Strange Places

Yes, there's a new collection of Hellboy stories out this week.  Some truly wonderful work which includes secrets of both the Hellboy universe and Mike Mignola's art.  The back is filled with pages of a story that could have been, was actually going to be and still may be in the future.  Do not skip the introduction by Gary Gianni when he describes how Mike replied to a request that he write an introduction to Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  It illustrates how Mike can come up with seriously spooky imagery at the drop of a hat.  If you've never read Hellboy, or very little, don't make Strange Places your first purchase.  I always recommend The Chained Coffin and Other Stories and The Right Hand of Doom.  If you're going to order it online, use the link at Hellboy.com so that the site gets a donation.  One of the best fansites for anything on the web by the selfless Jonell Napper.

But the title, "Strange Places," made me reflect on what I cool spot I'm in and it seems to get cooler all the time.   But I've gushed on that before.  So here's an update of odds and ends.

JOHN HURT IS AWESOME.
Seriously.  He managed to invoke awe via a digital patch from London.  I told him the animated Professor Broom was slightly different than the character in the movie.  He's warmer and a bit more playful with his BPRD family.  John hit some lines where Broom is pretending he's not hearing Manning as he upsets all the plans of the bureaucrat, "That is very different.  It's a completely different mindset.  Give me a moment."  He sounded very stern and I thought that I had screwed up and that we wasn't going to record the character because he was made to do something too far afield of his creation in the movie and --

John came back on, thankfully interrupting my building paranoia and NAILED the exact tone I wanted.  It was as if I told him to act "up a little and to the left" and he found the exact spot.  Very responsive to the slightest of direction, queried me on lines where putting the emphasis on different words would change the meaning  and all in all a delight.  I told someone how great he was and they replied, "Well, yeah.  He's John Hurt."  Indeed.

I saw the Hellboy Animated sculpt based on the original drawing of character concept artist, Sean "Cheeks" Galloway.  I couple of representatives from Dark Horse came down and placed it right on my desk.  We talked finish and painting (what you see in that link isn't final).  It was neat to talk about possible merchandise for the movies and they're planning a variety of price ranges.  Cool beans.

Oh yeah.  I saw the first Hellboy Animated movie this week.  Okay, it was just the animatic with little temp music and hardly any sound effects.  We were watching it on a big projection screen which showed every pixelated line of the storyboard scans.  Sometimes it was hard to see what was going on.  And in addition to all that, it's a weird movie with some moments that will only be clear when they're finally colored.

It was really cool.  Even without animation, color, sound effects, and music, it worked.  I think it's fair to say that has a feel unlike any other animated superhero movie or series.  And there are great action pieces and interesting locales and humor and great songs.   

Kidding.   No songs.

Have a great Easter weekend whether you're celebrating or not.

 

Comments

[taterpatch]

Thanks for the heads-up on the new collection. Methinks I've still got some dough left on a gift card.

[Kirk]

I like the pics I've seen of the statue. It has such a distinct look and feel all it's own but still makes me think Hellboy (not easy with such an established "look" that we have all come to expect of HB courtesy of Mr Mignola). It is a little pricey (...must...save...now). BUT, I am glad they are looking into ranging the prices to make some stuff for those already wiped poor by previous Big Red Merchandise onslaughts.

As for the movie updates, someone may have to lay the final product on my grave as I fear my head may explode in gleeful anticipation!

[hb]

I'm probably not bang on the dot for this quote but one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard came from his lips...

' If you were to insult Guillermo you would call him fat...but if you were to praise him you would say he has to be that size to make up for the enormity of his heart'

Jhon Hurt, on Guillermo Del Toro from Hellboy DVD

Anyways, thats great and if you liked the first one theres no way I won't. And i agree in terms of pricing on upcoming stuff. Im loaded down with hellboy stuff already!
keep it up. Im dying of anticipation as well.

[Petersen]

A wonderful report Tad.
I really like the comparison of Hurt's "moment" bringing him "up a little and to the left".

I am really excited about the movies!

[Momo]

I can tell that you are having lots of fun working on the movie!.

[Kamila Markowska]

The encyclopedia contains Articles on various mysterious phenomena. Topics categorized into: afterlife mysteries, mediums, religious phenomena, secret societies, ghosts and phantoms and more.

[Kamila Markowska]

Sorry, I meant to post the link to a website that might interest you. It is the Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained at http://www.inexplainedstuff.com