So, I want to talk a little bit about Red Sonja, just a bit.

I know I talk about her often but I CAN'T HELP IT, I just love her, all right?

:)

1/ Image
Some of you already know parts of this story, it shouldn't be long.

The thing is, I had been exclusive at one publisher for many years, which meant turning down other characters I would have liked. And eventually, other publishers learned I couldn't take their offers.

2/
So I had no idea, when I left that publisher, if I would have any job offers anywhere else. I just didn't know.

Then the thing happened with Batgirl (it's all good now, I swear!) and I thought, huh, I may have to go back to hairdressing. :)

But I was lucky!

3/
My phone rang off the hook with cool offers, so that was a big relief. But the FIRST call, was from @DynamiteComics, who essentially said I could write any character they had, whatever I wanted. Sweet!

Their FIRST suggestion was Red Sonja.

Here's the part I haven't told.

4/
I turned Sonja down.

For a bunch of reasons that are now goofy in retrospect.

I'd written a lot of redheads, it almost seemed too spot on.

And I really love pulp heroes, and Dynamite had ALL of those, almost.

So I turned Sonja down.

5/
So I wanted to do the Shadow or Green Hornet or the Avenger, something like that. That night, I called my mom to tell her, and said I had turned down doing Red Sonja.

Now, my mom doesn't read comics, not even my comics. Nothing bad, she just doesn't.

But she flipped out.

6/
Again, she DOESN'T READ COMICS.

But she got really upset and almost begged me to change my mind. She wanted me to write Sonja that badly.

It turns out, the character meant the world to her, as one of the first truly iconic badass redheads. I had NO IDEA.

7/
She had never, ever tried to sway me to one gig or another, she had always just trusted me to make those decisions.

But how do you tell your MOTHER than you are not going to write her absolute favorite charactet?

Answer: You don't. :)

8/
So I called back Dynamite and said sheepishly..."Um, er, uh...so about that redhead..."

And I took the gig.

I never made a better decision in my entire comics career.

9/
And I had this story in my mind.

The thing is, I loved loved loved the Roy Thomas/Frank Thorne stuff, it was just so beautiful.

And @Oeming and @mercuryeric wrote great stories more recently.

I wanted her to have a unique voice, and I needed an artist who could draw that.

10/
I went through a lot of names for artists. But Nick at @dynamite thought they had just the right guy.

@Walter_Geovani_

They were right.

11/
Walter and I have never met, he lives in Brazil for Pete's sake.

I say this all the time. If you write a lot, you get to work with a lot of great artists. But some, some just click.

It's like singing harmony. Walter is that guy for me and Sonja.

12/
When you write comics, and you are blessed with an artist who just GETS it, and always delivers more than you ask for, that's a very magic feeling.

Walter is THE Sonja guy for me and the first question I ask when a Sonja thing comes up is, "Is Walter available?

13/ ImageImageImageImage
Anyway, what COULD have been a nice little run instead became kind of a big thing. Big seller internationally and in tbp. People reading Sonja for the first time.

And now, she is poised to be an even bigger deal.

14/
There's a movie in development, prose stories, audible stories, games, an omnibus, LOTS of new comics, statues, cosplayers, I bought Red Sonja SOCKS at freaking GameStop a while ago...:)

There's a lot of stuff we can't even discuss yet.

The REVENGE OF THE REDHEAD!

15/
And quite a bit of that stuff was sparked by our run, just me and @Walter_Geovani_ with his wonderful imagination and dedication. I know because the writers and directors have told me!

16/
But the point is, I almost turned down what without question became the funnest and one of the most rewarding jobs I've had in comics.

Important point: Sometimes your instincts are terrible. :)

17/
I would never have dreamed that I would be still so wrapped up in Sonja stuff years after ending my run. But I love her so much and am THRILLED to see her explode like this, and have a part in that.

I am very grateful to @DynamiteComics and Luke Lieberman for letting me!

18/
But mostly I am just incredibly grateful to @Walter_Geovani_ for putting up with me and making my stories look better than I ever could have imagined. No one has shaped my love for Sonja more than you, Walter!

YOU ARE THE BEST!

19/
Anyway, that's something I have wanted to say for a while. When you get a @NicolaScottArt or a @daleeaglesham or a @david_baldeon or a @Walter_Geovani_, basically, you just try to stay out of their way and let them be brilliant.

I love making comics, you guys.

:)

20/
That said, @DynamiteComics is doing a cool thing to celebrate our run. It's a special edition of our first issue together, BUT with some surprises that should be announced this week.

It's cool, yo.

I can't wait for you to see what Walter has cooked up!

21/
If you check ithere and sign up, you will be the first to find out what the exact package will be, because we are being SNEAKY. :)

But we've been working it out all day and I am EXCITE. If you are a Sonja fan, I think you will love this!

Check it out!

indiegogo.com/projects/gail-…
And THANK YOU everyone who supported our beloved She-Devil!

She may need a shower, but she's the BEST!

end!/ Image
Oh, and P.S. ?

THANKS, MOM!

• • •

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More from @GailSimone

22 Jul
So, we wanted to eat at Cafe Orleans in @Disneyland yesterday, but they were booked up.

FOR THREE MONTHS.

Seriously, that is how far in advance they are booked!

But we had a friend who used some Disney magic and got in, and it was amazing.

1/
First, unlimited mint juleps, and candied pecan salad with vinaigrette, I am in heaven by this point.

2/ ImageImage
For the entrees, I had honey bourbon chicken, which was absolutely delicious, you just don’t expect food this good at a theme park. The demi was like a yummy wake-up call.

@RocketSpouse had shrimp and grits, with fried kale, corn, sausage and beans. SO DELICIOUS.

3/ ImageImage
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22 Jul
Here is a funny thing.

Yesterday, at @Disneyland, I was there while several @Marvel characters appearances. It was lovely to see kids and adults clapping and cheering all these characters.

Guess which one got the biggest response BY FAR? ImageImageImage
WRONG.
I’m not joking here.

Three AVENGERS show up, crowd is delighted.

But the response to ANOTHER character blew that response away, it was twice as loud, and genuine excited screams for…
Read 9 tweets
22 Jul
Here is a thing that made me laugh.

We were riding the Disneyland railroad, and a mom got on behind us, with a child, maybe five years old. The train is one of the slowest, smoothest, non-thrill rides in the park, but we love it.

The little boy was super happy to board…
…for about one minute.

After we started moving, his smile started fading. He looks around, an angry look on his face.

And he says, in the sternest, most no-nonsense voice I have ever heard…

“I WANT OFF THIS THING RIGHT NOW.”

Which made us giggle a bit…but there’s more.
His mom tries to convince him that the train is fun and safe.

But this little guy was having none of it, and he says again, like an adorable but angry CEO of the world’s most successful sandbox…

“I WANT OFF THIS THING, DID YOU HEAR ME?”

Like a 5 year old James Earl Jones.
Read 11 tweets
21 Jul
So yesterday, we had the VIP Tour at Disneyland and California Adventure, where they assign you a wonderful guide and you can do pretty much anything for the whole day.

We got Mondo, who was incredible.

For this Disney park fan, it was HEAVEN.
You pretty much walk onto any ride. We ate at both our chosen restaurants that were completely booked up on the app.

It was a perfect, lovely day.
Highlights include:

Rise of the Resistance
Smuggler’s Run
Galaxy’s Edge
Splash Mountain
Matterhorn
Avengers Campus
Lunch at the Blue Bayou
Dinner at Wine Country Trattoria
Incredi-coaster
Toy Story Mania

And lots more. One of the funnest days of my life.
Read 6 tweets
20 Jul
Your TOP GUN call sign is your favorite single-word frozen treat. GO.
CHIPWICH.
Hold steady, Push-up! STAY FROSTY!
Read 6 tweets
11 Jul
So, this just happened, for real. We decided to go kayaking, and we were in our cove which is pretty much just us. And we were just getting in and warmed up, @rocketspouse is by the short, his back to the land. I'm further out into the deeper water.

1/
And I turn around and look and notice there is a big bear right behind hubby on the shore in the vegetation. @RocketSpouse has no idea, not a clue, he's just getting his paddle grip situated. Bear. Right behind him, looking right at him.

2/
Now, I don't know the plan when you are in a kayak and a bear is RIGHT BEHIND you, maybe five feet.

So I don't know, do I yell at the bear, do I throw something at the bear, do I yell to warn @rocketspouse?

Fortunately, my finely-tuned survival instincts kicked in and...

3/
Read 10 tweets

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