Matt Kindt Interviews Jeff Lemire on Black Hammer, a Treatise on Superhero Nostalgia
Cover Image by Jeff Lemire, Black Hammer #3 Variant Cover
In February, Jeff Lemire quizzed his comic book industry BFF Matt Kindt on Dept. H, the latter’s new series about a murder in a deep-sea research facility. Today, Kindt flips the tables to interview Lemire on Black Hammer, a reflection on Silver Age superheroes filtered through the author’s melancholic, introspective vision that anchored indie benchmarks like Essex County. Pencilled by Dean Ormston (Lucifer), the first chapter introduces a group of Greatest Generation pulp icons mysteriously stranded on a farm. Like Kindt’s analysis of Jacques Cousteau-era wonder and literary adventure in Dept. H, Black Hammer pays deep homage to yesteryear inspirations while innovating with nuanced skill.
With its first issue out on July 20th, Black Hammer offers another striking take on genre fiction from one of the most progressive voices in the comics medium. Check out the insights Kindt mines from Lemire and this passion project from the exclusive interview below.
Matt Kindt: When you told me about the idea for Black Hammer a few years ago, I thought it was going to be my favorite thing you’ve ever done. Having read the first few issues…it is my favorite thing. How long had you been kicking this idea around and what was the inspiration for it?
Jeff Lemire: I actually came up with Black Hammer and started working on it (designing characters, etc.) back in 2008. I had just finished Essex County and this was really me taking my love of superheroes and channeling it through the rural setting and aesthetic of Essex. I pitched it to Diana Schutz, who was with Dark Horse then, and she loved it. At the same time, Sweet Tooth took off at Vertigo, so I had to shelve Black Hammer.
It sat on the shelf for a long time, but I never stopped thinking about it. With me drawing other things now, I knew if I ever wanted to do it, it would have to be with another artist. I remember asking you to draw it at one point. Anyway, I have always loved Dean Ormston, and he and I met in Leeds a few years ago. I thought his style would bring something really unique to it. I went back to my old pitches and documents and started reworking things, updating them, etc.
Dean started drawing the book last year, but then ran into some pretty serious health problems. So the book was put on hold again. Thankfully he’s healthy again and back to work and I’m pretty excited to finally be putting Black Hammer out.
I think you’re probably right, it might be my favorite thing I’ve ever done, too. It perfectly combines my indie work with my superhero stuff.
Black Hammer Interior Art by Dean Ormston