Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, conan, dark horse, dynamite, entertainment, red sonja, Victor Gischler

"I Love Fantasy / Sword & Sorcery" – Victor Gischler Talks Red Sonja / Conan

Published Tue, 21 Jul 2015 21:30:51 -0500

Dynamite and Dark Horse's second crossover series of the Robert E Howard characters Conan and Red Sonja continues with Red Sonja / Conan #2 and Victor Gischler is here to talk about it. Cover art by Ed Benes.

BYRON BREWER: Victor, how does it feel to be working on one of the very rare team-ups of comics, one of only two that has happened in the last 15 years, meaning Conan and Red Sonja?

VICTOR GISCHLER: On the one hand, it's an honor. These are iconic characters and it's very cool I get to play with them for four. But I'm also acutely aware I am following Simone and Zub's run, so the bar is set high. Also, I tried to create a story that could stand on its own, but that also connected to the previous team-up, giving those readers a bonus reason to tune in. So it feels good but also like a responsibility.

BB: Are you a Robert E. Howard fan? Was your approach to this more determined by that source material or the comics iterations?

VG: I am a Howard fan, but I'm not going to lie and say I'm hardcore enough to have read every single word. What I'm really a fan of is comic book art, and some of my earliest Dynamite purchases was to go back and get some Red Sonja trades. I love fantasy/sword & sorcery. Some of those Red Sonja covers are eye-catching as hell. I did pour over the 4 issues of the first team up. I really wanted to continue that general vibe.

BB: Red Sonja has become one of Dynamite's flagship franchises. What is your take on the She-Devil with a Sword?

VG: One of the great things about Red Sonja is that she already comes with the perfect take built in. Gorgeous, strong, lethal. She doesn't take any crap from man, woman, or beast. Really status quo with her was the way to go for me. I do like that she now seems a bit more open to … uh … relationships.

BB: And Conan?

VG: Again, Conan is just how he should be. What's special here is how they team together. They have huge respect and affection for each other, but there is also a fun competitiveness between them.

BB: Tell us a bit about this limited series' storyline, if you can.

VG: Blood root played a huge role in the first team-up mini. And when I talked to Joe [Rybandt, Dynamite Senior Editor] about the approach, we agreed that the second mini should have some connective tissue to the first, so I focused on blood root and a wizard that specialized in herbology and took a more patient and subtle approach to using it. I say "subtle" but the mini is still jammed full of groovy sword-chopping and axe-hacking.

BB: What does artist Roberto Castro bring to the table?

VG: Joe told me he was one of Dynamite's go-to guys for Howard stuff. That's always a confidence booster knowing you have an experienced guy at the wheel.

For more on Red Sonja / Conan #2, click here.

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