SDCC 2025: Dave Elliott Shares Insight into the Creation of “HYDE”

Eric Goldstein @emichaelphoto

Our coverage of HYDE continues from Comic-Con with the editor-in-chief of Mechanical Cake, Dave Elliott. With over four decades in the comics industry, Elliott founded Atomeka Press and worked on such ventures including, G.I. JOE, Justice League, and even worked with the music group, Fall Out Boy.

Elliott informed us that HYDE was being promoted in 2024 before Johnny Depp joined the project. It wasn’t until that the actor found out that the poster design was from Chris Weston, whom Depp expressed is a fan of his work, that he would soon join the venture.

Elliott described:

“What we are experiencing now is probably what Jerry Bruckheimer experienced during, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’ In that movie, Jack Sparrow was supposed to be a minor, secondary character. Orlando Bloom was supposed to be the star. Once Johnny took over the Jack Sparrow persona, embellishing it and layering it, he all of a sudden took over the franchise. Everyone just knows Jack Sparrow now.”

We spoke more about how Depp put his own spin on the Hyde character, as this has been seen in many incarnations prior but without a major backstory arc. Also, find out who Bob Vylan is during this chat.

Watch the full interview with Dave Elliott below:

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