Creator Tim Seeley, a confessed horror geek with a talent for satisfying the horror geeks who flock to Devil’s Due currently announced a pact with the fantastic alt model website Suicide Girls, pairing the eponymous Cassie Hack, with the gorgeous Suicide Goth’s and punks. Seeley, still reeling from the New York Comic Con was kind enough to talk with “Rot Your Brain” and yours truly (a Seeley and Hack/Slash fan) about upcoming issue developments, and what this pact will bring fans of old and new.
So, firstly, thank you very much for agreeing to this interview, Mr. Seeley. “Hack/Slash” is one of my favorite horror comics.
Thanks, no problem!
How did the New York Comic Con go?
Heh, I actually had a pretty miserable time! I had some kind of hellish space virus or something, so I was sick the whole time I was there. Man, nothing is lamer than sitting in a hotel room in Times Square watching AMC. Not to mention that my nose started running like crazy during a video interview! But, I’m feelin’ better now.
Do you ever get the “extreme” fan who takes love for Cassie to the extreme?
Not really, I mean, there are people with Cassie Hack and Vlad tattoos and Cassie costumes, but that’s just awesome.
So, Cassie Hack and the Suicide Girls, it makes a hell of a lot of sense.
I agree. I’ve been slowly working on getting this going for a couple of years actually! I think it will end up being a great way to bring new readers to Hack/Slash, in the end.
How did this deal with the Suicide Girls come about?
I’ve had a membership for almost five years, and I had e-mailed Missy Suicide (the founder of “Suicide Girls”) a few years ago with a similar idea for the partnership. Eventually, I was able to get ahold of the right people who worked at Suicide Girls. Then the Devil’s Due crew and I took a trip to Los Angeles to meet with The Queen herself.
So what will “Hack/Slash” fans be able to look forward to with this new pact? Will we find “button collecting” as a hobby in Cassie’s profile?
Ha ha! No, no… though you do get to see her what favorite bands are and her “sexual fantasy.” In the end, old and new readers will hopefully get a really fun story with lots of nudity and blood shed.
Will Vlad have his pick of Suicide Girls? I hear he likes “The Sex.”
Shit, everyone knows that Vlad gets his pick of ALL GIRLS, Suicide and otherwise!
You mentioned in the press release that you’ve had a subscription for “Suicide Girls” for a while. Is there one model in particular you fancy?
I was always pretty enamored with women like STORMY, for one. And FLUX may be the hottest girl who ever lived. But ever since I’ve been working on this book, I’ve kinda fallen in love with FRACTAL, though.
Was Cassie really drawn on inspiration from the Suicide Girls, or is she a composite of different elements in horror?
Yeah, Cassie came before I ever found Suicide Girls. She was always intended to be what I thought a girls would be like AFTER living through a horror franchise.
Whenever someone asks me to describe “Hack/Slash” I call it a horror version of “Of Mice and Men,” is that apt?
That’s pretty good! I’ll use that. Though Vlad is somewhat less retarded than Lenny, and much less likely to squish a bunny.
That’s quite true. He saves the bunnies.
Yep.
Do you think that would Vlad ever mature, or is he more of a perpetual child in a giant’s body?
He’s really matured somewhat already [throughout the series], but I think we’ll see him evolve over the course of the comic just like any good character should. With Vlad though, we’ll see if “growing up” is really that important to him.
The series has really taken a belly flop in the past issues providing a moral dilemma with Cassie and Vlad on whether their mission to kill slashers is a justified one. Will this continued question cause a rift between Cassie and Vlad?
Oh, absolutely. We’re going to see Vlad question why he follows Cassie at all. He’ll wonder if this quest is more than just being about helping people he may not be as in for the ride as he thought in the beginning.
Cassie seems to be living on this unremitting false standard of living she thinks people want from her (sexuality, style, profession, etc.), rather than live as she desires. Will this confusion always be there for the character?
That’s really Cassie’s arc. How far she develops along that line is the main thrust of her character.
Cassie seems almost like Ash from “Evil Dead,” where her universe leaves many possible threads lingering for her clashing or alliance with horror heroes and villains, was that always planned?
Oh, for sure. We always said that all horror films exist in Cassie’s world, so there’s definitely room for entrances into other stories and infamous characters hunting grounds.
Just between you and me (and a few hundred thousand reading our site), will Cassie’s search for her father lead somewhere or just serve as a macguffin for the series?
Oh trust me, it leads SOMEWHERE. To SOMEONE. And someone you’ve seen before if you’re a horror film fan.
I’m officially excited.
You should be.
Secrets, schmecrets, will we ever see Cassie’s mom return from the grave again?
I’ll just say this: Issues 15-17 of the monthly series. Read them!
Will we have an expansion of supporting characters beyond Adam and Lisa?
Yep! We’re adding a new supporting character with issue 11.
You’ve crossed Cassie with Chucky, and Evil Ernie, can we expect any other horror icons to cross her path? If not, what would be your dream crossover?
There’s definitely a big one coming in issues 15-17. Man, I think everything you want will be in those issues!
Are you really a slasher geek? And, do you have a favorite slasher film?
I am. I’m an all around horror (and Troma) nerd. I still will always like Michael Myers. And of course Freddy Kreuger.
Finally, what can we expect from you next?
There’s more Hack/Slash to come! And, I’m doing four issues of the SPOOKS series with creator Larry Hama! And after that, I’ll be working on more creator owned stuff from Image comics!
Thanks a lot for agreeing to the interview, Mr. Seeley!
No, thank YOU!