Off Topic

Actually, it depends on your definition of just what is the topic of this blog. This isn't about the production of the animated movies, it's about one of their spinoffs. Check out the story over at Dark Horse Comics and you'll find there will be a couple of Hellboy comics. What you see here is a mock up of the first of the digest comics. These will be about 80 pages long but about 5 x 7 inches. I wrote a back up story in the first one based on a concept of Mike's re: young Hellboy's fascination with THE LOBSTER! Even though it's a 12 page story there's only four or less panels per page so story-wise it's more like a six or eight pager. What's been talked is that one of these digests will be released around the time of each DVD.

In addition, there will be 32 page comics inserted in the DVDs themselves! The first has another fantastic cover by Jeff Matsuda which currently is my computer wallpaper. These are completely separate stories from the DVD movies or the digest stories... unless that changes. But for now, they are unconnected. Each of these will contain a pinup by Mike Mignola.

So I can now answer the question, "How can I break into comics?" The obvious answer is to have a 30 year animation career, take on a project with a top comic creator, do a good job so he wants to work with you more, and have no respect for your spare time.

The hardest thing to get used to is the digest format. The originals are smaller than a piece of typing paper so there's a limit to how much detail you can include and how small you can draw. I start thumbnailing the way I want it then quickly find that I have to increase the size of the characters. It's a new kind of storytelling so I'm excited... and so far on schedule.

CRASH! The building next door is being torn down. It used to be used to test jet engines so there's lots of concrete involved and it's not going down easily. Wrecking ball, bulldozers, guys with torches, all cool stuff and I forgot my camera. Sometimes the wrecking ball is so strong that if feels like it's hitting this building.

Meanwhile, the pencil footage has come in and I'll be diving into it in about an hour. -- Tad

Comments

[hb]

hey..cool...I wasn´t expecting this to happen..but i guess i should´ve.its an awesome cover
im going to wait and see how they turn out...I usually dont go for the smaller digest format comics...less so when you have more than one artist doing the insides. I never dug the diverse selection in the strange tales for example.But if the insides of these comics look like the cartoon then ill be up for it...
As flexible as I am with renditions of the hellboy however, that little hellboy with goggles at the dark horse page..just doesnt cut it for me.

[Steam]

I'm excited to see more Hellboy in this style, even if it isn't by my favorite: Mignola himself.

[daniel]

The figures on the cover are hard to make out - as everything blends into each other - need more contrast - maybe a darker background or something? The whole figure/ground concept needs to be worked on. Still like it:) and will but it:)

[kirk]

I am curious how these new comics are received. From the cover mock-up it looks like the animated style is getting a more cartoonish slant. Not exactly condusive to serious story telling. This looks like something I'd see ont he shelf of the kiddie comics.

Of course I'll buy it and I may well enjoy it. But it definitely has a different look than the animated series.

[hb]

ditto...ie member how i was refering to the strange tales? i remember seeing one about some sort of closet or under the bed monster..i think abe was in it...its that óver the top cartoony that didnt persuade me to keep flipping...if the stories and structure stick to the nice cinematic feel you get from flipping through hellboy or the bprd comics then ill be up for it. i just hope they dont get more cartoony then the above image....

if so you might as well save it for hellboy jr.
meantime ill wait for some preview pages up at darkhorse

[Jim Pascoe]

As the lead writer on these comics, I can assure all of you that these are not "kiddie comics."

"The Black Wedding" is very dark, very black. How much more black can it be? The answer is none. None more black.

Seriously, I've worked hard with Mike and Tad and the excellent folks at Dark Horse to make sure these new stories are very much in the vein of Mignola's work and Tad's incredible take on it.

I can't wait for the movies and the comics to come out. It's going to be a great year.

[kirk]

Thanks for the info, Jim. "None more black?" Will there even be pictures? ;)

It is good to hear that the stories will be right along with the creepiness that is standard for Hellboy. It was the art I was concerned about. I like the style but am curious how it fits with a horror story. Kinda like watching "The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" with Michael Myers suddenly showing up. Maybe that would make it even MORE creepy.

I look forward to your stories, Jim, and the whole animated universe that is set to birth upon the public.

[daniel]

yeah, the cover looks like Disney.

[hb]

haha..could you be any more vague? looks like disney..oh well...either way im glad someone close to the project shed some light..im sure theyre going to be great...and not something to out of the vein of the amazingness mignola usualy spurts out

[daniel]

I'm sure it'll be great - it's just the cover art that looks a bit cure and cuddly

[daniel]

...that's CUTE and cuddly

[Jack]

I really like the look.
Mr.Matsuda is always cool with his style of art,Im really going to have to pick this up.

[hb]

hmmm...it has that style that those A Series of Unfortunate Events novels have...THe sharp crisp lines and that same pastel sort of look...I dig it...cant wait to see any preview pages...

[Nosferenix]

Hey Tad, I can't wait to see you at the comic con in Toronto this year! and great job on keeping us all posted on the news!

[hb]

no way!?..i didnt know you were going to be there...is it going to be with mike at the seminar...the one about bringing hellboy to the screen..?
IM hoping to get some hellboy animated stuff...free bee or non...i want a tshirtttttt
haha

[Sarah Myers]

wooooh... *looks at the cover* Why I suspect that the black bryde is Liz?