This year, Red Sonja celebrates 50 years of clobbering villains. Over the years, countless creators have helped chronicle the swordstress’ many wild and bloody, journeys, including the likes of Amanda Conner, Mark Russell, and Amy Chu.
But if we’re going to really commemorate five decades of sword-swinging action, it’s only fair to bring in a creative team who knows big, bold fantasy. Case in point: writer Torunn Grønbekk (The Mighty Valkyries, Jane Foster & The Mighty Thor) has teamed up with artist Walter Geovani (Lady Death, Lady Death Medieval) for the seventh volume of Red Sonja.
The new adventures actually begin this Saturday with the Free Comic Book Day release of Red Sonja #0. Not only is there a flashback to her early years with a reprint of “The Temple of Abomination” from 1975’s Marvel Feature #1, but issue #0 sets up the She-Devil With a Sword as a fugitive from the law following a heinous murder. From there, the series proper, which debuts July 19, sees Sonja attempt to “unravel the mystery of ‘His Master’s Voice'” as well as battle “an unseen force tugging at the back of her mind.”
It’s a series packed not only with action but some compelling new insights about Red Sonja, her motivations, and even what might come next.
Grønbekk was kind enough to talk to us about all things Red Sonja ahead of the festivities. That includes issue #0, the hero’s place in 2023, working with Geovani, how her other fantasy works influenced this tale, and even a bit about the forthcoming Red Sonja film.
Variant cover from Mr. Garcin. Courtesy of Dynamite.
AIPT: What was your relationship or history with Red Sonja from the perspective of a fan and/or reader?
Torunn Grønbekk: I’ve been a fan of Red Sonja for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Norway, and we didn’t have a huge selection of comics available, but we did have Red Sonja. She is one of the first comic book characters I can remember falling in love with, and I’ve kept up with the She-Devil pretty consistently ever since!
AIPT: What’s it feel like to tackle this title during such a monumental anniversary?
TG: It’s a joy. When we started talking about this book, the marching order from our editor was to go “big and back to basic,: which was exactly what I wanted to do. We’re going for classic sword & sorcery, with big, brutal action, lots of humor and nods to Sonja’s history along the way. The book is a celebration of Red Sonja — if you can call throwing her into a story where everyone wants to kill her a celebration. Fun for us at any rate!!
Art from FCBD’s issue #. Courtesy of Dynamite.
AIPT: Similar to that last question, how do you balance the character’s past and lineage with trying to do something new and novel?
TG: I’m mindful of the history, but my approach to writing Sonja is to focus on the qualities that have made her such a beloved character over the years — her shamelessness, fearlessness, and sharp wit, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.
AIPT: What value does Red Sonja provide in 2023? From your readings, how do you think the character has evolved over time?
TG: Sonja has undergone many transformations over the past five decades, some more successful than others, but Dynamite has done an excellent job of reimagining and evolving the character where necessary while exercising restraint when appropriate. I love that we get to have this scantily-clad, kickass woman character who gets to be exactly what she wants to be.
Art from FCBD’s issue #. Courtesy of Dynamite.
AIPT: There’s a tease of sorts coming for FCBD. What’s that entail and how does it set up the story and series to come later this summer?
TG: The FCBD #0 begins our story with a bang. Or the swish of a sword if, you like. You don’t need to read #0 to follow the main series, but it sets the tone and provides some background for the story to come. Issue #0 is also meant to be a great jumping-on point for new readers.
AIPT: What was it like working with Walter Geovani?
TG: It is a true pleasure. It feels effortless — he knows exactly what I want and consistently brings the volume to 11. Walter is a master of action, knows how to convey emotion and, last but not least, humor. I tend to go a bit dark in my writing, which makes the levity and emotion all the more important, and Walter delivers on every page.
Variant cover from Jenny Frison. Courtesy of Dynamite.
AIPT: How much should anyone know about Red Sonja before they leap in?
TG: Try not to overthink the chainmail bikini! That’s about it!!
AIPT: According to the solicitations, Sonja is battling an “unseen force” as well as the threat of “[the] terrors of war and mysterious magic.” Can you delve a little deeper into just what Sonja will be up against?
TG: Sonja is being hunted, accused of a murder she (probably) didn’t commit, and followed by a mysterious presence that tries to kill her at every opportunity. She does not know how it finds her, whom to trust, and how to stop the plague that is spreading through the realm, but she sure as hell is going to try!
Variant cover from Kevin Eastman. Courtesy of Dynamite.
AIPT: You’ve written big fantasy titles with epic warriors before, including The Mighty Valkyries, Jane Foster & The Mighty Thor, and Warhammer 40000: Sisters of Battle. Did those projects specifically influence or shape your approach to Sonja?
Not specifically, but I learn something from every book I write. Figuring out the worldbuilding of the titles above was a challenge I learned a lot from. When you write fantasy, you need to establish the rules of the world as early and smoothly as possible. Explaining the Warhammer 40k universe to the readers without choking the book in exposition wasn’t easy, but it was imperative to make the reading experience pleasurable. The sword & sorcery genre is pretty well known, so the worldbuilding is less taxing, but it is still important to define the limits of both the world and the character to create tension.
AIPT: There’s a Red Sonja film that could be coming out this year or early next year. Does anything like that ever influence you? Does it make you write more toward a larger audience or focus more on accessibility?
TG: I’m first and foremost focused on creating a great comic, and though I’m certainly mindful about making it accessible to new readers, we have no wish to shave off any rough edges to make it more palatable, if that makes sense. Red Sonja remains her brilliant, brutal self, and there are easter eggs and references for those who know the character well.
AIPT: Why should anyone pick up issue #1?
TG: This series is a celebration of an iconic character, done with love for Sonja and the world she inhabits. If you like the genre, brutal action, or badass women, this series is for you!
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