Cully Hamner


Cully Hamner is an American comic book artist, known for his work on such books as Green Lantern: Mosaic, Blue Beetle, Black Lightning: Year One, and Detective Comics. He is the co-creator and illustrator of the 2003 graphic novel Red, which was adapted into a 2010 feature film of the same name starring Bruce Willis, as well as a 2013 sequel. He is also the co-creator of Jaime Reyes, the DC Comics character at the center of the 2023 feature film Blue Beetle.

Early life

Cully Hamner was born March 7, 1969 in Huntsville, Alabama. He graduated from Albert P. Brewer High School in Somerville, Alabama.

Career

Since Hamner's 1992 debut on Green Lantern: Mosaic for DC Comics, he has worked for nearly every major American comic book publisher, and is chiefly known for such titles as the aforementioned Green Lantern: Mosaic, Blue Beetle, and Red. He is also one of the original members of Atlanta's Gaijin Studios. Hamner also helped start and acted as Creative Consultant to 12 Gauge Comics, publisher of such titles as The Ride, Gun Candy, Body Bags, and O.C.T.: The Occult Crimes Taskforce.
His work can be seen in Top Cow's 2005 Warren Ellis series Down. That same year in DC Comics' "Infinite Crisis" storyline, the publisher debuted Jaime Reyes, the third incarnation of the superhero Blue Beetle co-created by Keith Giffen, John Rogers, and Hamner, and whose visual look was designed by Hamner. He was the regular artist for that character's monthly series in 2006 and 2007, leaving that title with its tenth issue, though he continued throughout the following year as the regular cover artist for that book. Black Lightning: Year One, written by Jen Van Meter and illustrated by Hamner, was released in 2009 as a miniseries and as a trade paperback collection in 2010, and was subsequently nominated for two Glyph Awards.
In March 2009, it was announced that Hamner had signed an exclusive contract with DC Comics, and in June 2009, he began his run on the monthly Detective Comics, featuring The Question. After concluding his year-long tenure on that character and in light of the pending release of the [Red (2010 film)|film version of Red], it was announced that Hamner would return to both write and illustrate the Paul Moses character for a 40-page prequel called Red: Eyes Only.
In 2010, Summit Entertainment released Red, a feature film adaptation of the 2003 comic book of the same name that Hamner illustrated with writer Warren Ellis, starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich and Richard Dreyfuss.
On June 9, 2011, it was revealed by DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee that Hamner had been enlisted in a substantial role to help guide the initiative to redesign DC's stable of characters as part of the "New 52" line-wide relaunch. On July 12, Comic Book Resources reported DC's announcement that Hamner would be teaming with writer James Dale Robinson for the first three-issue story arc of a new 12-issue series starring The Shade.
On July 19, 2013, Red 2, the sequel to Red, was released in North America. The film stars Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lee Byung-hun, Anthony Hopkins, and Helen Mirren, with Dean Parisot directing a screenplay by Jon and Erich Hoeber. In its opening weekend, the film grossed $18.5 million and finished in fifth place, which was lower than the $21.8 million its predecessor earned in October 2010. According to exit polling, 67% of the audience was over 35 and 52% was male. Red 2 grossed $53.3 million in North America and $94.8 million overseas for a total of $148.1 million worldwide.
In the spring of 2015, Hamner reteamed with writer Greg Rucka to produce a two-issue coda to their run on the Renee Montoya character in Detective Comics. Convergence: The Question was released by DC Entertainment in April and May 2015.
On August 14, 2015, it was announced that NBC was developing an hour-long based Red television series produced by screenwriters Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber, along with Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian. Lionsgate Television and Di Bonaventura Pictures Television would be producing the series.
On June 17, 2016, Lionsgate announced that it would be teaming with Indian actor/producer Anil Kapoor's AKFC production banner on a Hindi version of Red for the Indian market.
On June 21, 2017, Red producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura stated that a script for Red 3 had been commissioned, and that he was "waiting for right now."
In August 2017, it was announced in The Hollywood Reporter that Hamner would be returning to DC Comics to illustrate Batman And The Signal, a three-issue mini-series teaming Batman and the Duke Thomas character. The series is written by Scott Snyder and newcomer Tony Patrick.
In August 2023, Warner Bros. released the feature film version of Blue Beetle, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto and starring Xolo Maridueña, Susan Sarandon, and George Lopez. The film centers around Hamner's co-creation, Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes).

Comics series

Batman And The Signal #1–3, with writers Scott Snyder and Tony PatrickConvergence: The Question #1–2, with writer Greg RuckaLegends of the Dark Knight #80–82, with writer Ron MarzFuture's End, Week 21, with writer Jeff LemireAnimal Man #36, with writer Jeff LemireFlash Annual #2, with writer NiCole DuBucAction Comics Annual #1, with writer Sholly FischAction Comics #14, with writer Sholly FischNational Comics: Eternity #1, with writer Jeff LeMireThe Shade #1–3, with writer James Dale RobinsonDetective Comics #854–865, serial co-feature "The Question," with writer Greg RuckaBlack Lightning: Year One #1–6 with writer Jen Van MeterBlue Beetle #1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10 with writers Keith Giffen and John RogersDown #2–4 with writer Warren Ellis for Top CowRed 3-issue miniseries with writer Warren Ellis for WildstormBatman: Tenses 2-issue miniseries with writer Joe Casey for DC ComicsUncanny X-Men #400 with writer Joe Casey for Marvel ComicsThe Titans #14 with writers Brian K. Vaughn and Devin Grayson for DC ComicsWonder Woman #153 with artist Georges Jeanty and writer Mark Millar for DC ComicsGreen Lantern Secret Files with writer Ron Marz for DC ComicsTom Strong #3 with writer Alan Moore and artist Chris Sprouse for America's Best ComicsDaredevil #379 with writer Scott Lobdell for Marvel ComicsDaredevil #376 with writer Scott Lobdell for Marvel ComicsUncanny X-Men #352 with writer Steven T. Seagle for Marvel ComicsRobin #42, 46, with writer Chuck Dixon for DC ComicsPenthouse Comix #23 for General MediaMen's Adventure Comix #3 for General MediaCaptain America: Sentinel of Liberty #8 with writer Mark Waid for Marvel ComicsGreen Lantern #58 with writer Ron Marz for DC ComicsFirearm with writer James Dale Robinson for Malibu ComicsSilver Surfer #83 with writer Ron Marz for Marvel ComicsGreen Lantern: Mosaic #1–5, 7–10, 12, 13, and 15 with writer Gerard Jones for DC Comics

Comics anthologies and one-shots

Red: Eyes Only one-shot, both written and illustrated by Hamner.Metal Hurlant anthology, Pieces De Rechange with writer Stuart Moore for Les HumanoidesStar Wars Tales anthology, Marked with writer Rob Williams for Dark Horse ComicsSpider-Man Unlimited anthology, Amnesiac with writer Petar Bridges for Marvel ComicsThe Ride: 2 For The Road anthology, Big Plans both story and art for 12 Gauge ComicsThe Ride: Wheels Of Change anthology, Act One with writer Doug Wagner for 12 Gauge ComicsMarvel Universe: Millennial Visions anthology, Power Pack for Marvel ComicsWildstorm Summer Special anthology, Orbital with writer Warren Ellis for WildstormWeird Western Tales anthology #4, Savaged with writer Bruce Jones for Vertigo ComicsYoung Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files anthology #1 for DC ComicsGen-Active anthology #5, Father's Day with writer Jay Faerber for WildstormDCU 2000 Secret Files one-shot, Aliens in the DCU for DC ComicsX-Men Unlimited anthology #29, Tempered Steel both story and art for Marvel ComicsAuthority Annual 2000 one-shot with writer Joe Casey for WildstormX-Men: Millennial Visions anthology, Project: Cerebro-X for Marvel ComicsSuperman Metropolis Secret Files anthology, Municipal Bonds with writer Mark Schultz for DC ComicsDC One Million 80-Page Giant anthology, The Divided Self with writer Grant Morrison for DC ComicsSecret Origins 80-Page Giant anthology, Little Wing with writer Chuck Dixon for DC ComicsTimeslip Collection anthology, Sub-Mariner for Marvel ComicsSuperman Villains Secret Files anthology, Your Power is His with writer Roger Stern for Marvel ComicsBatman Chronicles anthology #9, for DC ComicsStormwatch Special one-shot #2 with writer Ron Marz for Image Comics/Wildstorm

Pin-ups and covers

Kingsman: The Red Diamond #4, cover-onlyThe Shade #1–3, variant coversRed: Eyes Only one-shot, for WildstormRed, four movie prequel one-shots, for WildstormBlack Lightning: Year One mini-series #1–6 coversBlue Beetle #1–2, 10, 13–24 coversRed mini-series, coversBatman: Tenses mini-series, coversTransmetropolitan: I Hate it Here anthology Day of Judgment Secret Files anthology, profile: The Phantom StrangerLegion of Super-Heroes Secret Files anthology, FerroSuperman Secret Files anthology, Gog pin-upLegion: Secret Files anthology, Ultra Boy pin-upLegion of Super-Heroes #100, untitled pin-upDaredevil #376–379, coversRobin #42–51, regular cover artistJLA Gallery, untitled pin-upThe Foot Soldiers, untitled pin-upBatman Chronicles Gallery #1, Gaijin jam pin-upWildstorm Ultimate Sports #1, untitled pin-upSovereign Seven Plus 1, untitled pin-upShi: Senryaku #3, untitled pin-upGrendel Warchild TPB, untitled pin-upWildC.A.T.S. Adventures Sourcebook #1, untitled pin-upHawkman Annual #2, Golden-age Hawkman pin-upTeam Youngblood #12, untitled pin-upHomage Studios Swimsuit Special #1, untitled pin-upAmazing Heroes Spoof Swimsuit Special #1, untitled pin-upRed Sonja #4 Dynamite Entertainment, cover

Awards and recognition

Interviews