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11/06/13 @ 3:42 pm EST
CBR News: I know when we spoke in March about you taking on "Red Sonja," you mentioned that you had ideas for bringing in more women on the creative side. When did you first come up with the idea for the all-female creator written "Legends Of Red Sonja" series?
Gail Simone: It was right away, nearly. We had come up with the idea of having all the covers of my monthly "Red Sonja" run being drawn by female artists, and the results were just delightful and spectacular. It made everyone happy to see; Diamond, Dynamite, retailers, readers, it was just that fun.
So I thought, man, what if we did that, but with female writers writing short stories? And because Sonja has an anniversary, her 40th, coming up, this seemed a perfect way to celebrate.
Looking at the names you have lined up, it's a veritable Who's Who of female comics creators, like Devin Grayson, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Nicola Scott, etc. How did you decide on what creators to include in this Red Sonja anthology series?
It's way more than just comics, that's a big part of the fun of it. And it's selfish, I'm sure, but I exclusively chose people who;
1) Loved comics, and
2) Did work that inspired me.
It's just pure greed. I grabbed my favorite writers like trading cards. The amazing thing is, all these incredibly busy women pushed aside whatever they were doing to do this. I had this fairly long list, because I was warned that most people I asked would be too busy, knowing their workloads, but I didn't get to those names on the rest of the list, because everyone just immediately said yes, to my delight.
I am incredibly proud of the team we assembled, it's ridiculous. Tamora Pierce? Kelly Sue DeConnick? Mercedes Lackey? In one anthology?
We put together, in a short afternoon, a list of talent that should make any comics or prose publisher weep with jealousy. That makes me happy.
As you said, you're working with big names from the fantasy novel and YA world, like Tamora Pierce and Mercedes Lackey. Why did you want to reach out and bring these famous fantasy novelists onto "Legends?"
Well, in both cases, I love their writing, that was the big thing.
But they both love comics, and it just seemed ridiculous to me that these prose titans and the other prose writers we grabbed, weren't making comics. They love comics, they have huge fan bases, why isn't anyone connecting those dots?
When CBR spoke with Marjorie Liu about her contribution for the title, she cited being a childhood fan of the movie Red Sonja. While you were compiling the series, did you find that many of the writers you spoke with had a similar deep love for the comics and film heroine?
A surprising amount, nearly all of them, had some special Sonja memory. The one that struck me is that Nancy Collins' most famous creation, the cool vampire Sonja Blue from her Bram Stoker-winning novel series, was actually a nod to Red Sonja in the first place. I had devoured those books, they're fantastic -- and I never made that connection, even though it's obvious when it's pointed out.
Talking about the anthology specifically, how will each issue be broken up? Will you be teaming up and co-writing stories with any of the writers?
The way it works is, I am sort of the de facto story editor. I gave the writers all a series of documents outline a framing story and the characters in that story, and then each writer sent a plot for a short story, a 'legend,' that fits in our overall arc.
A huge team of the world's deadliest mercs and killers, have been sent on an honor killing mission to get Red Sonja. Along the way, they are told legends of the woman they follow. Some narrators are not telling the whole truth.
Then, it was a matter of the writers writing their stories, and I often did minor tweaking (with permission) to make the stories all fit together. It was lovely. Not a single diva moment from anyone.
It was a lot of work, but the Red Women (as we were calling ourselves) were, without fail, lovely and professional and helpful.
Will any of these stories tie-into your main "Red Sonja" arcs, or are they all stand-alone tales from her past and future?
There is definitely going to be a bit of crossover fun. You do not have to buy both series, it's not that kind of thing. But at least one character from this anthology will be showing up in the ongoing.
Are you working with all female artists on covers or interiors as well?
No, we felt that was the fun of the ongoing book. We have to give some guys a chance! Most of the artists, but not all, for the anthology are dudes, super-talented dudes. I don't know who we can announce, but there are some names in there you are going to know, for sure. Jack Jadson is doing a great job on my framing story, holding it all together. And the brilliant Carla Speed McNeil is in issue one!
Right now, you have five issues planned. Would you consider adding more if other women creators wanted to contribute, or if there's a huge demand for more stories?
Oh, I'd love to. There are so many women who wanted aboard after the space was filled, and women we didn't get to ask yet. I've love to have Ann Nocenti, Christy Marx, Rachel Pollack, Alex Di Campi, Caitlin Kiernan, Nancy Collins, Barbara Kesel, Becky Cloonan, Kathryn Immonen -- lots more.
But even more, I'd love to see this format be used with other characters. It's a lot of fun -- would love to see something like this for the Green Hornet, or any of a dozen other characters.
To end, what's been the biggest thrill and challenge for you, both in terms of putting together "Legends" and as writer for the main "Red Sonja" series now that the first issues are out?
With Legends, it's a few things. First, getting a-list artist Nicola Scott's first actual script. Second, getting the first ever comics from Mercedes Lackey and Meljean Brook, and third, possibly the nicest benefit, bringing back three of my favorites, Nancy Collins, Tamora Pierce and Devin Grayson back to comics after they had all been away way too long. That just makes me giggle to think about.
They're having a blast, I am hoping, hoping, hoping it means we'll see more comics from all of them. With the Sonja ongoing, the thrill is just getting to write one of the most badass characters ever created anywhere. And that's not hype, that's just the truth of who Sonja is. I am lucky.
"Legends Of Red Sonja" #1 hits stands November 6.
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04/30/25 @ 9:54 pm EST
Chris Hemsworth is taking a deep dive for Amazon MGM Studios. The actor, last seen in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, is set to star in Subversion, a submarine thriller that Patrick Vollrath will direct for Amazon MGM. Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producing via his di Bonaventura Pictures banner. The project is eying a production start this fall in Australia. Written by Andrew Ferguson, the story has been described as a “Die Hard on a submarine” style thriller that centers on a once-promising Naval commander (Hemsworth) who is blackmailed by a cartel-like operation into piloting a dangerous submarine carrying illegal cargo across international waters. Thrust into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, the man must outmaneuver blockades and navigate perilous threats both in and outside of the submarine. (via The Hollywood Reporter) 04/30/25 @ 9:46 pm EST
Multiple Eisner award-winning team Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Reckless, Houses of the Unholy, Fatale) will bring an all new Criminal graphic novel to shelves this September from Image Comics with The Knives.
It has been nearly five years since fans had an opportunity to revel in new Criminal material and this highly anticipated new story promises to be the darkest and most ambitious installment in the critically lauded, contemporary classic yet.
Cartoonist Jacob Kurtz goes to Hollywood in the era of peak TV to work on an adaptation of his comic strip, only to find himself caught up in the life of his aging aunt and the vultures circling her estate. Angie was raised at the Undertow, but now everything she loves has been taken from her. She's on the streets with vengeance on her mind, her eyes set on the city's kingpin. And finally, Tracy Lawless is home from the Special Forces, finally a civilian again, but he's in bad shape and this city has always brought out the worst in him. These three tales collide in The Knives, a breathtaking noir story about greed, ambition, heartbreak, and blood ties.
"A few years ago someone reached out to me to return some of my uncle's lost possessions, after his family estate had been plundered, and bizarrely, that sparked the inspiration for what I hope is the biggest and best Criminal book yet. A crime story about one generation growing up in the life, another growing older and trying to get out of it, and Hollywood, somehow, too," said Brubaker. "This book is an epic, the longest original graphic novel we've ever done, and it's been a joy to return to this series and these characters, especially after spending most of the last three years watching them come to life on set and screen. I can't wait to get this book into readers' hands."
Further excitement surrounding Criminal has amped up since news hit that the television adaptation of this iconic series was in production last year with Brubaker serving as show runner, and is coming soon to Amazon Prime. The adaptation will star A-listers Charlie Hunnam, Luke Evans, and Emilia Clarke and the first season of the TV show will cover the first two story arcs of the comic book series, Criminal, Volume One: Coward and Criminal, Volume Two: Lawless.
Originally published in 2007, Criminal follows a cast of characters connected through a shared criminal history. For readers looking to catch up on the Criminal series, volumes 1-8 are available in “new edition” trade paperbacks, which feature new cover designs by Phillips, as well as in oversized, deluxe hardcover editions, Books 1-3. They can be found at comic book shops, independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones.
The Knives hardcover (ISBN: 9781534355590, Lunar Code 0525IM280) will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, August 27 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones on Tuesday, September 9.
Criminal is also available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.       
... 04/30/25 @ 11:03 am EST
A new 4K Ultra HD restoration of The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been struck and will be released in theatres across the U.S. to mark the film’s 50th anniversary. The cult classic has been restored over 10 months by the Walt Disney Studios Restoration team. The company has said the restoration included a meticulous digital scan and preservation process that ensures every frame of the film is presented with “unprecedented clarity and vibrancy.” The restoration also features a newly mixed Dolby Atmos audio track. “It’s a privilege to help preserve the legacy of a film that has meant so much to so many,” said Kevin Schaeffer, Disney’s Director of Restoration and Library Management. (via Deadline) 04/30/25 @ 10:55 am EST
Will “Thunderbolts*” bring the box office thunder? Disney’s latest Marvel superhero adventure is targeting $70 million to $75 million in its opening weekend, providing another needed jolt to movie theaters after the one-two punch of “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners.” Globally, “Thunderbolts*” looks to finish the weekend with $160 million to $175 million. Those projected sales are softer than most of the recent entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; “Captain America: Brave New World” opened in February to $88 million over the weekend, $100 million through the extended Presidents’ Day holiday weekend and $192.4 million globally. And prior to that, only three post-pandemic Marvel adventures — 2021’s “Eternals” ($71 million), “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” ($75 million) and 2023’s “The Marvels” ($46 million) — have started below $100 million. Otherwise, big guns like 2024’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($221 million), 2023’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” ($118 million), “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” ($181 million) and 2022’s “Thor: Love and Thunder” ($144 million), were among the biggest opening weekends of their respective years. As the weekend’s only newcomer, “Thunderbolts*” will easily tower over box office charts. However, “Sinners” is expected to take another big bite with ticket sales and is on pace to decline just 20% in its third weekend of release. (via Variety) 04/30/25 @ 10:42 am EST
The first and most iconic TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (TMNT) villain, Oroku Saki aka SHREDDER, is making his terrifying return this summer and he wants one thing: revenge. IDW Publishing is proud to announce TMNT: SHREDDER, a thrilling new comic book series from celebrated writer Dan Watters (Batman: Dark Patterns) and rising star artist Michele Bandini (Spider-Man: City at War), featuring primary covers and a fearsome new character design by fan-favorite TMNT artist Mateus Santolouco. 
Prepare for the rags-to-revenge story of the ultimate ronin. Returned forever changed by a maddening ordeal beyond imagining, betrayed by all around him, and no longer with the Foot Clan, Shredder will quest deep into New York’s criminal underworld as a former protege has formed their own rival clan with sinister plans for the city. In his deadly mission for vengeance, enemies both old and new will brutally discover what defiance will bring them at the end of the Shredder’s blades. “The bad guys always have the best stories, and Shredder is no exception,” said Watters. “This story is Shredder on a quest of revenge – rejecting the gods and allegiances he’s made over his long and storied history, reminding New York exactly why it feared him so much – and why it should do so again. This is the kind of character I love to write. Driven, ruthless, and crawling his way back to the top with a new purpose. This is going to be a hell of a ride.” 
“I’m from the ‘80s, so I grew up with TMNT and I always wished to have the chance to work on one of their books since I was little kid. Yup, I wanted to be a comic book artist since I was five years old, and my favourite characters have always been the fun-loving Michelangelo and the ruthless ninja master, Shredder,” remarked Bandini. The artist added, “A revenge story with one of the coolest characters ever created? I can’t wait to see Shredder get back what he deserves: the crown of the deadliest villain New York has ever seen!” “TMNT: SHREDDER was the new title I was most eager to develop when I took the TMNT job,” stated Senior Editor Andy Khouri. “Shredder is unquestionably one of the coolest, most fearsome and iconic villains in the history of American comics, and the time is right to take him back to those sinister roots. Dan Watters was the only writer I approached about the project. His bibliography – which includes characters like Batman and Lucifer, as well as his own innovative indie comics – reads like a training manual for how to write about Shredder, a character as steeped in mysticism as he is in blades and blood.” Khouri continued, “Dan’s story is at once a back-to-basics approach that welcomes the new readers of Jason Aaron’s historic TMNT run while building on the indelible backstory of IDW’s version of this classic character.”  
“Working with Dan on this dark and mysterious new tale is Michele Bandini, a rising star in our industry,” commented Khouri. “Michele’s stunning cover artwork is just a taste of the passion and creativity he’s bringing to the project. Synthesizing comic book traditions from America, Europe and Asia, TMNT: SHREDDER will stand next to TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES as one of the most gorgeous books on sale this year.” TMNT: SHREDDER #1 is on sale Wednesday, August 13 with a pre-order deadline of Monday, July 7. In addition to Santolouco’s striking cover, the debut issue will also feature jaw-dropping variants by series artist Bandini, Kael Ngu, Dike Ruan, Stjepan Šejić, a black & white version of Ngu’s cover, a foil version of Santolouco’s cover, and a sketch variant.  
... 04/29/25 @ 6:02 pm EST
BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at THE LAST WITCH: BLOOD & BETRAYAL #1, the premiere issue of the next exciting chapter of THE LAST WITCH from writer Conor McCreery (Assassin’s Creed), artist V.V. Glass’ (Kamen Rider Zero-One), colorist Natalia Nesterenko, and letterer Taylor Esposito. The young adult fantasy series returns with THE LAST WITCH: BLOOD & BETRAYAL from BOOM! Studios in June 2025! The one thing Saoirse has always known: witches are evil. But now she is one, and she has to contend with what that means for herself and her brother Brahm. All the while, Nicneven has plans that can mean the end of Ireland as they know it. Saoirse must learn to control her magic—and temper—if they want any chance of defeating her. Are her own prejudices against witches creating more of a barrier between herself, her powers, and her family? THE LAST WITCH: BLOOD & BETRAYAL #1 features main cover art by series artist V.V. Glass and variant covers by Jorge Corona (Batgirls). THE LAST WITCH: BLOOD & BETRAYAL is the latest release from BOOM! Studios’ award-winning BOOM! Box imprint, home to groundbreaking original series such as Lumberjanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Gus Allen, and ND Stevenson; Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera and Celia Moscote; Giant Days by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, and Max Sarin; Mamo by Sas Milledge; Save Yourself! by Bones Leopard and Kelly and Nichole Matthews; Specter Inspectors by Bowen McCurdy and Kaitlyn Musto; The Last Witch by Conor McCreery and V.V. Glass; Ghosted in LA by Sina Grace and Siobhan Keenan; The Avant-Guards by Carly Usdin and Noah Hayes; Fence by C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad; Goldie Vance by Hope Larson and Brittney Williams; Hollow by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, and Berenice Nelle; Getting Dizzy by Shea Fontana and Celia Moscote; and the educational series Seen: True Stories of Marginalized Trailblazers. THE LAST WITCH: BLOOD & BETRAYAL #1 will be available in comic shops June 18, 2025. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.      
... 04/29/25 @ 5:54 pm EST
Break out the old kill room, because Dexter Morgan is very not dead. Dexter: Resurrection, the sequel series to flagship Dexter, has set a release date and has dropped a teaser trailer saying as much as it reintroduces Michael C. Hall as titular serial killer Dexter Morgan. Dexter: Resurrection will debut with two episodes on Friday, July 11, on streaming and on demand for Paramount+ With Showtime subscribers, before its on-air debut Sunday, July 13, at 8 p.m. Remaining episodes will roll out weekly. Dexter: Resurrection, from showrunner and executive producer Clyde Phillips, is a continuation of Dexter: New Blood and picks up immediately after that 2021 limited series left off, where Dexter Morgan is revived after being shot by his son, Harrison (Jack Alcott). Dexter’s resuscitation was revealed in a flash-forward in Dexter: Original Sin, the prequel series that wrapped its first run in February (and has since been renewed). Phillips also headed up Original Sin. (via THR) Teaser: https://youtu.be/PC1ugbqJKNM 04/29/25 @ 11:37 am EST
James Gunn's Superman movie has finally offered fans the first full look at its secret villain. Several big baddies are confirmed for David Corenswet's Man of Steel to go up against in the DC Studios epic, Lex Luthor among them; however, one key member of the film's antagonistic bunch still has largely been kept under wraps. A new Amazon product listing shows the first head-to-toe look at Superman's villain, Ultraman. The sneak peek at the character popped up in the official activity book for Superman. It shows the masked villain in a skin-tight suit floating with his arms spread wide. The costume includes rounded goggles on the mask, a purple tint, and a metallic "U" splayed across the chest. Fans still do not know who the supervillain is, who they will be played by, or how they specifically factor in Superman's plot. Superman is set to soar into theaters on July 11, kicking off the newly minted DCU. (via The Direct) 
04/29/25 @ 11:01 am EST
Alan Tudyk’s beloved slouching quippy reprogrammed Imperial murder-bot K-2SO has an important role to play in Andor season two … just not quite yet. It’s understandable that some fans have been a bit impatient for this. When Andor was first announced as a prequel series to 2016’s Rogue One, the first thing that likely popped into your mind is Cassian Andor and his eight-foot-tall metal buddy roaming the galaxy, going on Rebel Alliance missions and having all sorts of adventures. But according to creator Tony Gilroy, the big reason we haven’t seen K-2SO is story-based. “[Limiting] K-2SO came from the experience of making Rogue, to be honest with you,” Gilroy says. “From the very beginning, that was one of the most difficult parts of the original conversation — how long I was going to have to delay [K-2SO]? Because what can you do with him? I don’t want people to go back and diagram Rogue, but just within that movie, there are two or three or four places where we are hiding him — where he has to stay on the ship or can’t go somewhere. He’s a really, really difficult piece of equipment to carry through a story. The limitations on him are huge. He’s a very visible, troublesome piece of story gear. So I knew intuitively how long I would have to wait to do it.” But K-2SO is coming. Really. (via The Hollywood Reporter) 04/29/25 @ 11:01 am EST
The multiple Eisner, Harvey, Ringo, and Hugo Award winning  New York Times bestselling series, Monstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda, hits its milestone 10th anniversary this year. In celebration of the momentous achievement, an equally momentous, door-stopping Monstress Compendium One paperback edition is slated to hit shelves this Fall from Image Comics. This highly-anticipated collected edition will be comprised of Monstress issues #1-48 and provide a binge-able new entry-point for readers just discovering Maika’s dark arcane quest. "In a lot of ways, Monstress is one of our secret weapons," said Eric Stephenson, Publisher and Chief Creative Officer at Image Comics. "Since the first trade paperback was released, it has sold and sold and sold, making it one of our most successful series of the past 10 years. For anyone not already seduced by this series' many charms, this massive compendium is a great opportunity to fall in love with one of comics’ modern masterworks." The richly imagined world of Monstress is an alternate 1900s Asia, with an art deco-infused steampunk aesthetic that's brimming with arcane dangers. Within it, a teenage girl struggles to overcome the trauma of war, a task that's made all the more difficult by her mysterious psychic link to an eldritch monster of tremendous power—a connection that will transform them both, and place them in the crosshairs of both human and otherworldly powers. Monstress first launched in 2015 and has gone on to be reprinted many times, has garnered a slew of accolades including multiple Eisner Awards, Harvey Awards, a Hugo Award, World Fantasy Award, and British Fantasy Award. It has snagged spots on Best of Year lists including those of Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek, The Washington Post, Thrillist, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s, and the American Library Association’s YALSA list. Liu broke the glass ceiling in 2016 when she made history as the first woman ever to win an Eisner Award the the Best Writer category for her work on the series. Monstress Compendium One paperback (ISBN: 9781534328334) will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, September 24 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones on Tuesday, October 7. Monstress is also available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, and Omnibus. ... |
