With 1994's Hellboy #1, Mike Mignola introduced more than the character of Hellboy. He introduced fishman Abe Sapien, and an occult version of the C.I.A. where Hellboy and Abe work--the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.) He brought back to life historical madman Rasputin, and presented a fresh take on Hitler's experiments in the occult. Since then, Mignola's been spinning a sophisticated and subtle yarn starring a horde of gods and monsters, all the time hinting at the coming apocalypse.

In 2001's Hellboy: Conqueror Worm, Mignola tied up plotlines he'd been dealing with since that first issue. This winter that series is collected, with a new epilogue and sketchbook section. Hellboy's quit the B.P.R.D., he's finally put an end to the occult Nazi menace, and even the ghost of Rasputin has been rendered harmless. With this sense of closure, we're ready to start a new stage in Hellboy's life.

Mignola's not about to forget about the B.P.R.D., though. Just as Conqueror Worm removes Hellboy from the Bureau, Mignola teams with Chris Golden, Tom Sniegoski, and Ryan Sook for the first Hellboy spinoff series: B.P.R.D.: The Hollow Earth. The three-issue story follows Abe Sapien, Roger the Homunculus, and new agent Johann Krauss. Liz Sherman, who brought Roger to life in Wake the Devil, has gone to a monastery near the Arctic Circle to gain control of her pyrotechnic powers. But something's gone wrong, and the rest of the Bureau's supernatural agents--without the help of Hellboy--have to investigate.

With Golden's recent Hellboy: Bones of Giants novel still on the stands, and the buzz over a likely Hellboy film filling message boards and chat rooms, Mignola's creation has never been more vital. I've been working with Mike for seven long, grueling years now, and even though he's taking some time away from Hellboy to create a new book for us, his commitment to these characters and the quality of the work is as strong as ever. Fans embraced Golden's prose work on Hellboy, so Mike knew he was right for this series. Golden's longtime writing partner, Tom Sniegoski, brings with him a sense of humor as cynical and offbeat as Mignola's own. Ryan Sook, one of Mike's favorite young artists, complements Mignola's style, bringing new flourishes and techniques. As these creators work closely with Mignola--who's contributing covers, character designs, as well as working on the plot and dialogue--Dark Horse gears up for a new series that could only be more like Hellboy if Mike were writing and drawing the whole thing himself.

For the latest updates on Mignola and Hellboy, visit www.hellboy.com.