EL DIABLO RETURNS AT DC IN 2008

[MattBrady]

Newsarama Note: Image at right is the logo from the previous series. No art for the new series was available at press time.

He’s had two incarnations (okay, three if you count the Vertigo miniseries) in the DC Universe to date, and in early 2008, El Diablo gets another go, this time, thanks to writer Jai (Heaven’s Devil) Nitz and artist Phil Hester. Having previously written Batman Strikes for DC’s Johnny DC imprint, the six issue miniseries will mark Nitz’s first major work in the mainline DC Universe.

We spoke with the writer.

Newsarama: First off Jai, how'd you end up on this project? Did you two come in as a team, or was one here before the other?

Jai Nitz: Yeah, this is my big break at DC. The pitch went to Dan DiDio, he approved it and passed El Diablo off to Nachie Castro to edit the actual comics. Nachie is my editor on Batman Strikes, so we already had a great working relationship and an idea for what we both like and dislike. We were talking about artists and Phil Hester was on my short list. Phil is my chief mentor and one of my best friends in comics—I’ve known him since I was 14. Oddly, I met Nachie through Phil years ago because Nachie was his assistant editor on Green Arrow back in the day. Nachie says, “Of all the guys on this list, Phil was born to draw this book.” Phil has a very busy schedule, but he made time for El Diablo and I couldn’t be happier.

NRAMA: So was El Diablo something that you pitched DC, or that DC tossed out as an idea?

JN: It got started when I went to the DC offices and was talking to the incredibly wise and impossibly good-looking Jann Jones. She asked if I had any stories that I was burning to tell and I verbally pitched her a new El Diablo series. She said it sounded great, I should write it up and send it to her. I reached into my bag and handed her the written pitch. She laughed and I went down the hall to Mike Marts’s office. While we were talking Jann popped her head in and asked if I was going to be around the offices for a minute. I said yes. She said “Great, you have a meeting with Dan DiDio about El Diablo in fifteen minutes.” The color dropped out of my face. Marts looks at me, dead serious, and says, “Don’t blow it.” That darn Mike Marts, he sure knows how to boost a freelancer’s ego! Long story short, I didn’t blow it, DiDio liked the pitch and here we are.

NRAMA: There've been two El Diablos before in DC continuity - is this a third? A return of either Lazarus Lane (he's got the name for returns, after all...) or Rafael Sandoval? And is this one related to the chain of restaurants seen in Blue Beetle?

JN: This is a third El Diablo, but Lazarus Lane is a major player in the story. In fact, he shows up in issue one on page one. Rafael Sandoval doesn’t show up… yet. And no, this El Diablo has nothing to do with the restaurants in Blue Beetle, but Blue Beetle sure is a great book.

NRAMA: So who is this new El Diablo?

JN: This El Diablo is Chato Santana. To most citizens he’s a diabolical criminal/gang lord that won’t bat an eye at murder, extortion, smuggling, or drug running. But to the people in his neighborhood he’s a local hero. Whether or not he’s a good guy or a bad guy depends on who you talk to.

A series of events puts him behind bars where his gang thinks he’s turned snitch. He winds up in a hospital as a dead man walking with no one to turn to but a comatose old man. That old man turns out to be a one hundred-seventy year old spirit of vengeance waiting for an heir.

NRAMA: Who's he doing what he's doing to, and what’s his mission?

JN: El Diablo is a spirit of vengeance, Hell’s punisher on Earth, so that’s a pretty broad mission. He has a beef with anyone that deserves comeuppance, which is pretty much everybody. But his story pretty much revolves around Chato’s life before he met Lazarus, and Lazarus’s unfinished work. It all takes place in the American Southwest and Los Angeles.

NRAMA: Finally, what gets the story going in issue #1?

JN: Guns for kids, the Feds, betrayal, prison, a comatose old man, death, rebirth, and vengeance. In that order.

[HourmanLives]

Phil Hester on art?! Nice!!

[Ye Olde Iowa]

This sounds pretty good. I'm not real familiar with Jai Nitz, but anything Phil draws is buy on sight for me. Count me in!

[ElijahSnowFan]

JN: Guns for kids, the Feds, betrayal, prison, a comatose old man, death, rebirth, and vengeance. In that order.

huh.

short, sweet and to the point.

i'm in.

[nietoperz]

This sounds great! I'm sold.

[J.D. Lombardi]

Sounds interesting and Phil seems a natural on art for this. I hope it is a mini though...don't wanna see something cool get cancelled.

[Kevin T. Brown]

Originally Posted by J.D. Lombardi

Sounds interesting and Phil seems a natural on art for this. I hope it is a mini though...don't wanna see something cool get cancelled.

http://www.rif.org/

He’s had two incarnations (okay, three if you count the Vertigo miniseries) in the DC Universe to date, and in early 2008, El Diablo gets another go, this time, thanks to writer Jai (Heaven’s Devil) Nitz and artist Phil Hester. Having previously written Batman Strikes for DC’s Johnny DC imprint, the six issue miniseries will mark Nitz’s first major work in the mainline DC Universe.

[TF_Loki]

Hmmmm, wonder if there's any chance of the Mike Parobeck series getting a reprint off this?

[kamikazi]

Love me some Hester. I may check this out.

[trachmanred]

I wanted a Red Arrow miniseries written by Brad Meltzer and drawn by Phil Hester, but this will do.

[J.D. Lombardi]

Originally Posted by Kevin T. Brown

http://www.rif.org/

Thats it. I've finally gone blind from masturbating.

I read the whole damned thing too.

Thanks for the extra pair...of EYES. lol

[Jed Saxon]

Hmmm... since I liked that Vertigo series ("Loveless" done done right) I'm checking this out I guess. But maybe I'll wait for the inevitable trade.

[Lex]

Sounds very interesting. I was almost hoping this would be set in the old west and feature the original El Diablo, but Jai hooked me into his concept. I can't wait!

[K-DoG7p7]

Originally Posted by Lex

Sounds very interesting. I was almost hoping this would be set in the old west and feature the original El Diablo, but Jai hooked me into his concept. I can't wait!

well given that Lazarus Lane plays a part its clear that its in the old west..
unless i missed a part where they say something else

[Matt Linton]

Originally Posted by K-DoG7p7

well given that Lazarus Lane plays a part its clear that its in the old west..
unless i missed a part where they say something else

"A series of events puts him behind bars where his gang thinks he’s turned snitch. He winds up in a hospital as a dead man walking with no one to turn to but a comatose old man. That old man turns out to be a one hundred-seventy year old spirit of vengeance waiting for an heir."

Lazuras Lane is the 170 year old man. It takes place now.

[samnoir]

I rather enjoyed the Azzerello Vertigo Mini.

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[Usernoob]

so this makes the 50th official latino charactor in DC comics

[kalorama]

Originally Posted by Ye Olde Iowa

This sounds pretty good. I'm not real familiar with Jai Nitz, but anything Phil draws is buy on sight for me. Count me in!

Ditto that. Phil is one of the best.

[ClaudioPozas]

Please, please, PLEASE change the secret identity's name!

"Chato" means either "boring" or that STD that makes your balls itch!

[ender2814]

Originally Posted by Ye Olde Iowa

This sounds pretty good. I'm not real familiar with Jai Nitz, but anything Phil draws is buy on sight for me. Count me in!

Jai has mostly done independent work, but he has also worked on the Batman Strikes and worked on a great Fantastic Four story for Marvel.

I met him at a convention a long time ago and he is one of the most approachable and generally coolest people I've ever met.

Poke around on the internet enough and you'll find some stuff by Jai. I suggest his Paper Museum anthologies. They were great.

[Alex Cruz]

The DIABLO was a great character in the genre of the dark watchman of Comic USA, I hope that a good writer rewrites it character very well.

[GregoryD]

Wow, another book that will last 8 issues by virtue of being too demographic specific.

Because taking the basic premise of the Spectre and making him Latino is just going to bring in TONS of fans. And of course, throw in a sprinkling of heroes as special guests to give a murderer a rub.

[The Funketeer]

Originally Posted by GregoryD

Wow, another book that will last 8 issues by virtue of being too demographic specific.

Because taking the basic premise of the Spectre and making him Latino is just going to bring in TONS of fans. And of course, throw in a sprinkling of heroes as special guests to give a murderer a rub.

Or y'know, it could be a book that we all read because it's good.

With a name like El Diablo, did you think he'd be something other than Latino. That has to be one of the most ridiculous arguments against a comic books success that I've ever read.

[gwangung]

Originally Posted by GregoryD

Wow, another book that will last 8 issues by virtue of being too demographic specific.

Because taking the basic premise of the Spectre and making him Latino is just going to bring in TONS of fans. And of course, throw in a sprinkling of heroes as special guests to give a murderer a rub.

Translation: it stars a non-white, so, of course, white people would never be interested in it

[KyleV]

GregoryD said: Wow, another book that will last 8 issues by virtue of being too demographic specific.

Which would make it a huge success, what with the fact that it's a SIX issue limited series.

It's not that you're negative, it's that your negative and factually inaccurate. It's hard to make a good point that way.