Giant Robots And Giant Bugs: Jay Stephens Discusses ‘Red Sonja Attacks Mars’
by Tom Smithyman
Red Sonja battling…Martians? Yes, it’s happened before and now Sonja is out for even more alien blood. Jay Stephens writes the upcoming limited series with artwork from Fran Strukan. In the series, the aliens from the Mars Attacks trading cards pose a threat to the She-Devil With a Sword. So she takes the fight to the Red Planet. Comicon.com talked to Stephens about the story and his favorite Mars Attacks cards.
Tom Smithyman: Why is Red Sonja attacking Mars? What did they ever do to her???
Jay Stephens: Why should those skull-faced Martians have all the fun attacking? The She-Devil With a Sword always stands up for those in need. And the decent, hardworking folks of ancient Hyboria need to not be vaporized by ray-guns. And, I mean, she’s seen these weirdos before… they even cut off her head one time!
Smithyman: This is a sort-of sequel to a pervious story from Dynamite, right?
Stephens: That’s right. The Hacking Hyrkanian first encountered the little green creeps in 2020’s Mars Attacks Red Sonja. Ours is a standalone tale that doesn’t absolutely require reading the previous adventure, but it does follow hot on its heels, story-wise. Red Sonja certainly recognizes these AckAckAck-holes when she sees them again.
Smithyman: I assume you were a fan of the Mars Attacks cards. Did you collect them? Do you have any you still remember or ones that stood out as favorites?
Stephens: Big fan, yes! The painter of the 1962 series, Norman Saunders, is a big hero of mine, as is the legendary Wallace Wood, who sketched them out. My favorite Mars Attacks cards are the shocking ones… #19 ‘Burning Flesh’ and #36 ‘Destroying A Dog’, for example … before those “indecent” cards were repainted for reissue after negative backlash.
Smithyman: Now be honest, you’re just writing this series because you want one of the exclusive trading cards that come with the variant covers, aren’t you?
Stephens: Who wouldn’t? I do wish they were even more “indecent,” though.
Smithyman: Don’t we all? Seriously, though, is there an inherent challenge in writing a story that was originally told through crazy-looking cards?
Stephens: Sometimes pictures (or 55 trading cards) are worth a thousand words. Lots of room to explore backstory if things aren’t over-explained. I mean, there are giant robots and giant bugs. The Tim Burton film didn’t even touch the giant bug stuff! What’s the deal with the giant bugs?
Smithyman: Fran Strukan draws the series. What’s the back and forth like between you?
Stephens: We exchange top secret manilla folders in a public park at an undisclosed location. That kind of black ops stuff requires real trust, you know?
Smithyman: You’ve had success as a writer, of course, but you’re well known as an artist as well. Why not illustrate this story also?
Stephens: Team-ups are just as fun as solo adventures. I love writing for myself because I know what I don’t feel like drawing. But I can make Fran draw a pirate ship and he doesn’t get too angry with me.
Smithyman: Time for the tough question: If you had your choice of getting your head chopped off by Sonja or slowly disintegrated by a Martian, which would you choose?
Stephens: If I had to choose, I’d rather be looking Red Sonja in the eyes at the moment of my demise. But both at once would be badass. And would make and awesome trading card.
Smithyman: It sure would! Good luck with the series!
