Now die-hard Hellboy fans will be elated to learn that Mignola is back at the drawing board right this very second, beginning work on a handful of all-new Hellboy adventures that are scheduled for Summer 2002 release. In the meantime, fans of Mignola's supernatural detective series will surely not want to miss the first-ever Hellboy spin-off miniseries, BPRD, which follows the adventures of the other amazing members of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense after Hellboy's sudden departure following his altercation with the Conqueror Worm.
BPRD is a joint venture, with writing duties shared between Mignola, horror novelist and comics writer Christopher Golden, and comics writer Tom Sniegoski. Young artist Ryan Sook -- a devotee and student of Mignola's unique and breathtaking art style -- takes the reigns on illustrating this three-issue miniseries.
Our reporter spent some time discussing this intriguing and fun new miniseries with Golden and Sniegoski, and here's what the paranormal pair had to say about playing with Mignola's favorite toys.
Shawna Ervin-Gore: I think this is probably the first question that comes to mind when Hellboy fans hear about the BPRD miniseries, so we might as well get this out of the way -- considering that Hellboy is such a loveable guy, why would you want to write a miniseries about the bureau that doesn't star him?
Christopher Golden: Well, the big palooka quit, didn't he? So it wasn't really our fault. Heh heh. Seriously, though, much as I love Hellboy, I've always wanted to find out more about Abe and Liz and Kate and now Roger as well. Hellboy's larger than life, obviously, and so the only place you can really explore some of these other characters fully would be in a book of their own. Voila -- BPRD. Also, it's just a natural. You've got these extraordinary individuals to whom the supernatural is almost mundane. Let's explore the world from their point of view for a while. And maybe we'll run into some other familiar faces along the way. It's our hope, for instance, that if Hollow Earth goes well, we can include Lobster Johnson in a future storyline.
Tom Sniegoski: It's just that the characters are so rich. Yeah, Hellboy is really awesome but so are Abe, Kate and Roger. It's just that they're all so cool that I was just itching to write them. And as far as Lobster Johnson goes -- let me at 'im!
SE-G: Through the years, Hellboy fans have become acquainted with some pretty great characters who have been involved with the BPRD ... what familiar faces will we see in BPRD?
CG: Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman, Roger the Homunculus, Kate Corrigan . . . maybe more in the future.
TS: All the familiar faces are present. Everyone that you'd want to see is here.
SE-G: Will we meet anyone new?
CG: Oh yes. Tom and I created a new character for the BPRD named Johann Kraus, and then Mike gave him that "Mignola spin" and designed him with Ryan Sook. Johann used to be a physical medium, helping the living communicate with their deceased loved ones . . . but then things went...well...horribly wrong.
TS: This is a character that Chris and I hope becomes a favorite with the Hellboy crowd. He's really cool and I think, since this is his first mission, that he gives the reader a sense of what it would be like to be a member of such an unusual ensemble -- and besides, he's a guy with a bubble for a head for Christ's sake!
SE-G: I think you may need a nap, Tom. But before that, can you describe the creative process of working with Mike on this? Did you work on actual scripts together, or just the plot development?
CG: Tom and I came up with some ideas and pitched them to Mike. That began a long process of developing the overall plot for the miniseries, to which Mike contributed invaluably and fully. We batted it amongst the three of us quite a bit until we had something we were all happy with. Then we fell into the process of actually writing the scripts. For each script, Tom and I would do a first draft and send it to Mike, who would revise some sections, add panels and ideas, take out some things that maybe got away from the point or weren't completely accurate to his mythology ... and on top of that, there are entire scenes that Mike wrote for us to drop into certain places in the story. So really, what you're getting in each issue is a joint effort by the three of us.
TS: What he said.
SE-G: What was it like for you two to try writing for Mike's audience? He's got a very distinct writing style and there are very specific elements, like humor, that are very important to keeping his fans happy. Do you feel up to the task of pleasing these people?
CG: Well, first things first. BPRD isn't written solely by Mike so the book is not going to sound exactly like Mike would write it. That said, however, I've written two Hellboy novels and love the characters and the universe. And Sniegoski's out of his ever-lovin' mind, so the dark, weird humor is there as well. But again, we're not replicating Hellboy. We're trying to write a very cool comic that Hellboy readers will enjoy, but that might also appeal to people who have never even tried Hellboy (those few, sad souls, whoever they may be). And for those who are already fans, well, each BPRD story will add a few more pieces to the puzzle of the overarching Hellboy mythology.
TS: As far as the writing goes, I don't think anybody is going to be disappointed with what Chris and I have done. Mike has looked at everything and has given it his seal of approval. This is a story for fans of pulp fiction. It's got colorful characters, adventure, monsters and a guy with a bubble for a head for Christ's sake!
SE-G: Mignola, of course, has a really unique writing style, but both of you are gifted writers with audiences of your own who follow your work. Are there signature traces of what your fans are looking for in this series, too?
CG: I think anyone who is a fan of my or Tom's other work ought to give BPRD a try. Fans of my novels, both original and in the Buffy universe, would find a common ground in BPRD, in the weird and wonderful little family we've got going here and the horrible and bizarre circumstances they fall into.
TS: I don't think the fans of my comic work will be disappointed. Hollow Earth has everything fans of Tom Sniegosk's patented sense of things is looking for -- and it has a guy with a bubble for a head for Christ's sake!
SE-G: Let's talk about the first adventure the BPRD embarks on in this miniseries. What are they investigating? Who's the big bad?
CG: Hmm. That'd be telling. Here's what we can say. A long while ago, after sorta kinda dying, Liz Sherman left the BPRD behind and went off to find some peace of mind, her corner of the sky, and all that happy stuff. But she's a girl who sets things on fire, so that isn't going to be easy. Now Hellboy's gone too, and the other "odd" members of the BPRD -- Abe and Roger in particular -- are having difficulty adjusting to his absence. Overall, the BPRD is sort of like the X-Files writ large, guys in suits with computers. Abe and Roger have to wonder where they fit in now that Hellboy is no longer among them. In fact, they're thinking maybe they don't fit in. That is, until they find out where Liz has been all this time, and that something horrible may have happened to her...
TS: I don't want to say anything more than Chris has because I might spill something. Did I mention that it has a guy with a bubble for a head for Christ's sake?
SE-G: Certainly with Hellboy gone, the group dynamics are going to be quite a bit different. Does any one of the familiar characters emerge as more of a leader now that Hellboy's not there?
CG: Hmm. The answer is yes. But as to who, the Magic Eightball says "read the comic and find out." Mwa hah hah.
TS: I'll give you only this, it ain't the guy with the bubble on his head.
SE-G: Last question, then Tom gets his nap -- what's been the best thing about working on BPRD? And is it something you'd like to play with more in the future?
CG: Though Mike's always looked over my shoulder on the novels and the anthology project, BPRD is the first time the work has been truly collaborative. That's been a pleasure and a learning experience, as we get a lot more insight into what makes him tick creatively. And, of course, we now have in our possession notes on the entire history of the Hellboy universe, which some fans have already said they plan to assassinate us to acquire. So we've got that going for us. As for the future, oh yeah! We've got ideas for the next two or three already. But whether they ever happen or not depends almost entirely on how well the comic sells... so get out there and spread the word!
TS: Just think of it, Lobster Johnson and the guy with a bubble on his head. Now that would be a team-up!
Mike Mignola's BPRD: Hollow Earth is a three-issue miniseries, debuting January 23 from Dark Horse Comics. Hellboy, horror, and pulp fiction fans -- and people who like guys with bubbles on their heads -- are sure to love this fantastic series. Each issue features 32 pages colored by the amazing Dave Stewart and retails for $2.99.