Welcome back to the conclusion of our conversation with the creative team behind Image’s run away hit, Hell Yeah! If you missed last weeks first part then you can check it out here. When you’re done there, or if you’ve already read that, then continue reading for some more Joe and Andre goodness!
Adam: Andre, are you working in digital or old fashioned pencil on 11×17 boards? Why choose one over the other?
Andre: It would be very expensive to give every one of my trained monkeys a Cintiq. Honestly, if I could eventually do the same thing digitally, I’d be all for drawing the comic that way. Any time you can make your life easier and get the same results, it’s not hurting anyone. Even still, I am pretty in love with paper and ink. It would hard to let that go, even though I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a rarity when we all have robot butlers someday.
Adam: Speaking of digital, as far as digital distribution goes, will we see anything extra in digital copies? Or the option of a physical/digital combo pack?
Joe: Nah. I mean, I love digital. I own an iPad. I pay for Comixology licenses all the time, but if you want extras, our single issues are where that’s at. Starting in issue #3, we’re going to have regular back up features by a variety of folks. Those won’t be in the digital version.
Adam: If two comics fornicated (like people do) and its baby was this comic, which two comics would they be?
Andre: It would be like Kick Ass and Flex Mentallo picking up a French comic at a bar and going home to have a three-way. We still don’t know who the daddy is.
Joe: Yeah, that sounds about right. Throw Youngblood #6 in there (original run) and some early “Maggie the Mechanic” Love & Rockets.
Adam: How far in advance do you guys work? Joe, how many scripts do you have in the can? Andre, how many issues in do you have finished?
Andre: We are on a monthly schedule now, so I am currently drawing the fourth issue.
Joe: I’m pretty far ahead.
Adam: You guys brought back the Ashcan at the Image Expo in February. What was the reaction on the convention floor?
Joe: Insane. I sold out by the end of the show.
Adam: Why call the book “Hell Yeah!”? What is the origin behind the title?
Joe: Part of it it’s the name of the band the Ben’s alternate reality girlfriend is in. Part of it is I just say it all the time.
Adam: Andre, what are you most proud of in the first issue? Is there a page or a panel where you look at it on the printed page and go “NAILED IT!”?
Andre: I’m fond of the last page, probably because I redrew it several times to get the right feel. I also kinda like the shot of Ben wiping blood off his chin on page 2.
Adam: I’m going to sling that same question over to you about the writing, Joe.
Joe: I don’t think that’s really for me to decide. I’ll let the readers field this one.
Adam: Sadly we’ve seen some creator disputes within the last few months. (i.e. Robert Kirkman/Rob Liefeld, Gary Fredrich/ Marvel, Alex De Campi/Jimmy Broxton ect.) Are there any preventive measures being put in place right now so that the book doesn’t abruptly discontinue?
Joe: This really is an odd question to answer in public, as it’s our own business, but yeah, you’ve got to be mindful of this stuff.
Adam: If you could either swap places with one of the characters, who would it be and why?
Andre: That’s hard to say, because a lot of people get their heads blown off. My choice would be be I Heart Lasers, because she is probably the most level headed and cool one of the group.
Joe: There’s a character who debuts in issue three, on page ten. Not saying who, but totally them.
Big thanks to Joe Keatinge and Andre Szymanowicz! They’re super cool dudes putting out a super cool book. I’d call Hell Yeah the Intercontinental Champion of comics. Come back next week as Thunderbolts and Northlanders artist, Declan Shalvey stops by to answer the least rigorous questions of his life!
-Adam
