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The Pitch:
B. Clay Moore
By Brian Jacks

12.10.02

Welcome to Slushfactory.com's weekly feature, "The Pitch," where creators "pitch" you their newest, upcoming project in hopes of persuading you to give it a chance.

Pitching last week: Chuck Dixon

THE PITCH: One creator, Six questions.

Your name: B. Clay Moore
Title of book: Hawaiian Dick
Publisher of book: Image Comics
Ongoing or miniseries: Miniseries (three issues), hopefully the first of many.
Other collaborators on book: Steven Griffin (art, letters, color)
Expected on-sale date: December 18, 2002

(1) Fill in the blanks: My name is B. Clay Moore and I am best known (at this point) for...pushing Hawaiian Dick on anyone who crosses my path.

(2) What is your book about?

1950s Hawaii. A stateside detective has been thrown off his force for reasons unknown and retreats to Hawaii, where an old army buddy is a detective. Together the two of them handle cases that fall just beyond the jurisdiction of the police. These cases invariably involve (one way or another) the supernatural...living embodiments of Hawaiian folklore. The first miniseries concerns a stolen car, a kidnapping, an eccentric drug lord, zombies, and the ghosts of ancient Hawaiian warriors.

(3) What is the origin of this project, secret or otherwise? Give us the origin story.

I began to develop the project on my own, basing the concept on all the things I really loved about pop culture. I tried to woo artist J. Bone into collaborating with me, but he was too committed to other projects to do more than participate in early plotting sessions. The Internet led me to artist Steven Griffin, Australian. Steven and I clicked pretty well, and he's devoted over four months of his life (so far!) to the Dick and nothing but. We showed the book to Image at Wizard World, and they were nice enough to invite us on board.

(4) Aside from the promise of tall dollars, what drew you to this project? Why now?

I'd been kicking ideas around for something unique, and started to think about the things that turn me on: film noir, jazz, tiki culture, hard-boiled detectives, stiff drinks... It all culminated in Hawaiian Dick. The initial title for the project was actually Byrd of Paradise, as the lead character's name is Byrd. But Hawaiian Dick wouldn't die, and people seem to respond to the name. Why now? It's set in 1953. It's timeless.

Article continued below advertisement

(5) Why should a reader pick your book over, say, lunch on a given day? Pitch away.

Because lunch isn't as colorful as Steven's brilliant art, and a turkey sandwich won't leave you breathless, anxious to find out what comes next. We think we're doing something a little different here...playing around with different genres, utilizing a unique setting, telling a story full of fun characters and engaging plot twists. It's not the kind of book you pick up and go, "Oh, it reminds me of..." And it's a chance to see one of comics' rare singular talents burst onto the scene. I'm talking, of course, about artist Steven Griffin.

(6) Anything else you'd like to add?

Just that we've been floored by the overwhelmingly positive response the book is getting from those who've seen it. We hope everyone at least has a chance to pick it up before it sells out. Thanks!

Concluding Note: Where can readers go for more information:

- Imagecomics.com (Hawaiian Dick comic strips appear on the site bi-weekly, and are accessible directly by clicking here)
- Image's five-page preview of Hawaiian Dick
- www.monkeyfun.com/hawaiiandick (website)

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