knight who was to conceal his true identity in a tournament as the "Knight All in Scarlet", and joust with Valda's uncle, the great knight Rinaldo. The Knight All in Scarlet, following Malagigi's plan, feigned illness, and Valda took his place. In the armor of the Knight All in Scarlet she defeated Rinaldo and earned knighthood, the revealed her true identity. Impressed, Carolus Magnus knighted Valda.

Valda first met the American Indian warrior Arak when he defeated her while she was under the spell of the sorcerer Baledor. Valda joined Arak in searching for Malagigi after the mage had been kidnapped by the sorceress Angelica. Valda and Arak had many remarkable adventures together in Europe and Asia and fell in love. Valda's ultimate fate has yet to be recorded.

Powers:
Valda is a mistress of the knightly arts of combat of her time. She is a brilliant swordswoman, a superb hand-to-hand combatant, and an excellent horsewoman.