It doesn't get more iconic than the animated Disney Villains of the '90s. Of those classic villains, few tap into the great comedy of the Disney films quite like Hades. First appearing in the 1997 classic Hercules, the character instantly became a fan favorite. Combining a striking signature appearance and sharp wit, the character is about to embark on a journey to the comics page in a new release from Dynamite Comics.
Disney Villains: Hades #1 sees writer Elliott Kalan team with artist Allesandro Ranaldi to bring Hades on a new adventure. When Hades doesn't get an invitation to the weekly brunch at Mount Olympus, the Lord of the Underworld calls for the destruction of his fellow deities. In an interview with CBR, Kalan dives into the appeal of Greek Mythology, the challenges of working on iconic characters, and more.
CBR: Scar and Maleficent both got the chance to shine in their own Disney Villains issues. What's it been like bringing that spotlight to Hades?
Elliott Kalan: The thing about Hades, and the reason he deserves, nay, DEMANDS his own book, is that he's probably the most fun and the funniest of the Disney villains. He's so completely selfish, so unapologetically manipulative, and so totally open about it the whole time. He's a schemer with grand plans and a chip on his shoulder the size of the Trojan horse, but he can't help commenting and chattering and plain talking about everything he's doing all the time. I'm a sucker for characters who can't help but talk, and if they rule a kingdom of the dead, so much the better!
You mentioned in the press release that you first saw Hercules as a teenager. What is it about Hades that made the character stick with you all these years?
To be honest, I think what stuck with me about Hades was how funny he was and how incredibly disrespectful he was to every other character around him. He's so openly mean and evil in a way that's terrible in real life but really appealing in a mythic villain. In a way, even though he's a deceitful, untrustworthy liar, there's a real honesty about the way he refuses to buy into the whole "nobility" facade that the other Greek gods put up around themselves. It really makes him stand out from the rest of the movie's cast.
You're obviously no stranger to comedy. How has your experience in that field helped you with this book?
The one thing I never wanted to forget while writing this series was that it needed to be fun. I wanted there to be excitement, character moments, and surprises, but overall I wanted it to be lighthearted and not take itself too seriously. I've been writing jokes for a long time now, and it was a real joy to write a main character who needs a stream of jokes at all times. That also gave me the license to put comedic spins on the other characters from Greek myth that I pulled into the series. I didn't want to parody Greek mythology, but instead [asked] myself, "What are the funny versions of these figures?"
It's clear from the solicitation that you're interested in a lot of corners of Greek Mythology. How did that interest develop?
I remember being enamored of the Greek myths when I was a little kid in school. Before I was a reader of comic books, Greek mythology really met my appetite for stories about monsters and heroes and outsized adventures. It was especially the monsters that drew me in first (I was very excited to be able to use the Minotaur and Medusa in this series). But over time, I got really obsessed with how the different characters are related to each other. Which gods parented which heroes, and what creatures sprang from whose spilled blood, and so forth. It was my first experience absorbing and navigating a complicated universe of continuity.
Working on iconic characters can often be seen as daunting. How have you approached that over the years?
I've been really lucky that I've gotten to work on some big characters that already meant a lot to me. But the first thing I do when I start one of those projects is ask myself, "What are the core values and important traits of this character? And how do I relate or connect to those things?" Basically, "How can I scrape away years of preconceived notions and get to the heart of what makes a character work and how I can see something of who I am (or who I wish I was) in that character." After I do that, I always have a better sense of them as living characters and less as intimidating icons.
What has it been like working with artist Alessandro Ranaldi on this book?
I've been loving Alessandro's work on the book, and I'm really excited to see how he brings to life the crazy characters of Greek myth that I've thrown at him. We didn't get to work too closely together when I was writing the initial scripts, but I'm excited to see how his work might lead me to adjust what I've written. I hope we get a chance to do more work together in the future.
What would you tell fans of Hercules to expect from this issue?
I'd say be ready to see the Hades you know and adore from the Hercules movie pulling his tricks on an even larger cast of almost all-new mythological heroes, monsters, villains, and general weirdos. And will it be funny? It will be hilarious! It's Ocean's 11, but they're stealing the Golden Fleece, the team of thieves are some of the most famous misfits of Greek mythology, and this Ocean is the flame-headed Lord of the Underworld! I can't wait to read it, and I already know what happens because I wrote it! You're going to love it!
Disney Villains: Hades #1 goes on sale on August 16.