Earlier today I picked up the phone to interview comic book creator/actor/writer/producer/SFX makup artist/funny man Mitch Hyman, the man behind Bubba the Redneck Werewolf. I was not quite sure what to expect. I had no idea that Hyman would such an interesting, funny and sincere man. By the time I hung up the phone my sides were sore from laughing and my head was swimming with the fascinating stories he told. This man, who sometimes bills himself as “The asshole writer” at conventions, not a very fitting title, was far from unpleasant. It was the most interesting conversation I’ve had in ages.
My interest in Hyman started over the hilarious trailer I discovered for his film Bubba the Redneck Werewolf , but I came to understand there was much, much more to the writer. Not only is there the Bubba the Redneck Werewolf comic, there’s a novel featuring two unique characters named Vinnie and Mook, who will be introduced in the next Bubba comic, but I’ll tell you more about them in a moment.
KM “I saw a post on your Facebook announcing that you had major news from your publisher. Can you fill us in?
MH “The news was about the next Bubba comic, in which Vinnie and Mook are introduced. It’s gonna be a game changer in the Bubba verse. I plan to be in the comic with all three of my characters. As for what we’re all doing? Believe me, this is a no miss issue.”
KM “How did the comic come to be?”
MH ” I created it because society was lacking a good hero. Everyone knows a guy who can fix anything, do anything, he’s like that. Bubba’s someone you could call at 4 a.m. and say “Hey, you got to come see this!”, and as long as you had a six-pack he’s coming. The characters are all based on real people, I think that’s important.”
If you see the Bubba the Redneck Werewolf film, pay close attention to the devil, that’s Mitch.
KM “Please, tell us about Vinnie and Mook.”
MH ” I sat around a lot with friends who would tell me stories about their uncles, who were in the mob. How their uncles were so sweet, but vicious and how they took care of their family and neighborhood. The did great things, but if you harmed a woman, child or animal Hell couldn’t hide you. One of my favorite quotes is “Sometimes dark is hidden by light.” It’s all about perspective. Vinnie and Mook are bad guys that do good things. It’s all about perspective. They’re interesting characters who are dangerous, but would do anything to help you. Vinnie is a legacy mobster. Mook is the son of a Jewish mobster and a prostitute. Mook was orphaned as a child and taken in by Vinnie’s family. They were raised like siblings and act that way. They squabble all the time, but they’re family.”
KM “Your book Vinnie and Mook: Hitmen In Paradise is now on the market. What’s it about?”
MH “In the book a mob boss’ daughter is kidnapped from a Goth club and taken to the Caribbean to a plantation and they have nasty plans for her. The story features vampires, zombies, Voodoo and Vinnie and Mook coming to the rescue.
Let me tell you a story, it’s about an event that influenced the book. I spent some time working in the Caribbean when I was younger, around 1979. I was sitting at a cafe’ having coffee with two friends in the West Indes. We heard this loud whistle blow. One of my friends, a local, told us to put our heads down and no matter what not to look up. The Voodoo priest was coming. I lowered my head and this stink hit my nose, it was nothing like I’ve ever smelled before. With my head down all I could see were these people walking by. Their had bare feet, covered in dirt and blood. They were dragging shovels and tools. The whistle blew again and my friend told us to look up. I asked “What was that smell?” and he said “Zombies, real zombies.” They believe in that stuff down there. Later I saw Wes Craven’s The Serpent and the Rainbow and it all made sense. I had witnessed real Voodoo zombies. It is something I’ll never forget and it inspired part of the story in Hitmen in Paradise.”
KM “Did I hear something about Bubba in space?”
MH “Bubba is the only comic book character with his own satellite. A Bubba fan who worked at NASA came up to me at a convention and put down a picture of a satellite getting ready to go up. The inscription on the photo read: “Launched in honor of Bubba under the full moon.” It is a communication satellite and for the next hundred years or so, it now broacasts the Spice channel, C Span and the Disney Channel. Hope they never get their feeds crossed. (Laughs)”
“KM “I’ve tasted your Bubba the Redneck Werewolf coffee, it’s delicious by the way, where can caffeine addicts pick up a bag?”
MH “I’m glad you like it. The coffee can be bought through Coffee Shop of Horrors. It’s good stuff.”
Mitch is a busy man, besides writing, he also works as a special effects makeup artist, designer and model for Michael Davy Film and TV Makeup.
Vinnie and Mook: Hitmen in Paradise, published by Words Take Flight, is now available on Amazon in both hardback and Kindle (You can get your copy here) ! The next Bubba the Redneck Werewolf comic that will introduce Vinnie and Mook will be out this summer.
I was left very impressed with this down to earth, absolutely hilarious and brilliant man. I can’t wait to see what he does next!
To learn more about Mitch Hyman, his projects and what conventions he will be appearing at, follow him on Facebook.
