Interview with Justin Randall: A Silent Hill: Downpour Comic (Silent Heaven)

Date published: 2013.05.13
Source: Silent Heaven

Back in November Tom Waltz teased the next Silent Hill comic, releasing images of Anne Cunningham and Murphy Pedleton and was lead to believe it would be a Downpour spinoff comic. Those illustrations Tom Waltz released I found out to be drawn by Tristan Jones! Tristan “T-Rex” Jones was slated to be the illustrator on the next Silent Hill comic, but has recently stated that he is no longer apart of the project, “Looks like Silent Hill is off the cards… Sorry to those who were hanging for it.” According to Tristan, the project wasn’t coming along as quickly as he had hoped and has other projects lined up to begin focusing on. However, another Australian artist sent Konami some concept pieces for the next Silent Hill comic, this artist is more familiar to the franchise.


Justin Randall is best known for his 30 Days of Nights comics, but to us he is known for his concept covers for the Sinners Reward and Past Life comics. I personally favored Justin’s art style over Sinners Reward illustrator, Steph Stamb. Justin really accents colors very well in his artwork, which really bring out the intensity in a frozen scene. He seems to be very vibrant with his reds and oranges which is very reminiscent to the otherworld color pallet in those early Silent Hill games! Justin was kind enough to release to you guys his concept pieces that he created for the new comic exclusively through Silent Haven! I love his Anne Cunningham and Boogeyman as well as Murphy through the prison bars! I had a decent chat with him, here are some of the highlights from our discussion.


When talking to Justin about his recent concept pieces this is what he had to say:

“Awhile back I was asked to submit for a new Silent Hill comic but alas, it was not to be… I never heard anything back. Perhaps its because I commented on how crappy and inappropriate the Downpour creature animations were in my email…

I wanted to bring back the eerie feelings I had when first playing the series on the Playstation. That cold, dead feeling of a world fragmented, it really seemed to be missing in some of the current iterations of the franchise.

The witch was an idea I never sent through because it wasn’t something from the known Silent Hill universe. It was a creature I made up, more suited for a Children’s Nightmare, Silent Hill story I was thinking of pitching.

That [other] sketch was inspired by the screamer but nothing more. just a bit of fun. The interior sample is indeed what I was going to send. I’ll see what I can chase up.”

I was glad to hear that I wasn’t the only one who thought Downpour’s creature designs were terrible:

“Creatures waving their arms in the air and growling doesn’t make the spooky-spook… It had nice creature designs, just TERRIBLE animations that killed the atmosphere.”

I asked Justin about the Silent Hill franchise and his comments on its direction and where he stands as a fan:
“I love Silent hill. I was disappointed by the latest film and latest games creature animations but I’ll always be a fan. I just wish someone would reboot Silent hill 1 as a game (don’t screw with 2, that was perfection). That’s all really. Regarding the comics, I have no strong opinion. I look forward to whatever comes out.”

I was pleased to hear that Justin actually has a mutual respect and had kind words to say about Tristan “T-Rex” Jones when asking him about his fellow artist also sending in Silent Hill: Downpour concepts:

“I am indeed friends with him… I heard that Tristan was going to be involved in the project and I was very happy for him. I pretty much found out I wasn’t picked by speaking to him. If it’s true that he’s no longer involved then I’m sorry to hear that, he would have made a nice addition to the series.”

Justin’s past work is very detailed, beautiful and has very similar attributes to something you would see in Silent Hill. His graphic novel “Changing Ways” actually seems very atmospheric and character driven and looks to have a heavy emotional plot! Many of the pages from “Changing Ways” have a very Downpour look and feel from the atmosphere of the rain fall to the color pallet used on the pages!

Here is what he had to say about Changing Ways:

“Changing ways is a series that follows the broken lives of the Barrot family. It’s full of family values, tears and monsters. I love stories that test the human spirit. I like seeing a protagonist go through hell for the sake of family or their loved ones.”


I asked Justin if he had ever thought about being a concept artist in the videogame world:

“I’ve conceptualized a few creatures just for fun but I don’t think I’d ever be considered for official concept art, though I do have some ideas.”

When I asked if he will be contributing any alternate Silent Hill covers or Silent Hill concepts in the future, I was displeased with his response:

“I don’t think you’ll see much of my work ever again for other IP’s (interior that is, I always like doing covers). I’m so caught up with writing and illustrating my own creations that I can’t see myself doing anything else… I’m very busy with Changing Ways these days. Although… if I was asked to illustrate a reboot of the first game, then yes. If it was a reboot that I was allowed to write also… I’d bloody jump at the chance…. So I’d say that the Silent Hill ship has definitely passed for me.”

Well, as sad as it may sound, at this moment this teased Silent Hill: Downpour comic seems to have lost its steam and may have been put on the back burner for now and Tristan leaving the project… It also sounds like Justin may be done with the franchise which saddens me as I always loved his contributions… Either way I am glad to have received his beautiful illustrations to present to you guys. I want to thank Justin for sharing his art on Silent Haven and for sharing his time to talk graphic novels. I will try to get more info as to why Tristan had decided to leave or if he will be back or if he knows more about this comics future.