Interview: Dan Abnett and Jonathan Lau on Sonja's Superhero Turn
Jan 04, 2021
Sword-and-sandal meets glittering superhero sci-fi, courtesy of superstar Dan Abnett (Legion Of Superheroes) and Jonathan Lau (Red Sonja)! In the following interview, Abnett and Lau explain why is switching her focus from barbarians, sorcerers, and magical creatures to the spandex-clad world-beaters!
PREVIEWSworld: Dan, last month we unveiled VAMPIRELLA: THE DARK POWERS, and now here we have the companion title starring RED SONJA. How are you crafting these two titles to play off of each other as readers follow both?
Abnett: Each is its own story. Sonja’s series shows her, like Vampirella, recruited by the Project and learning to work with the organization. They both hit bumps along the way because neither one of them is a good fit for traditional superheroics. So the stories are running in parallel. However, as they play out, we will see how they meet and interconnect in interesting and explosive ways.
PREVIEWsworld: With both characters trying out for The Project in a classic capes and tights superheroic role, how do you see them differing in fulfilling that? How does Red Sonja fit the bill?
Abnett: It doesn’t really suit either of them, but the stories explain why it’s happening. It’s a deliberate genre clash, played out logically and realistically (and for maximum fun). With Vampirella, we joined her when she was already on board as a member. Sonja’s tale is rather different.
PREVIEWsworld: This series opens not too dissimilar from a traditional Red Sonja sword and sandals story. What can longtime fans of the She-Devil With a Sword expect from their favorite Hyborian heroine in this series?
Abnett: It starts very much like a classic Hyborian adventure and then shows the clash between genres as it happens. It’s everything you’d want and expect from a Red Sonja tale, and then it takes a violent twist. It’s immense fun, and I think fans of both sword and sorcery, and superheroes, will get a big kick out of it.
Lau: I'm very much in the same boat with the readers with regards to the story. I just want to ramp up the action in every issue I get and that's what will be different - Hyborian action from yours truly. Although this time around, I'm challenged to maintain the strict rule of going old-school comics paneling and design. Notice there is no floating or overlapping images, no open or fancy panels, even Sonja's hair is back instead of my usual lion's mane look.
PREVIEWsworld: You're working with artist Jonathan Lau on this series, who Dynamite fans know and love. What does he bring to the table with you as a collaborator and how's it been seeing his pages roll in?
Abnett: His art’s incredible - so vivid and detailed, and so dynamic. He’s a great artist for this - he captures Sonja’s world, and the feel of her adventures, perfectly, but he’s also got plenty more in the tank to blow it open with everything else. The superhero stuff is awesome too. Ever wanted to see what a sword would do to an over-confident superhero..?
PREVIEWsworld: Jonathan, you’ve drawn nearly every major Dynamite character. You’re just coming off of Red Sonja: Age of Chaos, which also dealt with a large cast and lots of action. Now you’re drawing ALL the characters. Which ones are you most excited to portray in this series? And are you calling back to any of your previous work here?
Lau: I've dipped my hands into the Project Superpowers characters way back. I'm simply excited to do some capes and spandex stuff here again because it's as close as I could get to draw Supes or Bats. Personally, Black Terror would be nostalgic to draw or anyone else with a cape at the least!
PREVIEWsworld: I hear whispers that these two series are leading to something even bigger… Without getting too spoilery, what can Dynamite readers look forward to?
Abnett: Something big indeed. When we first discussed this idea, it seemed like it wouldn’t work. Take two iconic characters, each with their own very particular style and genre, and mix them up… and then pour in a huge measure of another genre, the superhero team, the costumed hero. The fun was making it work, and I think it really does. These three ingredients, which shouldn’t fit together on the same page, fit together perfectly when you set up the right context. Sonja and Vampi are both, reluctantly, joining a pan-galactic, hyper-advanced superhero organization that protects entire worlds… you KNOW that’s not going to go smoothly. To me the trick was not to make anybody look stupid: not Vampirella, not Red Sonja, but not the Project superheroes either. They’re not the patsies here, they’re not the idiots caught in the crossfire. You know, now that these projects are both announced, that Sonja and Vampi are going to meet. That’s going to be big. But without getting spoilery, that’s just the start. Stay tuned… there’s something epic coming that you will NOT want to miss!
Red Sonja: Superpowers (NOV200656) is available on January 13, 2020, at your local comic shop. Be sure to keep an eye out for Superpowers' sister series, Vampirella Dark Powers. In comic shops now!
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Sword-and-sandal meets glittering superhero sci-fi, courtesy of superstar DAN ABNETT (Legion Of Superheroes) and JONATHAN LAU (Red Sonja)!
...and be sure to pick up Sonja's sister series, VAMPIRELLA: THE DARK POWERS also on sale this month!
Sword-and-sandal meets glittering superhero sci-fi, courtesy of superstar DAN ABNETT (Legion Of Superheroes) and JONATHAN LAU (Red Sonja)!
...and be sure to pick up Sonja's sister series, VAMPIRELLA: THE DARK POWERS also on sale this month!
Sword-and-sandal meets glittering superhero sci-fi, courtesy of superstar DAN ABNETT (Legion Of Superheroes) and JONATHAN LAU (Red Sonja)!
...and be sure to pick up Sonja's sister series, VAMPIRELLA: THE DARK POWERS also on sale this month!
Sword-and-sandal meets glittering superhero sci-fi, courtesy of superstar DAN ABNETT (Legion Of Superheroes) and JONATHAN LAU (Red Sonja)!
...and be sure to pick up Sonja's sister series, VAMPIRELLA: THE DARK POWERS also on sale this month!
Sword-and-sandal meets glittering superhero sci-fi, courtesy of superstar DAN ABNETT (Legion Of Superheroes) and JONATHAN LAU (Red Sonja)!
...and be sure to pick up Sonja's sister series, VAMPIRELLA: THE DARK POWERS also on sale this month!
