Hillbilly is a comic series with the writing AND art done by Eric Powell, published (The Goon, Chimichanga). It is also published by his comic company, Albatross Funnybooks. I feel like the name really says it all.
Eric Powell is known for his writing and art style. It's distinct, it's dark but still fun, it's different than pretty much anything you've ever read before. This is the trend we see in all of his stories and Hillbilly follows suit. It's an amazing story with witches and trolls and goblins and a hero...a hero that's a hillbilly. I don't think I've ever read a story where a true hillbilly was the hero. (If you know another story, absolutely write it in the comments because I'd love to read it).
Now, a hillbilly is a little different from a redneck. They're both associated with being uneducated and living in rural areas, but a redneck lives in a small town and a hillbilly lives in the hills. Being born and raised in West Virginia, I have heard this plenty. It's actually always really funny to me when I meet people in other states and when it comes up that I'm from West Virginia, they're blown away that I'm articulate and I don't say “crick” or “warsh”. Don't get me wrong, there are some of us who speak that way and that's ok, but it's not everyone. Yet this stereotype that we're all just dumb, filthy, uncivilized and lazy...or we're all crazy from all the years of inbreeding (as seen in “The Hills Have Eyes (2006 version)” and “Wrong Turn”).
Oh. And there was that one time American Dad featured West Virginia:
Anyway, my point is, in pretty much every form of media, “hillbilly” is a derogatory term. An insult. Something I should be ashamed of. I was honestly worried when I picked up Hillbilly #1, but I also felt like, as a hillbilly, I had to at least read the first issue, even if it was terrible. I needed to know how myself and others like me would be portrayed. And holy crap, my mind was blown. Everything about this comic is not only very much “hillbilly” but it makes me PROUD to be a hillbilly. You mean I could be associated with someone as badass and cool as Rondel? I'll take it in a heartbeat.
I don't know if everyone reading this has read this comic, I'll just go ahead and assume most haven't so I can avoid spoilers for future readers. Hillbilly is a fantasy epic about Rondel, a wanderer in the hills who hunts witches with a meat cleaver that holds the power of the devil. Alongside him, a giant bear with elephant tusks. Rondel wanders the hills unknown, although his story has become a legend to many. He travels around helping the poor people of this world as well as trying to rid the world of all witches for revenge. Rondel and all of the characters clearly speak with southern accents and it's perfect. I mean, some people might have a hard time reading it, but it's a language I'm extremely familiar with. The people speak that way, but they aren't dumb. That's probably my favorite part.
Sometimes my accent slips out, sometimes I say things like “y'all” or “ornery” and I genuinely do feel stupid for speaking that way. But I'm not, it's just the way I speak. That's what this book gives me, a representation of hillbillies as we are: generally intelligent people who talk funny. Rondel portrays hillbillies as being brave, not being afraid of what's in the woods, ready to fight for our family because they're our blood, close to the people we grew up with, and willing to go out of our way to help our neighbor just because they're our neighbor and they need help. That's something I am proud to be.
So, if you're a hillbilly, take some time to check out “Hillbilly” by Eric Powell, it's only 3 issues out, you can catch up real fast! If you're not a hillbilly, well, you should still read it because it's fantastic.
Happy reading!
