Comic Book Features 'Hellish' Mich. Town

[lullaby1031]

The link wouldn't post properly so here goes..

Comic Book Features 'Hellish' Mich. Town By OLIVIA MUNOZ, Associated Press Writer

Sat Jul 2, 8:27 AM ET

HELL, Mich. - A woman takes an ax to her husband in their new home, someone is boiled alive in a public pool and a father is swallowed by the earth. Just another day in Hell. The gruesome acts never actually happened in this rural hamlet with the diabolic name, but those and other macabre tales are brought to life — and death — in the new comic book, "Hell, Michigan."

Two years ago, Tilman Goins Jr. heard about Hell while watching a news report on religious representations in state flags and names.

"I was, like, 'Is there really a Hell, Michigan?' And then, 'Wow, that would be a great story,'" said Goins, a 28-year-old resident of Morristown, Tenn.

The longtime comic book fan quit his job as an Army air traffic controller two years ago to form Funnel Cloud 9, a company he expects will produce comics, children's books and movies.

Goins hopes "Hell, Michigan" leads to bigger things, including a film version of the horror comic.

The first issue, which debuted in late June, was written by DC Comics veteran Dan Jolley and illustrated by Clint Hilinski, who have collaborated on several "Voltron" comics.

Many of the violent scenes are set apart from the rest of the narrative by a bloody red background, a setting that lets readers and characters know there's an atrocity to come.

The debut issue goes gruesome right away. A young couple moves into Hell, and a pregnant wife chops up her husband and then shoots herself. Later, a pack of wild-eyed thugs attacks a couple at their home.

Husband and wife Dixon and Diana Cole are two of the few people in the fictional town that realize something horrible is going on. They've seen crime in their community grow increasingly more vicious. They sense a wickedness all about them.

Then resolute newcomer Regina Lockridge shows up, claiming to have premonitions about the place. The Coles bring her into their circle of trusted friends, the few good people in town: the elderly mayor and his wife, a priest and a town eccentric.

The group of unlikely heroes bands together to find the source of evil.

The real Hell — located 60 miles west of Detroit — has a population of about 250 and no elected government. The origin of the name is unclear. One of the most popular theories holds that George Reeves, an early settler, was asked what he thought the town should be named. He reportedly replied, "I don't care, you can name it Hell if you want to" and the name stuck.

The comic book version has a mayor and a population of 19,199. But after a number of freak deaths, that number begins to dwindle.

"In the comic book, the town is the main character. It's trying to rid itself of good souls — the less good there is living in it, the more evil it gets," Goins said.

John Colone, a business owner in the real Hell, hopes the comic sends his hometown a few more souls.

"Any time we can get our name out there is not a bad thing," said the 60-year-old who owns Screams Ice Cream and Hell Country Store and Spirits, two of the three businesses in Hell.

"My only concern is that people will think Hell is an evil place," said Colone, who plans to carry 200 copies of the monthly comic.

Goins said the first run is sold out to mom-and-pop comic book shops across the country. He also shipped some copies to Europe. A single copy sells for $2.95.

Barbara Barden, executive director of the Livingston County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she finds it hard to be enthusiastic about the book.

"I see no parallels between the evil theme in the comic and the actual Hell," she said.

"Hell — well at least the Hell on earth — has always been a family oriented place," said Barden, who acknowledged she could see how the name might lend itself to horror.

The concept of hometown recognition has boosted sales of one of Goins' previous efforts, "Genie," which is set in Morristown.

"Superman has Metropolis, and Batman has Gotham. Why not put them in a real town?" he said.

Goins has never been to the real Hell but said he expects to make it up there soon. "I figure I'd better go to Hell at least once," he said.

[paradox]

hell, i gotta check this out!

[Killer_Bunnie]

that sounds great, do you know of any local shops that might have it?

[Slept with ghost]

i think i may have seen it around but im not really sure if that was it but the one im thinking of does take place in hell MI

[Fierce Critter]

I've been to Hell, Michigan.

It's cute, quaint, and not really scary.

I'd like to find this comic, though.

[lullaby1031]

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[lullaby1031]

Comic City in Canton probably does ?