DF Interview: Peter J. Tomasi reveals teen peacemakers for Heaven and Hell in ‘Hornsby & Halo’

By Byron Brewer

Keeping the cosmic peace isn't easy. But the opposing leaders of Heaven and Hell broker a deal that trades Zachary Halo, an angel child, to a demon family, and Rose Hornsby, a demon child, to an angel family, and hope this truce will halt the winds of war. It's Nature versus Nurture as the turbulence of adolescence comes crashing down on two teenagers who have no idea just who and what they truly are... yet.

From Ghost Machine and Image Comics comes Hornsby & Halo! It's Good vs. Evil vs. Puberty from the minds of writer Peter J. Tomasi (Batman and Robin, Super Sons) and artist Peter Snejbjerg (Starman, B.P.R.D.)! I chatted with scribe Peter J. Tomasi about the coming comic.

Byron Brewer: Peter, before we hit your new ongoing comic Hornsby & Halo, talk a little bit about the Image Comics imprint from whence it hails, Ghost Machine. For example, H&H apparently exists within a shared universe called Family Odysseys?

Peter J. Tomasi: Well, Ghost Machine is our amazing new company I'm incredibly proud to be part of that's purely and truly creator-owned, and we all share in every aspect of it, steering the ship creatively and business-wise with a group of people that I respect and can call friends.

Hornsby & Halo does indeed take place within a shared universe and somewhere down the line, when it's organic and in gear to a bigger story, we have every intention of making sure they meet The Rocketfellers. And who knows, maybe there'll be some other surprises.

Byron: Is Hornsby & Halo a product of the Tomasi backburner, a book concept that has been brewing there for awhile? What is its genesis, and what was its inspiration?

Peter J. Tomasi: Actually, for many years it was a project that simply existed in my overstuffed notebook as 'Heaven and Hell trade kids to keep the peace.' That was all. Then, once Ghost Machine started revving up, I began thinking about projects that could fit into the Family Odysseys Universe and these two kids kept knocking at the back of my skull to get out and be brought to life, and luckily I've got a great team of collaborators like Peter Snejbjerg, John Kalisz, Rob Leigh, and editor Brian Cunningham, not to mention some kick-ass variant covers by some kick-ass artists.

Byron: Apparently the life situations of our protagonists (about which I will inquire shortly) owe their origins to opposing leaders of Heaven and Hell brokering a deal. Can you explain, in this “world” you and artist Peter Snejbjerg are building, how these two celestial realms function and their relationships to each other?

Peter J. Tomasi: It all begins with 'let's make a deal' to end the forever war between Heaven and Hell. Both sides realize it's useless to continue to decimate each other with no apparent winner, so each realm delivers their 'high-spirited' infant highborns to an arbitrator who, in turn, delivers the kids to adoptive parents on Earth but with the caveat that these homes are the exact opposite of the kids’ nature and birthright. The hope is for this pact to give Rose and Zachary, the two future rulers, a nuanced insight into co-existing with their ancient enemies and the ability once they're grown to build a better and peaceful bridge between the two realms. Or, will a new battle rage on for millennia to come?

Now wrap that epic premise into a simple story about two teenagers coming of age in the here and now and and you'll find yourself in the middle of an adventure filled with heart, fun, angst, craziness and pure supernatural intensity and hilarity. In other words, it's jammed pack with everything!

Byron: Introduce readers to Zachary Halo and Rose Hornsby.

Peter J. Tomasi: Both are celebrating their 13th birthdays as we open issue #1. They go to the same school and know each other, but are not friends by any means. These are teenagers, who like all of us at that age, are uncomfortable in their own skin, not sure who they are and eventually in this case 'what they are'. The way I like to think of them is that they're walking contradictions. Rose, our girl from Hell, grew up in a loving home and is a good girl who has a bad streak, while Zach, our boy from Heaven, has grown up in a problematic environment and is a bad boy with a good streak. Both are struggling with their DNA and upbringing. Conflicted, as they go about their days fighting against their Nature and Nurture.

Byron: Will the “parents” of Zachary and Rose be an important part of this ongoing? And they all live in… Warwick, New York??

Peter J. Tomasi: Well, with the theme being 'Nature versus Nurture', the adoptive parents’ morals, ethics and outlook on life are key factors in Rose and Zachary's respective upbringings. Not only that, what they do for a living also informs and impacts our kids’ lives and the story itself in many ways moving forward. Rose's parents won the Lottery and with their winnings use it help those in need. Zach's parents own the town funeral home and let's just say aren't exactly as empathetic as they appear. And I picked Warwick, NY for it's great name and also because I lived there for several years and felt it has a great vibe and atmosphere for storytelling elements.

Byron: Obviously, as you point out, we are dealing with some Nature versus Nurture here in this book. What is it you love so much about this type of scenario?

Peter J. Tomasi: It's a story element I seem to gravitate to on occasion simply because it lends itself immediately to all facets of drama, be it serious or funny, or as in most cases with my writing, a combination of both.

Byron: Talk about the awesome art of Peter Snejbjerg.

Peter J. Tomasi: I don't know where to start. We go back a long way, from when I was an editor on Starman and JSA at DC Comics where he drew some wonderful stories, to enlisting his incredible artistry on several creator-owned books like Light Brigade and The Mighty. He's a pure artist who can draw anything and imbue even the simplest of moments with drama and grace. And don't get me started on his storytelling abilities. What a natural. He moves that camera all over the place and it never seems forced, it's always the perfect spot to convey the purpose of the characters and the scene. All his characters, from the main ones to the secondary ones, to even background characters, they are all distinct and all have an inner life under his pencil and ink. And damn, does he know how to spot blacks on a page. And did I forget to mention he's a consummate professional, too?

Byron: Peter, what other projects in which you are involved can you tell readers about?

Peter J. Tomasi: The other book coming out this November from Ghost Machine is called The Rocketfellers that my other partner in crime, the always amazing Francis Manapul, is bringing to life with me with his wonderful story and sensational artistic sensibility. The simple premise is a family from the 25th Century is on the run for their lives and is placed in a witness protection program that zaps them to the 21st Century. It's drama and high adventure mixed with a ton of fun.

Dynamic Forces would like to thank Peter J. Tomasi for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. Hornsby & Halo #1 from Ghost Machine and Image Comics is slated to be on sale November 27!

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