This was quietly announced this weekend, but there have been some changes to the previously announced “Conan/Red Sonja” crossover.
Originally pitting Brian Wood’s “Conan” run at Dark Horse against (in tandem with?) Gail Simone’s “Red Sonja” run at Dynamite, the book will now be co-written by Jim Zub instead. This will be the first time that the characters have met in fifteen years, and while details are largely scarce (though there’s an interview at Unleash the Fanboy), the book will be illustrated by Dan Panosian (!!!) and will see release in December/January from Dark Horse Comics according to Jim.
Jim Zub previously wrote the “Red Sonja and Cub” one-shot for Dynamite, a riff on Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima’s legendary comic matched with Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith’s, and apparently this has gotten him a bump up to this new event. It’s certainly a good match, and not one we’re lamenting in any way.
In terms of the writer change, there is no specific comment as to the reasoning why. Neither Zub nor Brian Wood have made any major statements in regard to the change, though when asked Gail Simone did remark on tumblr:
Anonymous said: I thought Brian Wood was co-writing Conan/Sonja. Not that this is not equally fantastic, as I was a big fan of Jim Zub’s Red Sonja and Cub one-shot.
We made a change early on, and wanted to wait to announce til most of the scripts were in the can.
Happens all the time.
We will refrain from speculating any further. Look for “Conan/Red Sonja” later in the year.
