Interview: Luke Lieberman adds more to Sonja’s epic canon with RED SONJA: DEATH AND THE DEVIL

Deanna Destito: You have a long history with Sonja. Why do you like returning to her?

Luke Lieberman: I never left. I’m across all the publishing, but when I write something myself it is because I feel really inspired. There is a story I’m compelled to put out into the world.

Destito: What can fans old and new expect from this new series?

Lieberman: A good Sonja tale. Since this one involves a younger Sonja coming to terms with death there’s a lot of bloodshed. There is also an angsty, fiery, volatile teenager wrestling with her soul and trying to fix something she broke. 

Destito: How does this story fit in with the Red Sonja canon so far?

Lieberman: This is a bookend to Birth of a She Devil. There she murdered the Sultan of Turan (and he deserved it), but now the country is tearing itself apart with warlords and religious cults all trying to seize the throne. 

Destito: How has it been working with this creative team?

Lieberman: I waited to write this until we found the right artist. I am introducing a new character, Bloodless, and he, Sonja, and the story overall deserved a special hand. Alberto has a really unique style that fits the storytelling.

Destito: If you could team Sonja up with any character across any media, who would it be and why?

Lieberman: I’d throw her into Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings and see how that played out.