Like the classic rogue Kirby Hale that stars in this month’s issue of “The Sixth Gun” from writer Cullen Bunn and guest artist Tyler Crook, I’m late, but deadly effective with my first entry into our interview series about the Oni press title. Join me as I chat with Bunn about this month’s issue, talking about ill tidings, evil alliances, and the “bastard with a heart of gold” at the center of it all.
This issue brings the return of two of our favorite, lovable rogues in Kirby Hale and artist Tyler Crook. Before we get into the meat of the story, let’s talk about Crook. He’s the regular B.P.R.D. artist but he’s also worked on Sixth Gun previously with issue #14. What is it about him that makes him such an ideal fill-in for Brian, and do you see him returning on occasion in the future for more supporting character oriented issues like this one and #14?
Cullen Bunn: When we started talking about artists coming in for these fill-in issues, Tyler was one a few people who were on the top of the list. We were really picky about the person who would handle these characters. But Tyler is an amazing storyteller. He has his own distinct style, which helps to set those issues apart, but at the same time he complements what Brian does and enhances the world of The Sixth Gun. Currently, we have one more of these issues planned, and if I have my way, Tyler will definitely be drawing it.
The issue begins with Kirby Hale, Becky’s one-time lover and another of the many pursuers of The Six, reintroducing himself to readers as he does to his lovely old-timey lady professional friend: as a professional bastard. The thing I’m curious about is this: he starts the story explaining how he never drinks his whiskey, and by the last panel, he’s clearly been imbibing for a good bit. Is this visual confirmation of his bastardry or a statement on where he is in life after the last time we saw him?
CB: This scene is a mirror of the first scene (back in our second arc) featuring Kirby. In the previous scene, Kirby meets Becky in a saloon. He gives her the “drinking dulls the senses” spiel, and he does not imbibe. Here, though, we see that his world view has changed thanks to his encounter with Becky and the gang. A lot of the things he’s always believed have been blown out of the water.
When we last saw Kirby, he used his “good luck charm” to hypnotize Becky. In this issue, he simply gives it away, stating that it isn’t anything for him anymore. Given his reliance on it previously, why get rid of this surely highly valuable item?
CB: To Kirby, that charm was just a tool, and as useful as the totem might have been, it cost Kirby something. When he hypnotized Becky, he really didn’t know how he felt. But when she walked out of his life, he felt the weight of what he lost. The charm represents how Kirby betrayed and lost Becky, and he really wants nothing to do with it.
Kirby heads to Memphis next. One thing I was curious about is when you and Brian are depicting a specific locale, like Memphis in this specific era, how much do the two of you research to make sure everything jives with history?
CB: For a scene like this one, I do just enough research to fake my way through what’s happening on the page. Tyler may spend a little time digging up some visual reference, but I don’t think anyone other than a diehard historian would know the difference. To me, it’s more important that it “feel” right in terms of the story than actually be 100% accurate. In the end, this is a fantasy world based on the real world, so we have a little breathing room.
Two panels are dedicated to Kirby’s long, lusty look at the blonde in the blue dress. Was that meant to tie into his great weakness to women or was there something deeper tied to that look of longing?
Continued belowCB: In this case, the woman Kirby watches reminds him of his lost love, Becky Montcrief.
Widow Hume is in room #13. Of course she is. You guys just can’t resist a little nugget like that, can you?
CB: Of course not! Those little tidbits help to remind the reader that this is a fun story. Yeah, I know. It’s a little cheesy, but keep in mind that the door opens to a roomful of blood.
Kirby was going to Memphis to meet up with the people he intended to sell the guns to his original bidders. Widow Hume and her Pinkerton lackeys cut down the level of competition for his services significantly. Given the resources at her disposal, why is it that someone like Widow Hume would ally herself with someone like Kirby?
CB: Missy is the type of gal who likes to have more than one iron in the fire. She has a number of agents tracking down the Six, but Kirby got pretty close to attaining the weapons. She could have killed him, but she probably saw that as a waste of resources. She’d rather put him to work, then kill him if he fails… or succeeds for that matter.
Page 11 introduces a different, rather creepy heavy for Widow Hume in the long, white haired man who is muttering to himself. Who is he, and what was his role in the bloodbath that took place there?
CB: He’s actually appeared in the series before. The long-haired man is Eli Barlow, the necromancer that Missy hired to attack Drake and company at the beginning of the third story arc. It was Eli that unleashed the mummy of Asher Cobb on Drake. He serves as another weapon at Missy’s disposal, and he’s ready to call upon some violent, hungry spirits to deal with Kirby should he cut out of line.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but that was the first stagecoach robbery of the series, right? How excited were you guys to finally make that happen?
CB: This was the first stage coach robbery. Interestingly enough, that scene was written very early on in the series. I actually wrote it as a prequel to the series. Drake Sinclair starred instead of Kirby, though. The original idea was to release it online prior to the release of the first issue, but it never came together. This issue gave me the chance to repurpose that scene. So, yeah, I was pretty excited about it.
It seems that the second most pursued item(s) in this era is the map to the Gallows Tree. First Kirby’s old pal Angus gets his hands on it, then Kirby after he de-hands Angus. What is the previous relationship, and am I right to assume that Kirby was the man who took Angus’ eye?
CB: Angus and Kirby are old frenemies. They’ve probably worked together as often as they’ve been poised against one another. I think it’s a safe bet that Kirby was at least in the room when Angus and his eye parted ways.
When Kirby makes it to the Gallows Tree, it is precisely midnight. Is this an endeavor like Midnight in Paris in which he can’t visit the tree without the right timing, or just a coincidence of supernatural proportions?
CB: The idea here is that the map leads to possible locations of the tree, but the tree moves from place to place. That’s why the map is so valuable to those who want to find the Gallows Tree. In this case, the tree was “scheduled” to appear in Sessler City at midnight on that particular night.
Between the denizens of the Gallows Tree scoffing at Kirby’s criminal background and his final question to them (and what he does after), it seems to me that for all of his rogue-ish characteristics, Kirby might not be that bad of a guy. Am I right in that regard? Is he less of a bastard deep down inside of him?
CB: I definitely see Kirby as a bastard with a heart of gold. But’s that how he gets you. He suckers you in with his charm and good manners, then he makes off with your money, your girl, and your best horse.
Yeah, I hate him.
To me, it is far more important to Kirby that Becky still loves him than anything else he learned at the Gallows Tree. Fair statement, partial truth or completely off base?
CB: I think that’s a fair statement, although the final revelation of the tree–that Becky was destined to kill Kirby–is just as important. I can tell you now, the tree doesn’t lie.
