I recently did a review for Ape Entertainment’s Helldorado series and became so intrigued by who the writer was that I had to sit down and talk to him about his comic and his unquie career in the comic industry. To my suprise, the man happened to be a kindred spirit who had a love and passion for Westerns and Hammer films just like me. Meet C. Michael Hall as he tells the comicbooked.com fans all about his comic series Helldorado.
Raphael Moran-
Tell us in your own words…What is Helldorado about?
Michael Hall-
Helldorado is a love letter to three genres at once: the spaghetti Western, Hammer horror, and wuxia-style kung fu films. I’ve always described it as, “If Hammer Films hired a bunch of Hong Kong filmmakers to create a spaghetti Western, Helldorado is what they’d come up with.” Like every comic I write, it’s just a celebration of things I enjoy. I love playing with genre tropes as if they were Lego bricks, mixing and matching from various sources and reassembling them into something new and fun.
Raphael Moran-
You’re one of the most knowledgeable guys that know about Hammer Horror films. How did that influence you and what do you feel about the recent “Relaunch” of the Hammer films? Also part of this question, what is your favorite Hammer film?
Michael Hall-
People often describe me as a Hammer expert, but I’m uncomfortable with that title. Sure, I know enough that I’ve written a couple magazine articles about Hammer Films, and I’ve seen most of the studio’s output, but there are some genuine Hammer scholars out there…people who’ve written entire books! They’re the real experts. I’m just an ardent fan with a good memory and a background in research methodology.
That said, Hammer influences my writing a lot…and I mean a LOT. Hammer’s best films straddle this nebulous line between serious drama and genre entertainment, always with a sense of humor, but never with anything resembling embarrassment. That’s what I strive to do in everything I write, to be honest: I try to create narratives about interesting characters in outlandish circumstances, always aware that what I’m doing is kind of silly, but embracing that silliness rather than taking myself too seriously and pretending that silliness isn’t there. Not every reader responds to what I do, but I don’t really care. I enjoy it, and that’s what matters most to me as a creator.
The rebirth of Hammer Films excites me to no end. Sitting in the theater watching The Woman in Black with my girlfriend (who’s also a big Hammer fan), I just couldn’t stop smiling. They nailed it. I can’t wait to see what the custodians of the Hammer brand do next.
As for my favorite Hammer film, that depends on the day. Lately I’ve been rediscovering Hammer’s sci-fi films, like Quatermass and the Pit and Moon Zero Two. I’ve also been reevaluating the studio’s suspense thrillers, such as Paranoiac and Taste of Fear. If I had to pick one all-time Hammer favorite, though, I’d have to go with Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed! Peter Cushing is delightfully evil in that one, and Veronica Carlson’s big scene in the courtyard is among my favorite Hammer moments.
Raphael Moran-
Helldorado has many influences besides Hammer horror films of course. How did you develop the idea?
Michael Hall-
It came about very simply: Brent Erwin called me up and, knowing that I’m a Western fan and a rabid horror movie buff, asked me to write a mini-series about a Western town besieged by vampires. That’s literally all he gave me… one sentence. But that’s just how Brent and I work. He gives me a high concept and turns me loose, tossing in the occasional extra idea to keep the energy flowing. Anyway, when I hit upon the idea of introducing elements from Asian cinema, we knew we had something special, and I’m very pleased with the finished product.
Raphael Moran-
Being a artist and a writer, which one do you prefer?
Micheal Hall-
The two roles satisfy different creative drives for me, so direct comparison is difficult…I enjoy both jobs, but on different levels. There’s something magical about any successful creative collaboration, and I’ve had the good fortune to draw some great stories written by others, and the opportunity to write stories that were wonderfully realized by other artists. I’m happiest when working solo, though; I enjoy collaboration, but the auteur in me enjoys crafting the finished product from the ground up.
Professionally, I used to be frustrated with the constraints placed on me because of my goofy, animation-inspired art style. Until I got into educational comics and started working for clients and publishers outside of the comic book industry, I found myself limited in the kinds of stories I was allowed to draw. Now, with most of my cartooning work outside the superhero-centric American comics market, I earn a much better page rate and get offered a much wider range of subject matter.
Raphael Moran-
What is the future of Helldorado?
Micheal Hall-
Helldorado sold pretty well, so it’s getting at least one sequel mini-series… and it’s going to be awesome. I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say, since there have been no press releases, but the artist is superb: he’s a worthy successor to Martín Coccolo, whose work on the first Helldorado series was just brilliant. Events in the first Helldorado series altered the fabric of reality surrounding our dusty little town, and in this second series I get to start exploring the ramifications of that. The characters who survived the first series are in a pretty dark place. They’ve lost a lot, and it’s scarred them, physically and psychologically. They need to rediscover what made them heroes, but they’d better do it fast, because the town is once again in mortal danger from a supernatural menace… one that’s already wiped several towns right off the map.
Since I’m always playing with genres and looking for new elements to mix and match, I’m using this second series to introduce a Steampunk element to compliment the Western and supernatural elements, with a couple new characters providing a wonderful access point to this new facet of the Helldorado universe. And of course, there will be plenty of monsters and gore.
Raphael Moran-
Helldorado the Movie. Any exclusive news? Have you approached Hammer about it?
Michael Hall-
I wish! But you’d have to ask the guys at Ape Entertainment… I just write the book. But for the record, if Hammer Films did a Helldorado movie, I could die a happy man, my life complete.
Raphael Moran-
I personally love Westerns of all kind. The traditional western is on a slight comeback, but there’s also a trend of Westerns being mixed with other genres (Horror, Sci-fi, Kung Fu). In your honest opinion… what are some of the best recent westerns you enjoyed?
Michael Hall-
I’ve been reading a lot of Western comics lately. I’ve really been enjoying DC’s All-Star Western. Jonah Hex is a great character, and putting him into an urban environment, especially one as weird as 19th century Gotham City, was an inspired move. I recently re-read the entirety of Brian Azzarello’s Loveless, too, though I don’t feel it ever realized the potential it demonstrated in its early issues. And at the moment, I’m re-reading Bill Messner-Loeb’s Journey, which isn’t a Western exactly, as it pre-dates the typical Western setting by decades, but it’s great stuff. The last movie Western I really enjoyed was the Coen Brothers’ version of True Grit, which is a superb film on every level. And though it’s not a recent film, I just learned that The Outlaw Josie Wales is available on Blu-ray now, so I’ll be replacing my DVD and watching that over the weekend. A classic.
Raphael Moran-
I’m going to throw this out there; have you read Jay Carvajal’s The Misadventures of Clark and Jefferson from Ape Entertainment? How about the first ever Ape-crossover between your two books! I’m throwing that idea out there. Jay actually introduced me to my Dream Reavers artist Marc Borstel.
Michael Hall-
I loved that book! And while I could totally see Clark and Jefferson visiting the Helldorado universe, I think poor Jefferson would get killed pretty quickly. Sorry, Jay.
Come back for our next installment as we continue the chat with Mr. Hall about his career in educational comics and other interesting things….
