RIDING WITH JONAH HEX: JORDI BERNET

[MattBrady]

A little after the fact (Jonah Hex #27 shipped last week), we’re continuing our series of conversations with the artists of DC’s Jonah Hex, and today, we present Jordi Bernet.

When he began his stint as an occasional artist on the Western series, more than a few American fans raised an eyebrow at his name, but European readers more likely gave a knowing smile. The Spanish Bernet is a comics legend in Europe, popular for his work on Torpedo, Sarvan Tex Willer and literally dozens more. Hey, Will Eisner was one of his fans, so that’s good enough for us.

Newsarama: While your reputation is well known in Europe, for many readers, now finding you on DC’s Jonah Hex, you’re a new face. Can you give us a little background about who you are, where you’re from and a brief outline of your career?

Jordi Bernet: I was born on 1944 in Barcelona, in a family where art was not exactly an stranger: my father was a famous artist, his brother was also a comic-book artist, and my mother’s brother was a well-known novelist and scriptwriter. I had made up my mind when I was a child: when grown-up, I would be a comic-book artist too. But first, I wanted to study drawing and painting. My father died when I was 15 years old, so I had to speed up my plans. I’ve been a self-taught professional since that moment. I alterned humor drawings with realist works, including series such as Andrax, Sarvan, Kraken, Black Stories, Custer, Ivanpiire, Light & Bold, Tex and Torpedo among many others. In the humor side, I am drawing Clara de Noche at the moment, which is being published in several countries, including the
United States.

NRAMA: How is drawing Jonah Hex different from other Westerns you have worked on – or is it?

JB: Jonah Hex is stronger, tougher and bloodier than most of the Westerns I had previously drawn. Also, for me it is the first that is published in color.

NRAMA: What were the challengers of illustrating this "Star Man" issue?

JB: I had to do some research on 1865s New York, and I had an old Colt Navy in my table that I drew several times. I wanted to enjoy myself in that story. The script was great, and that was a great motivation for me.

NRAMA: Can you relate at all to the Jonah Hex character?

JB: Yes, I like Westerns and tough stories with lots of action. Jonah Hex has all the necessary ingredients for the mix. Recently, I drew story that also had lots of humor in it.

NRAMA: Has the image that you had of what the life of an artist would be changed for you over the years?

JB: Not too much: I still work just with paper, pencil, brushes, ink and lots of graphic problems set out in my working table every day. I’m really happy when I manage to solve just one of them.

NRAMA: What technical aspects do you focus on in your work?

JB: I like to do some research on the topics I must make the drawings about, and then trying to solve any problems at the pencil stage, so that I don’t find any unexpected complicated at the inking stage.

NRAMA: One thing that really sets your work apart is that the storytelling is extremely well crafted. Do you have any advice for aspiring sequential artists to help them better understand how to convey script ideas?

JB: Movies. I think it is important to watch many movies. Cinema has always been my spiritual food.

NRAMA: Every artist has a personal ‘creative process’ ... can you explain yours, particularly when you work from a Jonah Hex script?

JB: My creative process is rather simple: I read the script twice (or thrice), until I make it mine, not unlike a movie director, even though I just start at page 1 and finish at page 22. Then I try to remove from my drawings everything unnecesary for the development of the story. I think I work intuitively. I don’t follow any routine, and try to use each and every single idea that comes to my mind.

NRAMA: How much creative freedom are you given on each script? How is it different working with other writers in Europe compared to what Justin and Jimmy give you?

JB: I like working with Justin and Jimmy’s scripts. We have an absolute freedom, and the scripts are really good. Everything is easier with a good story, and they usually deliver that.

NRAMA: Will you be doing any more issues of Hex in the future?

JB: Of course. I’ve grown fond of that motherf__king bounty hunter. I even gave up a job here in Spain in order to devote more time to his stories.

Previously:

RIDING WITH JONAH HEX: GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI

[Jamal Y. Igle]

when you talk about living legends in comics, M. Bernet is easily on that list.

[Michael C Lorah]

Seeing Jordi Bernet's name on a comic makes the decision to buy it so much easier.

[matchesmalone]

Mr. Bernet's work on this series and elsewhere is beautiful. I hope he'll do more for DC.

[TellarHK]

Not typically a fan of westerns at all, but I've been picking up Jonah Hex for a few months now. Great book, and one thing that's always seemed like a perfect fit is the artwork we've seen with it. It isn't crisp, or clear in the slightest. But that's just perfect.

[dudedarama]

.I doubt Bernet ever said "mother f- -king bounty hunter".I met Jordi Bernet at a small convention in California 2 years ago.The man doesn't speak any english. And translated from his Spanish,he spoke like a real Gentleman. This reads like the writer of this piece is trying to make Bernet sound hip.

[dwf]

Jordi Bernet's work on Jonah Hex has been fabulous! I was thrilled to see he would do more work after the Origin arc. I had not seen any of his work before this series, but I'm inspired to seek out more of it.

Jonah Hex is my favorite comic coming out; I hope to see a lot more of Mr. Bernet's work on the series!

[GCarbone]

The latest issue was fantastic. I think the issues illustrated by Bernet are the best.

I am a little worried about the sales on the title. I hope there are no cancelation rumors as it is one of my favorite titles.

[Skinshark]

His was the first work I looked at when I started drawing =THE OVERMAN= 2 Years ago.

I only pick up the Hex books if he's working on it...which is a shame because I know the writing is great all the way around.

That just might have to change.

=s=

[jsf]

Chalk me up as another Bernet fan. As far as I'm concerned, he's becoming the definitive artist for the current Hex series. Love his stuff, and hope to see more of it.

[DiManna1]

If this title was to ever stop with the rotating artists, I would most want to see Bernet as the ongoing, regular artist. His work is just stellar and the Hex stories he works on are always more enjoyable than the others, in my eyes. Not taking anything away from the other artists that have worked on Jonah Hex, but Bernet really makes Hex his own.

[dudedarama]

I hope the rumors of the title's cancellations are just that.Jordi bernet's work is amazing. I would also love to see Garcia Lopez work on the title too. A rotating arcs between Lopez and Bernet would be AWESOME!.

[Floyd Lawton]

His "Solo" issue was good too. Love his work on Hex. Its a nice fit.

[eloso]

Put your Amazing Spider-man money towards the always entertaining JONAH HEX!

[Duke Jupiter]

Jordi Bernet is one of the reasons I continue to buy JONAH HEX. There are many others - the book is great, for one - but he's a big reason why I find the $2.99 in my monthly budget to purchase the book.

Thanks for the interview!

- DJ

[Pepoy]

I hope Bernet's work on Hex will give some good publisher the idea to publish his European work here. While the first few Torpedo books were published here in the '80's, the later ones, which were just fantastic, have never been translated. I love looking at them and wish I could read them. A nice 5-volume Torpedo set was recently published in Spain, while the French did a giant hardcover collecting the whole thing. You can find these online.
A few other Bernet comics have come out here in recent years, but mostly his adult work on "Clara de Noche" (from Aud, who also did a nice overview book on him) and "Cicca" aka "Bang Bang" (from NBM, who I wish would have used the original cover). Wish someone would translate his 250--page "Tex" GN or "Snake", too.

[jza1218]

Im a big fan of Clara.

I wish that they were easier to find here though

[thingone]

I've been a huge fan of the Jonah Hex series from the get-go. Gray and Palmiotti are always spot-on.

I like the rotating artist deal, if that's what it is, 'cause everyone they've had has done a great job. But, Bernet's work on Hex really stands out.

Man, I love this stuff.

[Future Boy]

I love his style, I'm just not always in a mood for a western every single month, so i'm like a couple issues behind in Jonah Hex, but I think that he has a really good kind of drawing for the title. His SOLO issue was even better, and I actually want to see him on some superhero stuff based on his batman/poison ivy story therein. DC should also bring back SOLO, because that title was amazing.

[The Stranger]

"Jonah Hex" is one of the best comics on the market today. Jordi Bernet's artwork is perfect for it.

[wordballoon]

a genius artist

[captainzero]

I'm a fan of Mr. Bernet.
Loved Torpedo!!
Love his Jonah Hex!!
Thank you for such a good interview.
Hope DC gets Jordi Bernet to do many, many more issues of Hex ... or anything else!!

[Emma's Boytoy]

I ceased buying the series a while ago because I was not pleased with the rotating door of artists that kept coming and going off the book. I know the Jonah Hex series is mostly comprised of stand alone stories but there's just something about a book's lack of consistent visual and feel that makes it hard to care about it if the editor himself can't get an artist to be on the book for at least 6 straight issues.

After looking at some of the artwork from Mr. Bernet, I would definetely be back on the Hex saddle if it was confirmed that he's the new ongoing artist.

[Hawkangel]

NRAMA: Will you be doing any more issues of Hex in the future?

Please try to word this type of questions better next time. When you say 'Hex in the future', I thought you we asking if Jonah was going to travel to the 30th century like that awful 'Hex' series!

BTW, I love this title and this artist and I look forward to each TPB.

[PatrickWedge]

Jordi's work is amazing and he is a true fit for this book. Not sure why DC isn't pushing this book more with Jordi on it. Come on DC, put some @$$ behind the marketing of this book!

BTW, Torpedo is amazing.