Jimmy Palmiotti: The Outlaw Jonah Hex
By Darren Schroeder
For a character with such an ill-fated name, Jonah Hex has
fared better than most western comics characters. Appearing first in
short contributions to DC's western anthology All Star Western in
1972, the character has had his own continuing series, found himself
in the 23rd century, fought zombies, vampires and other dead folk,
and even taken possession of a super model. Now writers Justin Gray
and Jimmy Palmiotti with artist Luke Ross are bring him back after
half a decades absence. SBC's resident Hex fanatic Darren
Schroeder bushwhacked several other reporters to get a chance to chat
with Jimmy Palmiotti about just who, what and when Hex might
end up in his new series.
Darren Schroeder: In other interviews you've stated this was a
character you had been wanting to get a chance to write for quite a
while. What made Hex so appealing for you?
Jimmy Palmiotti: I love westerns... always have since I was a
kid. I remember seeing The Outlaw Josey
Wales in the movie theatre and going back the next weekend to see
it again. It was my star wars... there is something so wonderfully
basic with the themes of westerns that I really find appealing... the
sense that people knew right from wrong and there was less of a gray
line between them. Around the same time I started buying comics, the
superhero stuff had become really done to death for me and I was
looking for alternative reading... and found hex among titles like
Conan and Master of Kung Fu. The genre stuff really
appealed to me and with Hex, I loved that this guy had it so
visually bad with the scar on his face, yet deep down he really was a
fair person... he just had his way of handling business. I wanted to
be that guy... but on the streets of Brooklyn.
DS: Were DC looking for creators interested in Jonah,
or did you and Justin raise the idea?
JP: Actually, I have been asking for the character for a
while, over and over, like a broken record. At the time, it was
promised to another creator. When he decided he did not want to do
anything with it, it became fair game again and I pitched again with
Justin and we got the gig based on what we thought would be a good
idea on how to handle the series.
DS: The comic reading
audience seem to have greeted the news of a Hex series very
positively, was that a surprise?
JP: Not really, because when you hang out with a lot of comic
people, inevitably the subject of Jonah Hex comes up and the
retailers I know also have a great love for the character. I knew it
would get attention, but the real interest to me is if, in this day
and age, an old fashioned western will have any staying power with
the people buying comics now. Good stories told with great art will
always sell... no matter what genre they happen to be. I think we
will have an audience that will start out decently and grow as the
book goes on. One look at Luke's art will have most people buying it
monthly.
DS: Hex is one of the few western comic characters to
succeed in the long term, what do you think the other characters
lacked?
JP: I think that Hex is a fun character that isn't
afraid of a fight... that and the scar make him stand out over other
western characters. I personally love him because he is a nasty, mean
son of a bitch that does the right thing in the most wrong way.
DS: How much of Jonah's back story are you and Justin
inclined to stick with? Are things like his time travel experience
(from 'Hex') and the more supernatural adventures from the
vertigo stories worth tipping a hat to?
JP: Nothing from those will turn up in the book. The time
travel thing was a horrible mistake in my eyes... and something that
was done to get a new audience. The vertigo stuff, done by Joe
Lansdale, a fantastic writer whom I am a big fan of, was tremendous,
but that was his take on the character and I think it should stay
that way. What Justin and I are doing is a more traditional western
with horrific people doing some bad things to each other. The zombies
and supernatural horror themes are going to be saved for another book
maybe, but for the time being, its good old lead slinging. This book
is being written the way we see it fit.
DS: What you think of the suggestion that Jonah is the
Punisher without Kevlar.
JP: Lol... that was in our pitch... so I think it worked and
got us the job.
DS: Whose artwork do you see in your minds eye I when you
think of Hex?
JP: In my mind I see film, not artwork... but take one good
look at Luke Ross and Jason Keith's work and tell me that isn't the
most beautiful rendition of the west you have ever seen. We couldn't
be more happy with Luke and Jason's work on this book
DS: Any chance of you doing some inking on this book?
JP: While we have Luke and Jason on the book, well... who
needs an inker. I would love to draw a story down the line, but
wanting and getting are two different things. I am just so happy to
be writing this with Justin that I really am not thinking of anything
else.
DS: Will there be any Hawkman references in the new
title?
JP: There will be vultures where ever a dead body will be,
that's about it. I think for now you will see other western
characters but no superheroes.
DS: What sort of influence will the spaghetti westerns have on
the series?
JP: How could they not have an influence... look at once upon
a time in the west... one of my favorite movies and you see every
classic theme... lost love, revenge and so on. They are a part of our
culture so it's unavoidable... and that's a good thing. Really... all
we care about is telling a good story and making the reader care
about the characters.
DS: I saw in Telling
Stories: The Comic Book Creators that you have buying up books on the
west for research purposes. Which have you found most useful?
JP: Probably the time life series of hard covers called the
old west... it's a collection of over 24 books that covers each and
every fact about those times. We try to inject as much history in the
stories that we can, especially the stuff no one remembers or ever
heard about. I also bought a series of books and letters written
between soldiers during the civil war to study the language as
well... we are trying not to make the dialogue bad western
clichés.
DS: If an actor was to play your Jonah Hex, who would
you suggest for the role and why?
JP: Well, it’s obvious that Clint Eastwood comes to mind, but
really, a perfect choice would be an unknown actor that can make the
part his own... someone we have never seen before.
DS: Whose idea was it to have the very obvious Clint look to
the Hex art for the series?
JP: I am guessing Luke's idea, but probably somewhere in the
back of everyone's mind; the image of client has always been
associated with the look and feel of the Jonah Hex
series.
DS: Were any of DC's lawyers worried Clint might come gunning
for the company?
JP: No idea really. Is the Ultimate Avengers line
worried about Sam Jackson? Is Wanted worried about Eminem? I
can do this for an hour... lol. I don't think this is a realistic
problem.
DS: What's your opinion of the work Michael Fleischer did with
Jonah Hex.
JP: My opinion is that I loved each and every issue and am
glad that DC is going to collect them for the people that were not
lucky enough to enjoy them the first time they came out. I have a ton
of respect for the man, as well as being a huge fan of his
work.
DS: What is the dynamic of the working relationship between
you and Justin - do you sit around throwing ideas off each other or
work on ideas separately and then merge them?
JP: We meet, talk, and take notes... write, call, instant
message, and then bounce things back and forth. We really have a
great synchronicity that enables us to get some great work done in a
decent time frame because comics are monthly. Justin is really the
brain behind the two of us... I'm more the general idea guy... we
each have our own strengths and to tell the truth, I really enjoy the
idea of working with someone else, since comics can be such an
isolated job at times.
DS: How much do the stories develop in that exchange of
ideas?
JP: A lot develops and a whole bunch of new ideas come out of
our conversations as well... we have a lot of "what if" scenarios
thrown about when we are together.
DS: So are there typical Justin moments and Jimmy moments in
the work you collaborate on ?
DS: I guess Justin
moments are unusual facts and knowledge about things and mine are the
story structure and emotional things....we are both visual as hell,
but I'm more of a color and mood guy... also, Justin has a terminator
work ethic... he digs in and gets it done. I admire that.
DS: Recent events in the DC universe have brought the idea of
continuity to the fore. As a creator trying to come up with
entertaining comics, what is you view on how far a creator can go
with pre-existing characters?
JP: Read Hawkman right now and it's as far as we want
to go... I think it's harder to write pre-existing characters because
of it. DC and Marvel are so wrapped up in it right now and the fans
love it. They dictate what the books have in them almost every time.
They have the deciding vote.
DS: Ever ridden a horse or fired a pistol?
JP: I have ridden horses... and go to a dude ranch twice a
year... and I have fired all sorts of guns, mostly at targets and
when I was younger, in the basement of a mobster I knew basement.
That was the first place I fired a 357 magnum and a sawed off
shotgun. Long story there, trust me... it's a graphic novel in the
making.
DS: I live in a country (New Zealand) where gun ownership is
very limited. Do you think that's a good thing or not, and why?
JP: I think there should be regulation on who gets guns and
why they are getting them. I am really mixed on this subject because
being American, I feel it is our right to bare arms, but at the same
time, maybe an IQ test should be given or at the very least a
training coarse to people who would like to purchase weapons. Either
way, it has to be regulated. I am more afraid, on a daily basis, of
all the ass holes and frustrated people driving S.U.V's and cars.
That's a 2000 pound bullet they got by proving when they were 16 that
they can park and read a red light. I am more afraid of bad drivers
over guns any day of the week.
DS: Where do you look on the internet for news about what
you're doing in the world of comics?
JP: About what I'm doing? Lol... I already know. I go daily to
Paperfilms.com to check on
events of the day. It is a sight featuring Justin, Amanda Conner and
my work, as well as message boards. After that I hit a number of
places including silver bullet... but they need to review my books
more.
DS: We try! Do you read many reviews? Are they ever useful to
a writer?
JP: Only when they are written by someone that does not bring
their own personal baggage into the review and they are reviewing the
individual book and not a whole run. I see many times the reviewer
reviews the person and not the product. The other problem with
reviewers is we cannot usually see their credentials... I think the
literacy education online site has a great outline for reviewing
books... Leo St
Cloudstate, Book Review I suggest every writer creating reviews
follow this outline closely.
DS: Message boards for fans: forums for intelligent
discussions or an open invitation for uninformed babble?
JP: Both and both fun to read or get into the mix of. I mostly
only post on our boards at Paperfilms.com. you wanna do either,
come on by... Justin and I will answer almost anything thrown at
us.
DS: How did you get into the comic business?
JP: Went to art school and wanted to write and draw comics...
after 10 years of advertising, I got into comics doing backgrounds
and worked my way up. It took a long time and I got in by doing good
work and getting it in on time and not being a dick. It's the quality
of the work that keeps you in this business.
DS: How's it treated you? Is it fun or a daily grind?
JP: The fans are
fantastic, even the few that want me to die entertain me somewhat...
the actual business is 20% work and 80% fun. Really... It's the best
job in the world and I love doing it. Funny thing, just today I ran
into a friend I have not seen since I was 14, and first thing he
asked me was if I ever got to work in comics. Man, I consider myself
really lucky to be working in a field like this. I knew what I wanted
even back then.
DS: Can someone learn to be a writer, or is it all natural
talent?
JP: Interesting... I think things can be learned, but along
comes something like natural talent and that usually kicks learned
talents ass. It has to come from within... and a good writer has to
learn to listen, travel and have empathy by the truckloads. A natural
talent just "does" his or her thing.
DS: Will folks be able to see you and Justin at any
conventions in the near future?
JP: I will be at Megacon and hopefully wizard world la next...
I am hoping to bribe Justin to take the trip with me... he only does
one or two cons a year... which makes his fans nuts.
DS: Jonah Hex seems to have a pretty miserable life -
people double cross him, his wife left him, his girlfriends get shot.
What keeps him going in the face of all that?
JP: He likes to eat, drink, screw and kill. Each day ends with
the sunset and I think Jonah starts each new day fresh...
although he has that scar to remind him of his past. People back then
did not act the same way people act now... I think Jonah is
not the suicide or crybaby type. He deals with his problems and life
like a real man should. When he feels real low, I guess he just goes
out and kills less that day.
DS: Jonah Hex and the Lone ranger in a fist fight: who
would win?
JP: Please... add Tonto and Jonah will still walk away
holding a bottle and a smoking gun. Probably Jonah might get
hurt from laughing at the Lone Ranger's costume... he may bust a
rib.
DS: Thanks for taking the time to chat, much appreciated.
Jonah Hex #1 ships to a comic store near you November 2,
2005, as does a telephone-book format collection reprinting 528 pages
of Jonah's earliest appearances; Showcase Presents: Jonah Hex Vol.
1