Hell on Earth is real -- and now a comic

Hell, Mich. —  A woman takes an ax to her husband in their new home, someone is boiled alive in a public pool and a father is swallowed by the Earth.

Just another day in Hell.

The gruesome acts never actually happened in this rural hamlet with the diabolic name, but such tales are brought to life -- and death -- in the new comic book, “Hell, Michigan.”

Two years ago, Tilman Goins Jr. heard about Hell while watching a news report on religious representations in state flags and names. “I was like, ‘Is there really a Hell, Michigan?’ And then, ‘Wow, that would be a great story,’ ” said Goins, a 28-year-old resident of Morristown, Tenn.

The longtime comic book fan quit his job as an Army air traffic controller two years ago to form Funnel Cloud 9, a company he expects will produce comics, children’s books and movies.

Goins hopes “Hell, Michigan” will lead to bigger things, including a film version.

The first issue, which debuted in late June, was written by DC Comics veteran Dan Jolley and illustrated by Clint Hilinski, who have collaborated on several “Voltron” comics.

The debut issue goes gruesome right away. A young couple moves into Hell, and a pregnant wife chops up her husband and then shoots herself. Later, a pack of wild-eyed thugs attacks a couple at their home.

Husband and wife Dixon and Diana Cole are two of the few people in the fictional town that realize something horrible is going on. Then Regina Lockridge shows up, claiming to have premonitions about the place. The Coles bring her into their circle of friends: the mayor and his wife, a priest and a town eccentric. The unlikely heroes band together to find the source of evil.

The real Hell -- 60 miles west of Detroit -- has a population of about 250 and no elected government. The origin of the name is unclear. One theory holds that an early settler was asked what he thought the town should be named. He replied, “You can name it Hell if you want.”

Barbara Barden, executive director of the Livingston County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she sees “no parallels between the evil theme in the comic and the actual Hell.

“Hell -- well at least the Hell on Earth -- has always been a family-oriented place,” she said.

Goins said the first run is sold out to mom-and-pop comic book shops across the country. He also shipped some copies to Europe. A single copy sells for $2.95.

He’s never been to the real Hell, but expects to go soon. “I figure I’d better go to Hell at least once,” he said.