ICv2 had an opportunity to interview Frank Barbiere, the writer on the relaunched Dejah Thoris from Dynamite, planned for February release.  The series will feature art by Francesco Manna, with covers by NEN, Jay Anacleto, and Tula Lotay.  The relaunch of the comic featuring the Edgar Rice Borroughs character is part of a complete redesign of Dynamite’s female characters (see “Dynamite Reboots Female Characters”). 

You’re the first writer to write Dejah Thoris with her new look. Did you incorporate the new look into the narrative, and if so how?
Dejah’s new look is directly woven into the plot of the new series.  This is certainly not a “reboot,” but a new direction for her story and character, and her new design/outfit if a function of that.  Dejah’s new outfit is actually a military uniform, and suffice to say we’ll be seeing her adventure out of Helium and join up with the military of Barsoom in the new series. 

We’ll see plenty of the “classic” Dejah in the first issue, as well as get the context for her new design and the character drive that’s going to bring her to a whole new setting and story.

With the new look, do you feel like you’re writing to a different audience than the one that’s been reading comics featuring the character in the past, and if so, how is it different?
 I’m hoping that we can get some new eyes on the character.  This relaunch is an awesome opportunity to cut to the core of what makes Dejah a great character and I’m very intent on focusing in on parts of her character that will be refreshing to both older and new fans.  I think the most important focus here is that Dejah is the core of our book—while she’s had a few titles with her as the lead, this book focuses on her identity and what defines her.  Getting her into a new story so focused on her character makes for a great story and really rounds out her character.

What stories from the history of the character were your biggest influences in the storyline for the new series?
What’s wonderful about writing in such an amazingly realized world (that of Barsoom from the Burroughs novels/material) it that you can lean on the aesthetics and environment to make it familiar.  It gives an air of legitimacy to the work, makes it canonical, and I think that resonates very strongly with readers.  They want to know that the story is part of something bigger, and with Dejah we have the awesome opportunity to use this mythology and world to help tell our story. 

I’ve mainly focused on spotlighting Dejah’s inner strength and drive to be a great leader.  She’s really quite capable, and this story is all about putting her in a situation where she has all the agency and is able to flourish on her own.

Click on gallery below for cover images.