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By J.C. Vaughn

With Dark Horse Comics' Conan series falling in the "must read" category every month, the timing seems great for Dynamite Entertainment's just announced new Red Sonja title.

The series will kick off in April 2005 with a 25¢ issue #0, then start its regular run in June.

The #0 issue will come from the team of co-writers Michael Avon Oeming (writer of Thor, artist and co-creator of Powers) and Mike Carey (Ultimate Elektra) and artist Mel Rubi, along with colorists Caesar Rodriguez (Sojourn) and Richard Isanove (Wolverine: The Origin). It also sports a cover by Greg Land (Sojourn, Phoenix: Endsong).

Red Sonja first appeared in comic book form in Marvel's original Conan #23 in 1973, and the popular sword slinger quickly established herself as a character who is more than capable of putting the "fatal" back in femme fatale. Sources at Dynamite told Scoop, "When you look at Red Sonja as she originally appeared in Conan #23, you see the essence of one of the strongest female's in comics. We're bringing her back to that essence."

Dynamite has locked up artist Rubi for "at least a year's worth of issues," and have also reportedly signed Oeming for at least the opening arc. Carey is said to be working around his busy schedule in order to lend a hand to each issue. In addition to the 25¢ #0 issue, they will be offering a retailers incentive version featuring the pencils for Alex Ross's painted cover to #1. The series will also feature covers from Michael Turner, John Cassaday, Joseph Michael Linsner, Art Adams, Michael William Kaluta, J.G. Jones, Adam Hughes, and others.

While Mike Carey wasn't available for the comment due to the holidays, Scoop was able to catch up with Mike Oeming to talk about Red Sonja.

Scoop: With Conan doing so well for Dark Horse, it seems like a fantastic opportunity to launch a Red Sonja title. What's the tone of your approach to the series?
Michael Avon Oeming: Obviously it's a fantasy book, but I want to clearly define the character of Sonja as an extension of the Robert E. Howard world and what Roy Thomas' work built on. The character that Roy made -- from the basis of the Howard book and the world that Howard created -- is rich ground to till from. I want readers to take Sonja seriously, to treat her as a real person, not a tool within a fantasy setting.

Scoop: Can you go a little further into that thought?
MAO: A lot of fantasy - either space fantasy or sword fantasy - gets lost in the world and becomes abstract. That's great if you're looking for just a momentary escape, but without characters and story meaning, it becomes disposable fun, and from a marketing point of view that's limiting. Meaning if you're not into fantasy or babes, then why read Red Sonja? With good character and story you have your "why."

Scoop: From the PR information, it looks like you're co-writing it with Mike Carey. Is that correct?
MAO: Yes! I love working with Mike.

Scoop: You've written with a number of co-writers on other projects. Do you use a similar process each time or does it change depending on who your co-creator is?
MAO: Typically, I play ping-pong with co-writers on each step. Usually, I'll start the plot out, send them out an outline. From there, they either add some plot or make suggestions, then one of us will write a page-by-page breakdown which the other person expands. Then I usually take a first draft stab that's very loose and open, with dialogue for some scenes, without for others. And we build on it from there. With some writers, it doesn't work out and I've had a few books just not happen because of it. I like working with other writers, I like fresh insight, but I also have a handful of stuff in the works that I'm writing solo.

Scoop: With Hammer of the Gods and then Thor, you've had a chance to play with epic themes and stories, as well as swordplay. Was that good preparation for this series or doesn't it come into play that much?
MAO: Absolutely. I love mythology. While not a slave to his work, I consider myself a student of Joseph Campbell. I think mythology is reflection on ourselves in some way. It's a great analogy for the human experience. In THOR, it was about the cycle of life-that all life destroys life in order to sustain itself- be it man eating animal, animal eating plants, plants living off of dying animals in the soil or in the case of Thor, gods surviving off of gods.

The short Sonja story is about reaping what you sow - exploring a town's Karma. This happens to people, it happens to nations.

Scoop: What do you think of the art so far?
MAO: I'm blown away by it. The coloring over Rubi's work makes the world a complete world without overpowering it. Mel has captured the excitement of a mainstream book while evoking a sense of mystery and mythos.

Scoop: Red Sonja #0 is getting a premiere level treatment with A-level creative talent and a 25¢ cover price. That suggests a lot of people will try it out. Beyond Conan readers, what group would you recommend it to?
MAO: Anyone. Everyone! Really, I know that sounds like a cop-out, but I'm not writing the series for fantasy sword readers first. I love that stuff, but character comes first, fantasy and mythos is easy. Lord of the Rings is a perfect example of this. Without the characters, the film would not have worked no matter how great it looks.

Scoop: Will the story from #0 continue into #1 or be separate pieces?
MAO: They tie into each other, but #0 is about giving you a taste of the world, not a direct tie-in. It stands on its own, a great sampler of sorts for those wanting to try it out- for just a quarter too! You can't loose, because even if you don't like it, you can eBay it for more than that. [laughter]

Scoop: You've significantly branched out as a creator, filling different roles on different projects. What about Red Sonja makes you want to write the character?
MAO: I'm one of those people who loves escapism - I love fantasy. I have tons of fantasy films, most of them crap, but even those I like because of the genre. Liking those and liking good character stories is what made me realize why fantasy can be limiting - without the characters or meaning, its pretty un-relatable if your not looking for pure fantasy escapism.

Scoop: Do you think you'll draw a cover for the series?
MAO: Maybe, but I'm busy writing it! Then there's my side project, Powers [laughter].

Scoop: Is this a "mature readers" series or aimed at general audiences?
The #0 issue is a mild PG to PG-13 rating is what we're working with on the series. The stories will tell themselves.

Reprinted by permission from the January 7, 2005 edition of Scoop, the weekly free email newsletter from Gemstone Publishing and Diamond International Galleries. To get Scoop each Friday, visit http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/signup.

©2005 Gemstone Publishing, Inc.