Interview with...
Robbie Armstrong "Red Hill Billy"
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Blood & guts. Werewolves. All in a day's work for anti-hero Billy Dekana. This gory tale set in Canada from creator Robbie Armstrong and is currently on Kickstarter awaiting your support. Robbie chatted with CBI publisher John Michael Helmer about his blood-soaked project...
JMH: What is Red Hill Billy?
ROBBIE: Red Hill Billy is the origin story for the very Canadian 10-year-old anti-hero Billy Dekana. The night he meets his new classmates at the Red Hill Fire Hall is the same night rabid werewolves attack his Northern Ontario town of Red Hill. They kill some of the townsfolk, and turn the rest into more slobbering, demented children-eating machines.
JMH: Can you describe the world/universe he’s from?
ROBBIE: Billy's world is one where he's learned to be remarkably cool-headed and proficient at hunting from his widowed father Red Dekana. Red Hill is a place where the walls of reality are thin and so the supernatural is not that out-of-the-ordinary. In this world, you adapt and fight back or get eaten very quickly.
JMH: Does Red Hill Billy have supporting characters and if so can you tell CBI about them?
ROBBIE: Billy's dad Red is a main supporting character and he imbues his son with the skills needed to survive in Red Hill. Billy is quick to make friends in his new class, including the Three Mulleted Daves (Dave, Davey, and Demon Dave) and Eddie who all come to believe in him enough to step up and defend their peers when the attack begins.
JMH: Was Red Hill Billy inspired by anything from your past or real life experiences?
ROBBIE: Red Hill Billy was born from my long drives up north to visit my parents, AND my frustration at 20-book long arcs from the majors (DC, Marvel, Image). I wanted to create a super-intense book (with swear words) where every panel is jammed with insane Geoff-Darrow-level detail AND you get the whole story in one shot. The beautiful forests and Canadian Shield inspired me to place the setting in Northern Ontario, as I think it's criminally underused in comics. And it takes place in the 80's so I got to draw on conversations about the "A-Team" and "Return of the Jedi" that I had with my friends as a kid.
JMH: Do your stories carry a message to the readers?
ROBBIE: My stories are pure brain candy. I wanted to remind readers that comics can just be about fun super-intense escapism again, and not always about thinly veiled socio-political views. The story has been described as "freaking relentless".
JMH: Talk about the creative team behind Red Hill Billy…
ROBBIE: I broke the story, wrote the script, and penciled all 26 pages (plus covers and ads) . Sig Torre (who coincidentally worked with me back in the "Dreamwave" days) provides the beautifully saturated colors, and Ben Lee is lettering.
JMH: Will Red Hill Billy be released in digital format, web comic, or print?
ROBBIE: Red Hill Billy will be available in a pdf digital format, and printed as a traditional comic book. As we proceed and get closer to our goal, I will announce web comics and other goodies...
JMH: Where can readers get a hold of Red Hill Billy?
ROBBIE: As of right now, Red Hill Billy is only available through my Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/groovydeadone/red-hill-billy-red-hill-rising
JMH: How can fans contact you?
I can be reached via e-mail [email protected], through our company website www.groovydead.com, on instagram via: groovydeadone, on twitter via: @groovydeadone and through our Facebook Page: Groovydead Productions
JMH: What advice do you have for anyone thinking about going the Kickstarter route for their property?
ROBBIE: It is ALL about the prep work. You need to prep for as long as possible in order to build up expectations, and think outside the box. Reach out to everybody and anybody, and do your research!!!
JMH: Is there anything coming up in further Red Hill Billy stories, or other projects you want people to know about?
ROBBIE: Once we hit our Kickstarter goal, I begin penciling Red Rill Billy 2. I have a full trilogy of books planned (incorporating Native Canadian mythology), each of which works perfectly as a stand-alone, but also as a Great Canadian Horror Epic. Oh, and I've begun discussions with a production company in regards to a possible movie/tv series...
JMH: Pitch Red Hill Billy to the readers! In 10 words, tell us why Red Hill Billy is a no-brainer to support…
ROBBIE: The most intense werewolves vs little kids comic EVER, eh?
ROBBIE: Red Hill Billy is the origin story for the very Canadian 10-year-old anti-hero Billy Dekana. The night he meets his new classmates at the Red Hill Fire Hall is the same night rabid werewolves attack his Northern Ontario town of Red Hill. They kill some of the townsfolk, and turn the rest into more slobbering, demented children-eating machines.
JMH: Can you describe the world/universe he’s from?
ROBBIE: Billy's world is one where he's learned to be remarkably cool-headed and proficient at hunting from his widowed father Red Dekana. Red Hill is a place where the walls of reality are thin and so the supernatural is not that out-of-the-ordinary. In this world, you adapt and fight back or get eaten very quickly.
JMH: Does Red Hill Billy have supporting characters and if so can you tell CBI about them?
ROBBIE: Billy's dad Red is a main supporting character and he imbues his son with the skills needed to survive in Red Hill. Billy is quick to make friends in his new class, including the Three Mulleted Daves (Dave, Davey, and Demon Dave) and Eddie who all come to believe in him enough to step up and defend their peers when the attack begins.
JMH: Was Red Hill Billy inspired by anything from your past or real life experiences?
ROBBIE: Red Hill Billy was born from my long drives up north to visit my parents, AND my frustration at 20-book long arcs from the majors (DC, Marvel, Image). I wanted to create a super-intense book (with swear words) where every panel is jammed with insane Geoff-Darrow-level detail AND you get the whole story in one shot. The beautiful forests and Canadian Shield inspired me to place the setting in Northern Ontario, as I think it's criminally underused in comics. And it takes place in the 80's so I got to draw on conversations about the "A-Team" and "Return of the Jedi" that I had with my friends as a kid.
JMH: Do your stories carry a message to the readers?
ROBBIE: My stories are pure brain candy. I wanted to remind readers that comics can just be about fun super-intense escapism again, and not always about thinly veiled socio-political views. The story has been described as "freaking relentless".
JMH: Talk about the creative team behind Red Hill Billy…
ROBBIE: I broke the story, wrote the script, and penciled all 26 pages (plus covers and ads) . Sig Torre (who coincidentally worked with me back in the "Dreamwave" days) provides the beautifully saturated colors, and Ben Lee is lettering.
JMH: Will Red Hill Billy be released in digital format, web comic, or print?
ROBBIE: Red Hill Billy will be available in a pdf digital format, and printed as a traditional comic book. As we proceed and get closer to our goal, I will announce web comics and other goodies...
JMH: Where can readers get a hold of Red Hill Billy?
ROBBIE: As of right now, Red Hill Billy is only available through my Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/groovydeadone/red-hill-billy-red-hill-rising
JMH: How can fans contact you?
I can be reached via e-mail [email protected], through our company website www.groovydead.com, on instagram via: groovydeadone, on twitter via: @groovydeadone and through our Facebook Page: Groovydead Productions
JMH: What advice do you have for anyone thinking about going the Kickstarter route for their property?
ROBBIE: It is ALL about the prep work. You need to prep for as long as possible in order to build up expectations, and think outside the box. Reach out to everybody and anybody, and do your research!!!
JMH: Is there anything coming up in further Red Hill Billy stories, or other projects you want people to know about?
ROBBIE: Once we hit our Kickstarter goal, I begin penciling Red Rill Billy 2. I have a full trilogy of books planned (incorporating Native Canadian mythology), each of which works perfectly as a stand-alone, but also as a Great Canadian Horror Epic. Oh, and I've begun discussions with a production company in regards to a possible movie/tv series...
JMH: Pitch Red Hill Billy to the readers! In 10 words, tell us why Red Hill Billy is a no-brainer to support…
ROBBIE: The most intense werewolves vs little kids comic EVER, eh?
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