EXCLUSIVE : Jimmy Palmiotti Interview

Jimmy Palmiotti

Brooklyn based writer of the Jonah Hex comic and various other comics Jimmy Palmiotti was kind enough to take a break from his comic creation schedule to give an interview with us :

Have you been involved in the making of the Jonah Hex movie - If so in what way and how were you approached for your contribution?

The producer Andy Lazar is an old friend that helped Joe Quesada and I sell a character we created called ASH to DreamWorks years ago.

When he got the go ahead to do the Jonah Hex film, we spoke and he asked me if Justin Gray and I would be interested in reading the script and maybe give our opinion. Andy and the guys all told us that the new comic series really got the ball rolling to put Jonah on film and that alone is pretty cool in my book.

The director, Jimmy Heyward , also spoke to us a few times and we gave him whatever information on Hex he needed. Jimmy wanted to know everything and his passion for this project shows in each and every frame. Having both of these guys involved really gave us a good feeling about the movie. In the end, all we really contributed was a solid amount of work they can pull from.

What do you think of the casting for the Jonah Hex movie?

Josh Brolin is actually dream casting in my eyes. When they first mentioned Josh for the part I was in shock because I couldn’t believe how dead on a choice it was. Honest, when I saw the first make up shots of Josh in costume I was so excited…and then on the set visit to see him with the long coat and on the horse…well, it was like the character leapt out of the book and became real.

Past the visuals, Josh is a brilliant actor. When we met, he told us he read the comics and was super excited to have this part and the feeling was mutual. I do have to add that he is also one of the nicest people I have met and has this energy about him that is contagious. So yeah…I am happy as hell.

Having Turnbull played by John Malkovich was another stroke of genius in my eyes…again, another one of the finest actors in the business and a real character as well. When we spoke on set, John came across as a gentle, smart and well read actor…and when the cameras were rolling, he became this angry bloodthirsty maniac right before our eyes. Yeah…I totally think he was a perfect choice.

The rest of the cast really speaks for itself…Megan Fox, Michael Fassbender, Michael Shannon, Aidan Quinn, Will Arnett, Julia Jones…even David Patrick Kelly…one of my favorite bad guys from the warriors [ I know, my age is showing] is in this movie.

I got to meet and speak to Megan at comic-con this past year and she is just plain awesome.

Jonah Hex is a comic that you have been working on for some years and have written many books for. When you first learned that it was possible that they would be making a movie out of Jonah Hex, were you protective of the character?

Well, I was very happy to hear about the movie and wanted to help in any way possible. Of course we were protective, but in the end, we had the comic to worry about and no matter how the film is or does, we still have to come out with a top quality book each and every month. Once the casting and director were announced, Justin and I both relaxed.

Is there a story line from the comic you would have liked to have made it into the movie that wasn't used?

Well, the obvious one for us was to bring the Tallulah Black character into the film somewhere, but if there is a second film, it makes sense on a number of levels to do it there.

As far as the overall story, there are a lot of touches taken from the comics and in the art direction alone, they actually reference the books a whole lot.

We write the book monthly, so there are many stories to tell…what the film does is introduce who Jonah is to people and then goes at a lightning pace to tell a kick ass heavy metal western tale.

Jimmy Palmiotti with Josh Brolin

Some strange things have been written about things that may be in the Jonah Hex movie; I'm of course referring to the rumors of voodoo, zombie armies, robot horses and other such oddities. Do you think the origins of this are just bad research and did it amuse you?

Where that came from was maybe an old script from the 80’s that made the rounds and died. The zombie army stuff couldn’t be more wrong and all the rumors of all the supernatural elements have become tall tales.

There are some elements of the fantastic surrounding the legend and legacy of the character, but most of the action and story is rooted firmly in its own reality. And yeah…it did amuse me till people started thinking it was a cowboy vs zombie movie…which it so isn’t.

When you first started writing Jonah Hex did you seek any advice (on content or style for example) from John Albano or Michael Fleisher?

Yes I did, in the printed work they did. Everything I wanted to know about the character was right there in the books us to read. I never met either of them though. Before this, I was just like everybody else…a huge fan of their work.

Jonah Hex is something of an anti-hero character with a complicated past, his story has explored darker themes and horror elements and Hex himself doesn't have any special powers as such. Is that a type of character you are more interested in working on, as opposed to super-hero type characters?

I love all genres of storytelling and like westerns, superheroes to me are another genre. I prefer to tell stories that are rooted in the real world, but I really also enjoy fantasy, history and science fiction as well. The great thing about writing is that you can explore all these genres and enjoy them all for different reasons.

I wouldn’t want to ever only write westerns, or only do superhero comics. Right now I work on a western, a female superhero [ Powergirl] a world war 2 action adventure [ time bomb] and a horror book [ Splatterman] . I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Having taken many roles in the comic creation process (inker, writer, artist) do you have a favorite? Do you feel you are expressing a different part of yourself in each role or does it come from the same vein?

Hands down, writing is the job I was made for, but on the road to becoming a writer I have done just about every single element of the comic creating business. With writing, I can apply my drawing skills to the visuals I am creating…I can see the finished page and apply it to my script and in doing that, it makes it easier to collaborate with an artist…

But yeah, writing and creating new characters is what I live for. I have always been a storyteller. It may have to do with growing up in Brooklyn , being surrounded by so many cool and interesting people.

You've also worked on some computer games, was that something of a different challenge and is it something you would like to do more of?

I like playing video games…and writing them is a challenge for sure, but one I would love to keep doing. Video games are involved and can take years to make and you work with a group of people creating them. They are really collaboration on every level and they really have opened a lot of doors for me…things like Justin and I getting to write the Deadspace animated movie would have never come our way without the experience behind us.

We really were hoping to create a Jonah Hex game, but the timing was off…and there seemed to be no interest. If the movie does well and there is a second film, that might all change.

Which of your other works would you most like to see be made into a movie?

I would like to see a PAINKILLER JANE feature finally as well as a book we did called THE MONOLITH for DC Comics. BACK TO BROOKLYN is another one that with the right people behind it, it could be huge.

Other than those, the current work like SPLATTERMAN and Powergirl are both really film friendly.

Honestly, every single Character I have created would be a cool movie in the right hands…so it’s all good.

Jonah Hex cover

Here in France, comic books are perennially popular and quite mainstream with an audience across all generations. Obviously there have been a number of comic-based Hollywood movies in recent years, do you think comics in the U.S. are thriving or is it becoming more of a niche interest?

I think they have become a genre, like science fiction and westerns and so on. I think there will be a ton of them made for the next few years…then a break…and a ton more. It’s a genre that is here to stay.

Following on from that, interest in the Jonah Hex comics looks likely to increase in the coming months, I should imagine that is something you welcome as a good thing? Do you see it changing the way you view the character or the way you write the comic?

Nothing changes in the comic…the movie was made because the comic worked so well. The best we are hoping for is that dc can sell the rights to print the book in many languages and the books become more popular. We would welcome a wider audience.

Your wife is a comic artist as well, aside from projects you officially collaborate on do you work together on ideas for your comics or is there a separation?

Most of the ideas I have eventually get talked about with her and she always has some constructive notes and ideas and I welcome them.

Amanda is one of the finest artists in the business and people are now starting to really appreciate her work and I couldn’t be happier. After Powergirl, we plan on doing some creator owned books together.

You've been around the comic industry for quite some time now and comics are obviously an art form that pre-dates a lot of modern technology and tools that we have available to us now. Digital art is something that has grown immensely in the last decade or so and while web-comics are certainly a whole other form to comic books, digital coloring is becoming more popular for comics too. Has your working or creative process been influenced by these changes over the years and do you make use of digital techniques?

When we were hired to form the Marvel Knights label at marvel, we brought in digital coloring and scanning into the company. Phil Noto, one of my favorite artists, did most of the BEAUTIFUL KILLER and NEW WEST series digitally and so on.

I am one to embrace technology on every level and things like the iPad coming out next month, will start to make the comics I own available in that format as well.

For me telling the story is most important…the tools to get them to the reader will always change and that’s fine.

You seem to be someone who enjoys frequently attending comic conventions and meeting with your fans. Do you see that as something of a professional obligation or are they events that you want to attend as someone who loves comics?

I attend the cons to meet the fans, get feedback and celebrate the art form. I hope one day to be a guest at Angouleme and lucca . I have done the Barcelona con and it was an amazing experience.

For me, it is important to get to know the audience of my work and as well exciting to meet different people. I have a blog at http://jimmypalmiotti.blogspot.com/ that I interact with the fans at and a facebook fan page where I also answer questions. It’s the fun part of my job.

Lastly, speaking of conventions; what is the strangest thing you have ever been asked at a convention?

Well, there are a few: sign a baby’s foot, sign a bowling ball, sign a hot dog…then there were a few sexual things asked by a couple of female fans…oh…and on more than one occasion, I was asked to sign woman’s breasts. Who am I to refuse?