INTERVIEW: Rafael Scavone returns to Hailstone for new comic series
Image courtesy of Comixology Originals / Provided by Superfan Promotions.
Devil’s Luck: A Hailstone Story is a limited comic series from Comixology Originals and Stout Club that continues the mythology of a mysterious Montana town created by Rafael Scavone. For this project, he’s aided by artist Eduardo Ferigato. This new tale is set during the Great Depression, according to press notes, and follows a strange character known as Tim Beacon, a Montana-based dentist with a devilish plan to fund his California dream.
Just think of this: How much do gold teeth yield on the black market?
Issue #1 of Devil’s Luck is now available, and the trade paperback of the original Hailstone is also available for purchase for those readers looking for an older, Civil War-based story in this Montana town.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Scavone to learn more about the new series. In addition to Ferigato, the creative team includes letterer Deyvison Manes and cover artist Rafael Albuquerque. Greg Lockard edits the series. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
When you first created Hailstone, did you know that there would be more stories set in this location?
Yes, that was my intention since the first book, in 2022. I came up with this fictional snowbound place to work as my sandbox for horror stories. At first I thought it was too experimental, but soon I realized it would be perfect for self-contained stories.
Why Montana as opposed to another part of the United States?
The region was set for the first story, mostly because I wanted a place in the mountains and one that could be isolated by the snow. And since the first story is set during the Civil War, I didn’t want to pick a place that was the stage of battles or any other significant event of the Civil War. I wanted the war to be a distant thing for the people of Hailstone. Mostly, this is why I set this fictional place to Montana.
How did your background as a historian help you with this Depression-era story?
It helps only a bit. As I mentioned above, like in the first book, I want the real historical events to only be a distant thing for the story. It helps in setting the period for clothes, technology, social aspects and other things needed to locate the reader in 1935, nothing else. Like the first volume, Devil’s Luck is pure fiction, but set in a very specific historic time frame.
What was dentistry like in the early part of the 20th century?
It was a fast-evolving occupation, and in most of the aspects it wasn’t different from nowadays. In the first half of the 20th century, dentists already did most of the main procedures they do now, with certain limitations, of course. I believe the main difference besides new materials, technology and techniques is the septic aspect. Back in 1935, dentists didn’t use latex gloves, so they worked with their bare hands straight inside the patient’s mouth. Also, the sterilization of tools was a rare thing.
Are you testing the waters here, or do you feel like the story is done after five issues?
No testing. Tim Beacon’s story ends in issue five, and it will be a hell of an ending, by the way. I hope readers enjoy it.
What was it like to work with Eduardo Ferigato?
Fantastic! He’s super talented and collaborative. When I presented the story to him for the first time, he gave excellent input for the series’ ending that summed it up a lot. He also developed a beautiful colored noir style that is a feast for the reader’s eyes.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Devil’s Luck: A Hailstone Story, created by Rafael Scavaone and featuring art by Eduardo Ferigato, is now available from Comixology Originals and Stout Club. Click here for more information.
