Mike Hawthorne (whom I affectionately refer to as “Hellthorne”) is a comic book artist known for his creator-owned series Hysteria as well as his current work on Marvel’s Deadpool. Mike is also currently working on Series II of the French comic Oms En Serie. I am lucky enough to consider him a friend, having met him through our mutual friend and fellow comic book artist Michael Avon Oeming. I chatted with Mike about his varied and interesting history with food.

What’s your earliest (or favorite) food memory?

That would have to be my mother cooking traditional Puerto Rican food, and helping her with things like peeling plantains to make Pasteles.

That, and making grilled cheeses with ye’old Reagan government cheese and government butter!

I adore grilled cheese! Your in-laws are in the diner business. Tell me about that.

My wife’s family have been in the restaurant business for decades, going on 40 years. He’s owned several, but specializes in diners and Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, which is popular here in Central PA.

I worked for him for a few years, and go to learn the trade fairly well. I still enjoy it, actually. My wife loves the business, having started when she was 12, and so restaurant culture is always around us.

I think my fondest memories from working with the family is of them making tradional Greek Christmas sausage. Helping my father-in-law grind all the pork, mix it with all the ingredients, then make the sausage was fun to learn. They hang it above the large restaurant grill, where the hot air would slowly dry it, and the kitchen would smell amazing!

And you yourself worked as a line cook, what was that like?

Yeah, I worked as a cook for 4 to 5 years. Its honestly fun work, and I might have stayed in the business if I wasn’t so set on drawing funny books! I liked getting to know customers and learning their favorites. It’s oddly satisfying to share a meal with someone and know they’re enjoying it. Nothing like feeding people to feed the soul.

You do a BBQ collab with Comix Connection in Mechanicsburg. Is BBQ your main thing? What’s your recipe repertoire?

It’s a charity event in Mechanicsburg, just outside of Harrisburg, called the Comix Creator Cookout. I started it when Ringo (comic book artist Mike Wieringo) died as a way to collect money for charity to donate in his name, but it grew and grew each year. We’ve expanded it to collect food donations for the Central PA Food Bank, and you’d be shocked at the outpouring of generosity! Each year we collect tons, literally, of food. At one event alone we collected enough good to feed a family of 4 for 6 months! I love that. As a kid I used to keep in soup kitchens, so this is very close to my heart. I wanted to pay all those free meals back, and the cook out is the perfect way to do that.

Each year we set up a grill outside the story, as well a pop up tent and food area, and I get cooking. The basic premise is that we’ll be there cooking you lunch, and if you want do donate good that’s great, but even if you don’t come and eat anyway. The top three donations get a piece art work from me to boot.

I don’t cook throw-a-way good either. Each year I make Greek style marinated pork kabobs, Souvlaki, and hand pattied Angus burgers. Since we have access to my father-in-law we can get great quality meats through the restaurant.

The burgers are straight forward, Angus beef seasoned with sea salt, garlic, and a little greek oregano. The Souvlaki are the real star of the event. I get pork shoulder/butt and cut them into one inch cubes. These are marinated overnight in extra virgin olive oil, diced garlic, sea salt, and oregano. They are skewered onto bamboo skewers, which are soaked in water also to keep them from burning. I grill the Souvlaki over an intensely hot grill, constantly rotating them for an even cook, then served right on the skewer.

I love this event, and since I don’t go to comic conventions this is my time to connect with fans. I prefer this as I get to talk face to face with people, as equals, instead of from behind a table. I like getting to know the folks that come out, feeding them, and just hanging out. Comic fans are a rare breed, and generous beyond belief. Each year, when we tally up the food donations, the event restores my faith in humanity. I’m grateful to everyone that comes and supports us and the Food Bank.

Sounds fantastic and delicious! And all for a great cause. Thanks for chatting with me Mike!