Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • Borders Doom and Gloom

      Regie Rigby
      March 30, 2011
      Columns, The Burning Mind
    Recent
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • Comictober 2020: DRACULA MOTHERF**KER

      Daniel Gehen
      October 27, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Leading Questions: Get Me Endings of Spider-Man!

      Regie Rigby
      April 21, 2016
      Big Two, Columns, Leading Question, Marvel Comics
    Recent
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Stan Lee

      nguyen ly
      November 7, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • 3.5

      Review: BLACK BADGE #1 Crosses the Line into Enemy Territory

      Regie Rigby
      August 15, 2018
      Boom! Studios, Indie, Reviews
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 140 Character Reviews 6/3/15

      Regie Rigby
      June 4, 2015
      140 Character Reviews, Marvel Comics, Reviews
    Recent
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Classic Interview: Walt Simonson Pt.2 - Working with the Titans

      Regie Rigby
      July 3, 2015
      Big Two, Interviews, Marvel Comics
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade: 'Grave Business' by Graham Ingels

      Regie Rigby
      September 25, 2015
      Books, Classic Comics, Classic Comics Cavalcade, Columns
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • First look at BOOM! Hex Vet: The Flying Surgery

      Regie Rigby
      July 11, 2019
      Boom! Studios, News, Press Release, Previews
    Recent
    • 2020 Ringo Awards Winners Announced

      Daniel Gehen
      October 26, 2020
    • BAD IDEA Announces 2021 Publishing Slate

      Daniel Gehen
      September 29, 2020
    • A Full Replay of NCSFest 2020 is now Available

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2020
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • Review: 'Prisoner 155' is a Remarkable Portrait of a Political Revolutionary

      Regie Rigby
      May 7, 2018
      Books
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Collecting Profile: If I win Powerball, I will buy Amazing Fantasy 15
  • DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)
  • Collecting Profile: Batwoman
  • Collecting Profile: Daredevil
  • Collecting Profile: Floronic Man
  • Review of Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Interviews

Jamie Delano: Earning Outlaw Status

Regie Rigby
September 8, 2000
Interviews

Regie Rigby: The Great Satan was an excellent title for a comic. Did DC really change the name because they thought people would confuse it with Lucifer?

Jamie Delano: That is my understanding.

RR: That being the case, just how stupid do they think we are?

JD: Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? To be fair, I believe DC did have one or two slightly confused queries in the pre-publicity stages of both books development. But given that Lucifer has a six-month (?) head-start on my book, one might have imagined that most half-awake readers would recognise the difference.

RR: Great Satan is another series about the soul of the United States written by a Brit (the other one I’m thinking of is Preacher) Do you think that the British, immersed in American culture, but looking at it from the outside, are more able to write that kind of thing than someone from within the culture?

JD: Not necessarily more able… Sufficiently arrogant, perhaps. Not that I’m making any claims for great insight in this book. If the U.S. has a soul, I’m not sure I want to discover it. But yes, I’m sure a degree of objectivity helps.

RR: The book is billed as an ongoing series, something which seems to have gone out of fashion lately. Do you have an end point in mind, or do you intend it to run and run.

JD: Walk, hobble, stagger… slither on its belly like a snake until someone treads on its head. I’ve got some rough charts… waypoints I’d like to pick up, but basically I guess I’ll do what I always do and make it up as I go along. Only way to keep it interesting over a long-haul in my experience.

RR: If you do want the title to run indefinitely, would you be happy to turn your creation over to another writer when you moved on to other projects?

JD: You think anyone would want it? Hadn’t thought about it until now. Nah… I guess I’d probably be possessive.

JD: You have also recently returned to the character of John Constantine (in a Dark Knight Returns sort of way) for the first time in half a decade. Whose idea was that? Did you take the idea of Constantine’s future to DC, or did they approach you looking for a new Constantine limited series?

JD: It was Karen Berger’s idea to shamelessly exploit the tragic demise of Diana. I thought my old pal Constantine might enjoy to get involved. The future setting for Bad Blood was my idea, too. I like playing with near-future stuff… and I thought it might help circumvent one or two potential legal problems.

JD: Is it you or Constantine that’s the Republican? (obviously that’s not Republican as in the political party)

JD: Both of us… in our various confused and typically English ways.

RR: I remember reading that you used to drive a taxi. How much of Chas was developed from people you knew?

JD: Not much. That does not hold true for a lot of characters in early Hellblazer stories, but Chas really grew out of an attempt at a more ambiguous take on the traditional “hero’s loyal side-kick”… usually a useful fictional device enabling a protagonist to show off to the reader more effectively.

RR: I also can’t help wondering what you make of the current creative team on Hellblazer. They’ve taken some flack for their characterization of Constantine (particularly the accent). Do you think it matters whether he speaks Scouse or Cockney?

JD: I’m really not that bothered… within reason. Scouse/Cockney debate is irrelevant. He was born in Liverpool, but moved to London in his adolescence. Speech patterns and accents change according to our circumstances sometimes. Constantine is a chameleon when he wants or needs to be. I’m not familiar with the “flack” you mention – but if Constantine is living in the ‘states, (in my experience) he’ll need modify his “English” if he wants to be understood even well enough to buy a pack of cigarettes.

I have only seen the first Azarrello/Corben story-arc (if that is the new team referred to). Constantine’s appearance gave me a bit of a fright… but Azarrello made his character ring clear and true for me… and I was used to his “ugly elf” incarnation by the end of the first book.

RR: Any plans to take over the reins of Hellblazer again?

JD: No.

RR: You have been mainly associated with Vertigo (or at least pre-Vertigo) titles since you wrote the first forty issues of Hellblazer. Has that been an advantage, or a bit of a strait jacket?

JD: There is no where else in comics that I would rather be — even if they would have me.

RR: Do you find you have more creative freedom working at a “mature audience” publisher like Vertigo than at a more “all ages” outfit like Acclaim or Dark
Horse?

JD: Inevitably, I think. Although Acclaim let me throw a few fucks into Shadowman… for a while.

RR: You haven’t done much work for British comics publishers since the mid eighties (although there was Night Raven for Marvel UK in ’93). Is this because there isn’t much work going on this side of the Atlantic, or are the US publishers just easier to work with?

JD: I’ve been busy. No one asked.

RR: What characters that you haven’t written would you like to have a shot at?

JD: Not to be facetious, but I always prefer to invent my own if possible. Not that I’m too proud – obviously – but I only think about it when asked to do a specific job.

RR: Which artist (or writing partner) would you most like to collaborate with?

JD: I’m not risking a happy marriage to Goran Sudzuka (Outlaw Nation) by indulging in pointless fantasy.

RR: You co-wrote Cruel and Unusual with Tom Peyer. How does that experience compare with writing solo? I presume the relationship is different to the collaboration between writer and artist?

JD: Easier in some ways, harder in others. It’s a lot less boring and lonely. When you run the story into the sand you can hand it off to your buddy with a challenge to get you back on the road. He’ll probably stop up all night rather than appear to be found wanting. Works both ways of course, once they catch on. When it comes to criticism, you can say: “Oh that was Tom’s fault. I argued but he cried, so I gave in and let him have his way.” I think collaboration is probably like a love affair. It either works or it doesn’t… and there has to be genuine mutual respect, or it hasn’t got a chance.

RR: Conventions – Love ’em or loathe ’em?

JD: Largely indifferent these days… though they are always a good excuse to visit some foreign city.

RR: Any convention anecdotes you’d like to share?

JD: Nah. The world is too litigious.

RR: Which of the Delano cannon are you proudest of?

JD: 2020 Visions; a couple of odd Hellblazer issues – #35 & #84, Night Raven: House of Cards and Hell Eternal — but ask me tomorrow and I might tell you something different.

RR: You were developing the Vertigo one-shot Hell Eternal for the screen. Any progress on that?

JD: The struggle continues. The producers have financed the second draft screenplay, which I will be completing this month. What happens next depends on how much they like it.

RR: Any more plans to move into other media in the future?

JD: A novel before I die. Writing movies is more interesting (and harder) than I’d anticipated. I’d like to try another screenplay – but this time an original, rather than adapted, story.

RR: And of course, any upcoming comics projects in the pipeline?

JD: Actually, no. Just Outlaw Nation to bash on with for now. Shit! I still haven’t done anything about a pension, either. (But before any hungry insurance brokers reach for their keyboards… Don’t bother guys. I don’t trust your product and I don’t plan to retire.)

 

Jamie DelanoOutlaw Nation

Share On:
Tweet
A (Not So) Brief History of Color Separations- Part 3
All The Rage: Awards, Amanda and Agents

About The Author

<a href="http://comicsbulletin.com/byline/regie-rigby/" rel="tag">Regie Rigby</a>
Regie Rigby

Regie Rigby is a writer for Comics Bulletin

Related Posts

  • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

    Daniel Gehen
    June 8, 2020
  • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

    Mike Nickells
    March 4, 2020

Latest Interviews

  • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

    Daniel Gehen
    June 8, 2020
  • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

    Mike Nickells
    March 4, 2020
  • Simon Roy

    Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

    Mike Nickells
    January 29, 2020
  • Interview: V.E. Schwab on revisiting Red London in The Steel Prince

    Stephen Cook
    March 13, 2019
  • Interview: David Foster Wallace and Hellblazer, words on Wyrd with writer Curt Pires

    Stephen Cook
    February 27, 2019
  • “The Night Has Teeth” An Interview with Sarah deLaine, Artist of Image Comics’ “Little Girls”

    Jason Sacks
    February 26, 2019
  • Interview: Caitlin Kittredge talks the future of Witchblade

    Daniel Gehen
    February 12, 2019
  • Interview: Andy Nakatani and the Future of Weekly Shonen Jump

    Daniel Gehen
    December 19, 2018
  • INTERVIEW: Todd Matthy talks robots, princesses, and bridging the divide with storytelling

    Stephen Cook
    September 13, 2018
  • INTERVIEW: Gallaher & Ellis discuss THE ONLY LIVING GIRL

    Daniel Gehen, Thea Srinivasan
    September 7, 2018
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders