Hellboy Animated

Friends Who Are Fans

Tremble Before The Right Oven Mitt of Doom!

I used to arch a skeptical eyebrow when I heard stories of true love blossoming on the Internet.  But not anymore.  In the years since I started hanging out on various Hellboy fan forums, I've made some very close friends.  Some have stayed at my house or had us to dinner at theirs.  Many are artists and writers in their own right and have pushed me to try harder by their example.

One person who consistently amazes is Jenny Sparks.  No, not the one from The Authority but the creative genius from the San Francisco Bay area.  Her work has been featured here before (search for it yourself, the review will do you good).  I've worn a couple of her creations on video interviews and con panels.  But I have to say that the ROMOD outdoes them all.  For a further taste of her wacky view of just about everything, visit phobe.com .  If Jenny and her husband, Lars, ever finish their video game, THEY CAME FROM HOLLYWOOD, we can buy lots and make them deservedly rich because wild imaginations should be rewarded.  Thank you, Jenny!

Fans of Mike Mignola's creations span many decades, some are in their fifties, some aren't even out of grade school.  Maybe it's the folklore element of Mike's work or his minimalist style, but something about it draws some pretty intelligent people to it.  Count yourself as part of that crowd. 

Especially if you send gifts.

Meanwhile work on Blood and Iron has slowed over the holidays.  It'll pick up again this week.  I recorded an additional interview for the DVD.  Mike will also tape another segment next week.  We'll record a commentary along with Vic Cook as soon as the final mix is done.  Meanwhile, if you live in the United States, you've got another chance to see Sword of Storms this coming Saturday, Dec. 30.  Write yourself a note and check your local listings.

The first issue of Hellboy Animated will be in comic stores soon which sorta begins a year packed with Hellboy goodness.  Another animated movie, the production start of Hellboy 2, a major Hellboy mini-series, Darkness Calls by Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo, special tales of the BPRD, and... hey, check it out yourself at Dark Horse Comics.

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday.  And now, if you'll excuse me, I gotta throw a tentacle or two on the barbee.  Now where'd I put the paprika?  -- Tad

First Trailer

Check out the first Blood and Iron Trailer over on YouTube.  It's a little dark and short but it gives you a taste of how different it is from Sword of Storms.  I didn't see the trailer until after it was done or there'd be latter retakes of some of the scenes.  There's also one scene that's not from the movie.  If you know your Mignola then you'll have a clue to the extra special DVD extra that will accompany Blood and Iron.

The visual side of Blood and Iron is wrapped.  The color balancing went well and straightened out some color glitches that have bothered me for months.  I visited Chris Drake's studio and previewed some of the music.  Beautiful, powerful and in some sequences, very sad.  We mix the second week in January then it's all up to you guys.  We hope that by the end of February our next movie is good to go.

Merry Christmas!

Kate and Hecate

ADR went well with Doug Jones via digital patch from Vancouver.  He'll be wrapping up Fantastic Four before Christmas.  I told him how cool the Abe statue is and how easily it would fit into Santa's bag.  He recorded lots of grunts and groans for us.  There's a sequence where Abe undergoes a LOT of pain.  Doug comment that it was hard to do it without sounding like sex.  Selma came in to do sort of the same thing for Liz.  I'm tempted to cut together a tape to circulate on the internet.  But that would be wrong.

Really fun.

But wrong.

Selma has a new punkish haircut that Liz will not be sporting in Hellboy 2.  She wore a wig in the first one too.  Sorry, no pics this time.  We got everyone done this week except for Kate and Hecate because Peri Gilpin and Cree Summer were ill.  Oh yeah, Hecate's in the movie. Have I mentioned that?  If not, Merry Christmas.

In many ways, Hellboy: Blood and Iron parallels Mike Mignola's second comic arc, Wake the Devil.  Although we set out to do a completely original film, there came a point in the story where it just seemed right to have her show up and bring up all that Destiny crap.  She does and our boy doesn't take to it any better than he did in the comic.  Much Hellboy pounding ensues, that's both Hellboy as poundee and pounder.  BTW, Hellboy's weapon of choice when fighting Hecate - a bathtub. Turns out porcelain coated iron packs a mean wallop.

The final scenes of Hellboy will be cut in this weekend.  No retakes after that.  Chris Drake is composing like crazy even though I let him down by forgetting to get Selma's signature on his Sword of Storms poster.  He calls me at weird hours to talk through emotional beats -- of the movie, not his life.  The guys at Audio Circus are working at full bore except for Otis who's having wisdom teeth removed.  I trust he will record the experience.  So let's hope the ladies are healthy next week.  I'll color balance the film on Thursday.  Meanwhile, Matt Steinauer, our editor cut together a killer trailer for Blood and Iron.  Really meaty and long.  I hope we get it up on a yet-to-be-designed site in January.  It will also be at GoToHellboy.com.  Later! -- Tad

Early Christmas

Okay, I bought two of the books but it still felt a lot like Christmas.  This week I got complimentary gifts of the Dark Horse sculptures by Tony Cipriano.  Both beautiful but I really think the Abe Sapien is something special.  There's not much Abe stuff out there but the graceful elegance of the design by Sean and Greg is stunningly translated into 3D and the paint job is truly amazing.

I also received a copy of the Hellboy Animated digest-sized TPB which has my first professionally published comic story of young Hellboy.  I also wrote an introduction to the comic.  Unfortunately, I'm such a blow hard that they had to use a microscopic font to fit it onto a reasonable number of pages.  It's a neat little package.  Great thanks to Scott Allie and Matt Dryer for putting it together.  Look for it at your comic shop at the end of January.  Neat pinup by Mike Mignola included.

The two books I bought are The Dark Horse Book of Monsters and Right Hand of Doom: A Critical Study of Michael Mignola's HELLBOY.  The Book of Monsters features a very funny tale of Hellboy and the death of Hercules.  It is another example of how unique his imagination is.  Mike's imagination, not Hellboy's or Hercules'.  I've just started the second book by long time fan Benjamin Szumskyj.  It's a limited run of only 333, I believe so if you're interested, order soon.  No pictures but interesting stuff for the hard core fan.

But what about BLOOD AND IRON?  We recorded ADR with Ron Perlman on Friday (sorry, Helen, no pictures).  He had only about an eighth of an inch of hair, if that.  "This is grown in," said Ron.  He is playing a Viking in a live action movie which requires him to shave his head.  It also requires him to perform shirtless, at night, in HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA!!  Ron's comment?

"Hardest nipples ever."

Ron also said his "father" was appearing in the movie - John Hurt.  Sorry I don't have the name of the flick.  I'm sure we'll be updated.  This week we record almost everybody else.  We'll record Doug from  Vancouver via a digital patch.  Selma Blair will record Liz back to back with Peri Gilpin doing Kate, the strong women of Hellboy Animated.

Work on the story of Hellboy: Best One Yet continues.  Really cool stuff, hope we get to do it!  Okay, gotta go!  -- Tad