ERIK BURNHAM talks RED SONJA #14, on sale in FEBRUARY from Dynamite!
BYRON BREWER: Erik, how does it feel to be working with writer Amy Chu on Red Sonja? Are you a fan of the She-Devil with a Sword?
ERIK BURNHAM: Of course I’m a fan -- of Sonja AND Amy. Had a lot of fun pitching in on the KISS: The Demon miniseries with Amy, but I’m even more psyched here. It was Amy’s Red Sonja #0 that pulled me in on the character; and I enjoy that pulp fantasy is as much of a hoot to write as it is to read!
BB: Before we start on #14, how will you and Amy be working? Can you tell us of the process?
EB: Well, Amy’s got the story fully mapped -- she sent over a detailed master plan. I take the plan and go from there, building it out, adding some ideas and incorporating some solid editorial suggestions, before passing it back on over. Couldn’t be easier!
BB: I know this is a big-time collaboration, but tell us your ideal characterization of Sonja.
EB: It’s tough to give an all-encompassing answer, but I’d start with her being the type of person who suffers no fools, basically. She’s a warrior from a dangerous world filled with monsters, wizards, warriors -- and she thrives. I think she’s empathetic, but hides it well. I think she’s got no patience for folks who aren’t pushing to be at the same level. And everything else grows out of that drive.
BB: The warrior woman is going through some unique times in her book under Amy, traveling the USA by motorcycle, and now she has made her way out of Hell into … well, what can you (in a non-spoilery manner of course) tell us about what Sonja finds in #14 on the other end of the River Styx?
EB: She finds trouble, naturally. When she crosses the river, she’ll be back in a familiar time and place -- basically, she’ll be back in the world she grew up in. But that world is gonna be even more dangerous than it was when she left.
BB: It’s no secret! Mister Magic, Kulan Gath is back in town?
EB: He sure is … and that’s WHY Sonja’s world is even more dangerous! He’s had the time to do some scheming and entrench himself in a place where his magic is even more powerful than it is normally. He’s gonna make things hard for Sonja from go -- but really, when doesn’t he?
BB: What can you say about the awesome art of Carlos Gomez?
EB: Geez, what CAN’T I say? He has a gift. No matter what’s thrown at him in a script, he returns it with a unique spin. The pages are clear, the finishes polished -- I tell you, it’s been a lot of fun seeing pages show up in my email every day. He’s an enthusiastic guy, and that sure comes through in his work!
BB: Erik, what other projects might you be working on that would interest readers?
EB: I’m continuing my Ghostbusters run over at IDW with an annual and an 8-issue miniseries using every possible iteration of the franchise from movies to cartoons to comics, the annual drops in February and leads into the miniseries starting the next month (once again with Dan Schoening and Luis Delgado). The second TMNT and Ghostbusters crossover just wrapped up and a collection should be out soon; likewise, a collection of the TMNT Universe arc I did with Sophie Campbell and Brittany Peer. There are a couple of fun projects I have on deck that should be known by the time this arc of Red Sonja hits the stands, but I better play it safe and not say anything. I’m looking forward to them, though. 2018 is gonna be a blast.
BYRON BREWER: Erik, how does it feel to be working with writer Amy Chu on Red Sonja? Are you a fan of the She-Devil with a Sword?
ERIK BURNHAM: Of course I’m a fan -- of Sonja AND Amy. Had a lot of fun pitching in on the KISS: The Demon miniseries with Amy, but I’m even more psyched here. It was Amy’s Red Sonja #0 that pulled me in on the character; and I enjoy that pulp fantasy is as much of a hoot to write as it is to read!
BB: Before we start on #14, how will you and Amy be working? Can you tell us of the process?
EB: Well, Amy’s got the story fully mapped -- she sent over a detailed master plan. I take the plan and go from there, building it out, adding some ideas and incorporating some solid editorial suggestions, before passing it back on over. Couldn’t be easier!
BB: I know this is a big-time collaboration, but tell us your ideal characterization of Sonja.
EB: It’s tough to give an all-encompassing answer, but I’d start with her being the type of person who suffers no fools, basically. She’s a warrior from a dangerous world filled with monsters, wizards, warriors -- and she thrives. I think she’s empathetic, but hides it well. I think she’s got no patience for folks who aren’t pushing to be at the same level. And everything else grows out of that drive.
BB: The warrior woman is going through some unique times in her book under Amy, traveling the USA by motorcycle, and now she has made her way out of Hell into … well, what can you (in a non-spoilery manner of course) tell us about what Sonja finds in #14 on the other end of the River Styx?
EB: She finds trouble, naturally. When she crosses the river, she’ll be back in a familiar time and place -- basically, she’ll be back in the world she grew up in. But that world is gonna be even more dangerous than it was when she left.
BB: It’s no secret! Mister Magic, Kulan Gath is back in town?
EB: He sure is … and that’s WHY Sonja’s world is even more dangerous! He’s had the time to do some scheming and entrench himself in a place where his magic is even more powerful than it is normally. He’s gonna make things hard for Sonja from go -- but really, when doesn’t he?
BB: What can you say about the awesome art of Carlos Gomez?
EB: Geez, what CAN’T I say? He has a gift. No matter what’s thrown at him in a script, he returns it with a unique spin. The pages are clear, the finishes polished -- I tell you, it’s been a lot of fun seeing pages show up in my email every day. He’s an enthusiastic guy, and that sure comes through in his work!
BB: Erik, what other projects might you be working on that would interest readers?
EB: I’m continuing my Ghostbusters run over at IDW with an annual and an 8-issue miniseries using every possible iteration of the franchise from movies to cartoons to comics, the annual drops in February and leads into the miniseries starting the next month (once again with Dan Schoening and Luis Delgado). The second TMNT and Ghostbusters crossover just wrapped up and a collection should be out soon; likewise, a collection of the TMNT Universe arc I did with Sophie Campbell and Brittany Peer. There are a couple of fun projects I have on deck that should be known by the time this arc of Red Sonja hits the stands, but I better play it safe and not say anything. I’m looking forward to them, though. 2018 is gonna be a blast.
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