RIDING WITH JONAH HEX: JUSTIN GRAY

[MattBrady]

Normally around this time of the month, we chat with the latest artist to handle the art chores on DC’s Jonah Hex series, written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. This month, however, we need to change things up a little, as issue #30’s artist, Jordi Bernet is a little under the weather. Instead, we turn to co-writer Justin Gray to talk about the issue and his and Palmiotti’s larger plan for the series.

Newsarama: Justin, as with all the issues of Jonah Hex, the solicitation for issue #30 is somewhat…open to interpretation, so in a nutshell, what is this issue about?

Justin Gray: Jonah is holed up in a town on a serious bender when some train robbers prove the old adage that you should never beat a dead horse.

NRAMA: How is writing for Jordi Bernet different than writing for other artists? What does he bring to the table?

JG: I think Jimmy and I have established a fantastic rapport with Jordi and part of the fun in working with him is trying to surprise him with the stories. Someone as immensely talented as Jordi is combined with the single-issue format we’ve employed for nearly three years, presents a challenge where we have to craft stories that allow him room to explore his own visual ideas. It comes down to knowing each other’s strengths and playing to them in interesting ways. For this particular issue we presented Jordi with a lighter tone and story where he could use his sense of humor. Jordi’s next story takes Jonah to Mexico for a job he doesn’t want, which I realize is odd since the bastard will kill just about anyone for cash. In fact he gets several job offers as the result of getting mixed up in a love triangle. We’ve got a bull fighting a bear, a nymphomaniac and some other strange moments that help define the series as a blend of morality tales, horror and spaghetti westerns.

NRAMA: A lighter tone? Jonah Hex hasn’t been known for humor.

JG: Exactly, which makes this an interesting book to work on because although it is a Western we don’t see that as a confining space. There’s a very dark humor to this book that almost makes you feel bad for laughing at the violence and absurdity of some situations.

NRAMA: Jonah Hex has been one of he best reviewed books on the shelves for the past 30 months...why doesn't the book sell better or do you think the genre can only sell a certain amount of books?

JG: That’s a loaded question. The controversial answer is a combination of the fact that Jonah Hex is a Western in competition with weekly superhero comics in a market dominated by superheroes. Hex is up against corporate events, crossover’s and the ingrained buying habits of the readership. I’d prefer people who claim they hate Countdown and yet buy it week in and week out, would spend their money on Jonah Hex. All of these books are competing against each other for a slice of the same financial pie so I’d like to see the slices distributed differently from time to time. That said we do have a very loyal, incredibly tough to please core audience of Hex fans that range from teens to grandparents. Plus Blair Butler loves the book and she’s no slouch when it comes to picking comics.

NRAMA: Since Jonah Hex's success with the re-launch, how does it make you and Jimmy feel to see so many new westerns popping up each month and do you think there's only room for so much?

JG: I certainly can’t speculate on the impact Jonah Hex has or hasn’t had on another publisher’s interest in releasing westerns. I also can’t speak for Jimmy directly, but I think he’d agree that currently there’s only so much room in the industry for other genres. That’s why we’re seeing several brand name westerns with easily identifiable characters because they’re a safer bet. That’s the Hollywood mentality toward entertainment bleeding into an industry that once gave us books like Howard the Duck, Vext and Swamp Thing. The bottom line is I think it is great that there are more Westerns on the shelves and the High Moon web-comic online at Zuda. I wish the same could be said for other genres.

NRAMA: The Hollywood mentality? Is that something you believe is hurting the industry?

JG: I think it is a double-edged sword. On the one hand you have a jaded readership that knows the product inside and out so the challenge is to grab their attention with the perception of something fresh and exciting. This is why we’re looking at a decade of summer blockbuster events and those events have proven to be profitable. You can’t argue with the financial success both DC and Marvel are having with these larger storylines. On the other hand it stifles creativity in terms of pushing the medium forward in new areas. The mainstream industry, and I’m a party to this as well so it is less a critique and more an observation, has turned a lot of writers into archaeologists.

By that I mean there’s a lot of mining the past, digging up ideas buried in the history of comics and re-mastering them. The general attitude in comics for decades has been centered on the idea of putting a fresh spin on an old property. What makes Jonah Hex so interesting is that the character works without being rebooted or re-imagined. They tried it and it failed. Every once in a while something like Y The Last Man comes along and reminds people that comics aren’t exclusively cape and tights books.

NRAMA: So far there are three trade books available and a fourth on the way...if you were going to make an Absolute Jonah Hex, which stories from the run would you put into it?

JG: All of them please.

NRAMA: A lot of fans are very vocal about the done in one aspect of the series. Most love the current format, but to some, there is a lot of wishing for more 5 or even 6 part stories. Given the opportunity to maybe do a bigger story, how would you guys approach that and do you think you would lose fans for doing so?

JG: Jimmy and I have gone back and forth on this topic for the last three years. We both feel strongly about the single-issue format because it makes Hex unique at a time when you have tie-ins and crossovers and a dozen books weaving in and out of each other. You would think this kind of opposing force would draw the reader interested in sitting down with one issue and getting a complete story. However it is time for a change, but a change we feel is worth making. We’re working on a multi-issue sweeping epic, a Jonah Hex tale that brings together two of Jonah Hex’s greatest enemies…Quentin Turnbull and El Papagao.

NRAMA: We’ll be talking about that in the future, surely, but for now, tell us about future artists coming aboard...

JG: We’ve got a universe of star artists working on single issues including some guy named Darwyn Cooke, J.H. Williams III, Mark Sparacia, Brian Stelfreeze, David Michael Beck, Paulo Siqueira and several more Jordi issues.

Each of these stories has something unique about them that both entertain and service the character. We’ve even gone so far as to explain why Jonah Hex continued to wear a Confederate uniform even after the Civil War ended. That’s a very touchy subject considering that his appearance symbolizes an ugly and racist period in American history.

Jonah Hex #30, illustrated by Jordi Bernet, is in stores this week.

Previously:

RIDING WITH JONAH HEX: GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI

RIDING WITH JONAH HEX: JORDI BERNET

RIDING WITH JONAH HEX: JOHN HIGGINS

RIDING WITH JONAH HEX: RAFA GARRES

[narcher78]

I did exactly what Mr. Gray recommended a few months ago and stopped buying Countdown and took a chance on Jonah. I had never read a western comic before and was blown away at how much I enjoyed it. Jonah is now at the top of my pile every month. I can't get enough of it. Thank you so much for putting out this great work!

[Alexlucard]

Hex = best comic DC puts out today...with Booster Gold a close second.

Keep giving me the done in one format, and I'll keep buying the trades and singles.

[deathshead2]

When issue one came out I remember buying it because I remembered his episode on Batman. I'm glad I bought it the book is excellent. I miss the first artest though. The last few haven't been that great, and I'm buying the books only everynow and then.

[jedifish]

Dang, some pretty good artists coming up on this series.

[Skinshark]

If Jordi's there I'm there...

...so few people draw westerns with the texture, character, and liveliness that the genre deserves.

And the writing deserves the best artists that understand and can deliver this IMO.

Great job, guys.

=s=

[thunder5x]

When is the 2nd showcase trade coming out???

[Tomwaitsfan]

One of the best books on the stands. Everyone should try it!!!

[Jomma]

When are we gonna see Darwyn Cooke on Jonah Hex?

I wasn't dreaming, I heard it from his mouth at Wizard L.A. panel last month.




I remenber something about Drunken Canadian Mounties....hyuk, hyuk....

[Mrfixit1]

Just wanted to add for anyone considering checking this out;
Nearly every issue of this series is standalone. I can only think of 2 exceptions including the origin of Jonah hex which was 2 issues, and I think there was one where Jonah came upon a farmhouse owned by a woman who took him in and then...well I won't ruin it, but that was 2 part also I think. And man was it shockingly awesome.

So if you want to buy a single issue to see if you will like it, you probably don't have to worry about being in the middle of an arc, and you really don't need to know the history to enjoy any single issue. I find it's a great, if violent, book with lots of moral quandries as well as sweet action. Hope you give it a try.

[PatrickWedge]

Jonah Hex is on the top of my must read list each and every month. By far, the most entertaining book that DC puts out for my money. Bothers me that with Jonah Hex, and some other non-cape books at DC, they don't understand how to support, praise and market these books other than a quick mention at a convention panel.

[Bolt1033]

For whatever its worth-this is an awesome book. And the second Showcase would be nice to see as well.

[Userama]

This is my absolute favorite comic, month in and month out. Nothing else gives you as complete and satisfying a story on a monthly basis as does Jonah Hex.

[wadew]

There are actually people who wish Hex had stretched out, padded 6 issue arcs like most marvel/dc comics being released these days?
Ugh. Please stick with the single issue stories.

[Papercut Fun]

Jonah Hex is one of the most consistently great reads out there. I think the "done in one" format helps that and creates a story pacing that is unique in the market. And the nods to past stories are great for those of us who choose to pick up the book every month (like last issue's return to devil's paw).

I'm currently rereading my old Invisibles run and have come across the old Vertigo house ads for Jonah Hex Two Gun Mojo and Riders of the Worm and Such. It got me wondering if Jimmy and Justin have ever considered approaching Tim Truman about illustrating an issue of the current series or contributing a cover.

Great work by this creative team. Lots of amazing artists coming up for sure. Cooke, Williams and Stelfreeze (I'd love to see Brian paint an issue...used to love his Shadow of the Bat covers back in the day) are three I'm especially looking forward to.

Jason

[jakew]

No six-issue stories, thanks. One to three issues is fine.

Comics like Jonah Hex and Dynamite's Lone Ranger are great ... but I agree that Westerns are a niche genre, and don't attract an audience as easily as spandex.

The only thing that would boost sales is: a crossover with a DC mainstay, like Superman or Batman (which would likely suck, story-wise, since Jonah is best interacting with other Western heroes and leaving time-travel alone).

[Lupek]

This is DC's most consistently great book. Please keep it coming!

[Unit99]

I picked up the first trade a year and a half ago, and have been hooked on this book ever since! The stories are GREAT and so is the ART. Looking forward to more JONAH HEX stories from Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

[SledgeHammer]

I'll say the same thing here that I say every time Hex is brought up at 'rama, it's consistently one of the best titles not just from DC, but from anyone. Pure entertainment, with great storytelling, quality art, and a classic character more than done justice. If you haven't done so already, buy an issue or two and check it out. Much like Simon Dark, it really is one of those DC titles that actually deserves far greater success than it's getting, and I'm glad that DC is continuing to support the book.

I'd also love to see some of the other classic DC western characters characters make an appearance in Jonah Hex, just as Bat Lash and El Diablo have already. Scalphunter, Pow Wow Smith, Cinnamon, the (original) Trigger Twins and Nighthawk would all be great to see cross paths with Jonah in the series at some point, especially given the books non rigid timeline structure (telling singular tales from Hex's career, rather than each tale necessarily leading to the next). A guy can dream.

Oh, and after the Bat Lash miniseries wraps, someone give El Diablo a mini already, always loved that character.

[Redcape]

Great book. I recommend everyone check it out.

[MrToady12]

Jonah Hex is the most consistenly well written western book out there. The story in-one-issue aspect of the series is one of the greatest selling points for me because I love a book that has a beginning and ending in one read. I would prefer that remain, but wouldn't mind an ocassional limited series written by guest writers/ artist to accompany the series (sorta like Conan has).

I'm hoping this series will continue until the anticipated movie comes out and hopefully raises the character's profile. Now that I think about it, the character would really translate well to an ongoing series on HBO (think Carnivale' but Western).

Cheers

[Terry Zabel]

I read alot of multi issue storyline superhoero books, including Countdown, and I love the fact I can go into a Hex book and not get bogged down by what happened for the past 5 or 6 issues. The format is just like Jonah Hex, you go in, take care of business and you get out.

[dwf]

Jonah Hex is my favorite book on the stands! I hope it keeps chugging along just as it has been. I very much enjoy the mix of done-in-ones and longer plots, along with the rotating art teams. That's a great roster of artists coming on board. How about signing John Severin on for an issue?

[captainzero]

Originally Posted by Skinshark

If Jordi's there I'm there...

...so few people draw westerns with the texture, character, and liveliness that the genre deserves.

And the writing deserves the best artists that understand and can deliver this IMO.

Great job, guys.

=s=

I certainly agree. "If Jordi's there... I'm there.!!" He makes reading Hex worth the trip!!
Heck, I'm even saddle sore at the end of every issue he does!!

[Jimmy Palmiotti]

if it was up to me every issue would be jordi, but he can only do a few a year, and we consider us winning the artist lottery even getting that much from the master!

JIMMY