Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Christian Dibari, Comics, entertainment, heavy metal, hoax hunters, Jim Campbell, michael moreci, Mike Spicer, Steve Seeley

Heavy Metal Publishes Hoax Hunters In March – Michael Moreci Discusses New Directions, Plus Preview

Published Fri, 23 Jan 2015 18:00:00 -0600

by Hannah Means Shannon

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The long-running series Hoax Hunters, formerly of Image Comics, are making a degree of comics history in March when they appear as the first single-issue comic series published by Heavy Metal, as in Heavy Metal Magazine. The creative team of Michael Moreci and Steve Seeley (writers), Christian DiBari (art), Mike Spicer (colors), and Jim Campbell (letters) are taking the opportunity to alter the tone and trajectory of the series a little, to make it a bigger universe following less strict rules than it has followed in its first 15 issues. As a big fan of Heavy Metal, Moreci particularly is excited to be under the company's "umbrella" and hails the move to what he deems another favorable environment for creator-owned work as significant to the future of the series.

Heavy Metal describe this new arc thus:

History is made this month with the first-ever monthly comic to be published under the legendary banner of Heavy Metal! With the Hoax Hunters team in shambles following Jack's untimely departure, they head to Paris under Donovan's controversial leadership. The Image Comic series makes its Heavy Metal debut and reaches a crucial turning point on and off of the page! Ask your retailer about the special Rob Prior incentive cover!

Michael Moreci joins us here at Bleeding Cool to talk about what's coming up for Hoax Hunters and the move to Heavy Metal:

Hannah Means-Shannon: What is it about Heavy Metal as a brand with a history that made you interested in bringing Hoax Hunters on board?

Michael Moreci: Steve and I both grew up on Heavy Metal, like so many other comic readers. It's always been there, my entire life. So when this opportunity presented itself, it was a slam dunk decision. We're in a place right now where Hoax Hunters is going to be the first single-issue comic to ever be released by Heavy Metal—that's crazy. We're sort of pinching ourselves, but at the same time ready to make Hoax Hunters the book it needs to be—in terms of quality and tone—to be a successful title under the Heavy Metal umbrella, now and for years to come.

HMS: What does it feel like to be their first single-issue comic series? No pressure, right?

MM: Thankfully, we didn't know that when we agreed, haha. I always thought they had released single issues at some point. I have some GNs, but I guess I forgot that everything either comes out in that form or is first serialized in the magazine. So, I was blissfully ignorant of what was going on.

But yeah, there's definitely pressure. I always push myself to deliver, not just artistically but to be a success for the people I'm working for, and Heavy Metal is no different in that sense. What's great is that everyone there has been super supportive. There was this phase where, honestly, I was like "are you sure about this?" And they always reassured us that Hoax Hunters was the book they wanted for a reason. They've been behind us every step of the way, and I think it's been a big help in making this new run of Hoax Hunters as good as it has ever been.

HMS: What have you noticed about the different qualities of working with Heavy Metal on publishing this series so far that might appeal to those out there looking for publishers of their creator-owned work?

MM: Like all publishing deals, mileage varies. For us, it's been great, very akin to Image, which I love. At no time has anyone forced us to make editorial changes or make the book something that it's not. They're invested in the book and they trust us, which is so vitally important. I think they recognize that we've already done 15 issues of this series on our own, so we know (sort of) what we're doing. That kind of creative freedom is so important and rare.

There's also the simple fact that it's Heavy freakin' Metal. How awesome is that?

HMS: What's coming up for Hoax Hunters? Can you tease some surprises in store?

MM: I honestly can say this is the best the series has ever been. It really is. I've learned so much as a writer between the very first issue of Hoax Hunters to now, and my scripts are so much stronger than they were. I don't like taking away from those early efforts, but the truth is I've learned and grown—those are good things.

The book is going to be much less rigid than before. I think we had our sights locked on a pretty specific mythology, and opening the door to letting the story improv here and there and open up the universe has made an immense different. It's more fun, scarier, and just plain better.

And, most importantly, the art is out of this world. Christian DiBari and Mike Spicer make for one insanely awesome art team, and the resultant product is gorgeous. Both have done such great work, and I think people are really going to be impressed. We have them locked in for at least ten issues, so we'll be able to stay consistent for a good, long while, which is great.

And here's our preview of the upcoming issue of Hoax Hunters:

Hoax Hunters #1 from Heavy Metal arrives in shops on March 25th. It is currently listed in PreviewsWorld with item code: JAN151482