The biggest stars in comic book horror meet the biggest star in independent horror films as Cassie and Vlad meet Hatchet's Victor Crowley! In the Louisiana Bayou, the murderous ghost of Victor Crowley is maiming tourists in creatively horrible ways. But in his blind murderous rampage, he may have created something worse than himself! Now, Cassie and Vlad are back in New Orleans, and it won't be long before baseball bat meets hatchet and deformed mutant meets deformed mutant!

We caught up with the creative team behind Hack/Slash Annual #3 Hatchet/Slash, writer, Benito Cereno, and artist, Ariel Zucker-Brull.

Horror News Network: How did you both get involved in this project?

Benito Cereno: I’ve known Tim Seeley for a number of years, and when he was looking for someone to write this annual because he didn’t have time to do it himself, he dropped me a line, and I was more than happy to say yes. Hack/Slash is one of the most fun ongoing books out there.

Ariel Zucker-Brull: I was showing my work to Erik Larsen at the NYCC last year, Tim Seeley just happened to be looking over his shoulder—one thing led to another and Tim put me on the annual.

Horror News Network: Are you both fans of the Hatchet series?

Benito Cereno: I had heard of (and heard great things about!), but not yet seen, the movies when Tim asked me to work on this project. Right after I said yes, I ran right over to my local video store (I had no patience to wait for Netflix in the mail!) and rented both movies and watched them back to back. They are a riot, man. Tons of creative kills, great practical effects and no crappy CGI, and—importantly to me—lots of laughs. I’m definitely a fan now, for sure.

Ariel Zucker-Brull: I didn’t know about Hatchet till his project but once I watched the first movie I was hooked.

Horror News Network: What can we expect from Victor Crowley in this comic?

Benito Cereno: Murders all over the place. People getting hatchets in the face, chainsaws in the head, power sanders through the gut, you name it. If there is a power tool and an uncomfortable place to put that tool that you can think of, Crowley puts that tool in that place over the course of the comic.

Horror News Network: Cassie and Vlad have battled a ton of slashers including the infamous CHUCKY. What do you think makes Victor Crowley different than anything Hack/Slash has ever faced?

Benito Cereno: Crowley doesn’t have time for quips or banter. He only has time for ripping people into smaller, fractional people. He doesn’t give a shit if you set him on fire or cripple him. He’s got horrible things to do to strangers, and he’s not going to let a thing like death stop him.

Ariel Zucker-Brull: Victor Crowley Is the most brute and vicious one.

Horror News Network: On the other side of the coin, Victor Crowley has never been hunted. Can you talk a bit about what it is like writing an unstoppable force vs. an immovable object type story?

Benito Cereno: In the movies, Crowley doesn’t really leave much in the way of survivors. But Cassie Hack’s whole thing is saving people from monsters like him, so fortunately she knows better than to, say, get distracted by having sex in the woods, or trust someone who’s going to stab her in the back. And she’s got a duffel bag full of weapons and a great big fella to back her up. But no matter how many times she seems to stop Crowley, he just keeps coming. So the question becomes whether or not she can stall him long enough for the people she’s trying to save to escape him, before they all get killed…one by one.

Horror News Network: What can we expect in terms of blood and guts?

Ariel Zucker-Brull: The blood and guts fly everywhere. A lot of hatchets to the face as well.

Horror News Network: What was the collaboration process like between you two on this comic?

Benito Cereno: Usually I work really closely with the artist on projects I write, but this time I think the script was written or mostly written by the time Ariel was chosen as artist, so most of my interaction was with Tim, as well as Adam Green and editor Jim Lowder. But I think you’ll agree that Ariel did a great job without a lot of input from me.

Ariel Zucker-Brull: I never really spoke to Benito. Tim Seeley and James Loader made sure I was on point. Benito’s script was just how I like it. Leaving a lot of room for me to be creative.

Horror News Network: How was it working with Tim Seeley and Adam Green on this project?

Benito Cereno: Tim is always a pleasure to work with, so there was no surprise there, but it was really cool hearing feedback from Adam Green, who has a very genuine enthusiasm for this book, and I was really glad to find out he liked it after he read the script. He definitely helped make it feel like it was a legitimate part of the franchise, and not just some fan fiction or something.

Ariel Zucker-Brull: Tim Seeley was the one I was in contact with and he was very helpful in telling me how to portray the characters just right.

Horror News Network: Where can our readers find out more about Hack/Slash vs. Hatchet?

Benito Cereno: I believe there is an article about it in the most recent issue of Fangoria magazine, and there are a number of posts about the book at hackslashinc.com, the Hack/Slash/Tim Seeley fansite. Also, Tim, Adam Green and I are all on Twitter, and we might say anything about the book at any time!

Horror News Network: In closing, what would you guys like to say about Hack/Slash vs. Hatchet?

Benito Cereno: If you like reading comics about huge disfigured dudes doing murders, rich douchey guys getting axes to the face, and hot ladies hitting monsters with baseball bats, boy howdy, is this the book for you.

Ariel Zucker-Brull: Get this book!  It’s one of those comics where you will be able to tell the artist had FUN drawing it. Plus Crowley is intense, Vlad is cool, and Cassie is hot.

Horror News Network: Thanks for your time, guys. Good luck with Hack/Slash vs. Hatchet! Comment on this interview here.

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Published on: 2011-11-09 (531 reads)