Alex Yarde speaks with legendary Artist & Writer Mike Mignola about HELLBOY IN HELL and his time off from comics.
—
As you may have heard Geek Nation, legendary writer/ artist Mike Mignola will conclude his critically acclaimed series HELLBOY IN HELL when Dark Horse Comics publishes the final and tenth issue on June 1.
Following the conclusion of HELLBOY IN HELL, Mignola will take (at least) a year off from illustrating interior comic book pages in order to focus on fine art painting.
Can you recall any other major artist making such a dramatic departure? That’s a pretty unprecedented career moment and I think a fascinating one.
I had the distinct honor to speak with this legendary Artist & Writer about HELLBOY IN HELL and his year off.
Interview with Mike Magnola
Alex Yarde (AY) – Hi Mike, I’m a big fan of your work! In reading the “HELLBOY IN HELL” series it reminded me a bit of Dante’s Inferno, was that an inspiration?
The Afterlife you created was a lot like life, you could get sick, (Hellboy’s wasting disease) or even die (become nothingness). After 20+ years of creating this mythology where did you first find your inspiration?
Mike Mignola (MM)- That’s a lot of questions in one question! Dante’s Inferno? Not really. It’s in there because everybody knows a little about Inferno but I didn’t set out to do anything like it.
Hellboy having a “tour” of hell seemed necessary at the beginning.
My view of the afterlife? I really had very little plan when I went into this thing. Other than those first couple of issues where I was going to tour HELLBOY around, and hopefully resolve some of the issues about HELLBOY. As the series went on, I realized what I was doing was creating a middle ground between life and where HELLBOY was ultimately going to go. There was an acceptance phase as he was getting used to the idea of being dead, it still sort of reflected life. The whole him getting sick in Hell was an interesting one in terms of how to phrase certain things. If you’re already dead, what’s the worst thing that can happen? To become nothing. There would be no part of you to wander around through this place.
My Mythology? I’m just kinda making it up as I go along. There’s the gigantic mythology we’re dealing with all the HELLBOY and The BPRD stuff which came about really quickly way, way back. It’s one of the few things I did work out when I came up with the (HELLBOY) series originally when I came up with the Obju Jihard these seven creatures that was going through a couple different creation myths. There’s a bit of Egyptian in one creation myth there were eight creatures that rose from the mud at the beginning of the world called the Obduad. I changed the name and altered the number to seven because I liked the Christian seven headed dragon. a lot of creation myths share common threads. The trick to keep this thing going is not to spell everything out, as long as you leave it vague there’s wiggle room to add or change things.
AY: It turns out HELLBOY has as much family drama as the rest of us. With Leviathans’ score settled with Hellboys brothers and Satans murder early in the series, Edward tells him there is no one left to claim the Right Hand of Doom but HELLBOY isn’t free is he?
MM; In the same issue when Ed says, hey you’re free, the ghost in his room says, why are you lying to the guy? I would LOVE for HELLBOY to be free. Even when I was writing the Ed Grey part I’m thinking “yes Hellboy’s free!” Those first four issues were to unburden HELLBOY of all this crap I’ve been piling on him, and I really do want him to be free. But I do know there are a few things left to do. I’ve been piling shit on Hellboy and I really love to scrape it off and give this guy a vacation, unfortunately I do have the big arc of things so I know there are a few more really crappy things he has yet to do.
HELLBOY in Hell was supposed to be him rambling on forever being free and just having a good time. It’s great in the HELLBOY & BPRD books for HELLBOY to be in much simpler times. When he could just go down to Mexico and drink for six months. Maybe he’ll just walk around Asia, it must have been so much nicer when you didn’t have this gigantic burden of all this shit you’re supposed to do or this thing you’re supposed to be.
But, there’s this big thing that has to happen.
AY: I understand after HELLBOY IN HELL ends you’re stepping away from the grind of doing the interiors of the comics and pursue your own art, do you see an analogy there between you and HELLBOY in a way?
MM: I haven’t really thought about that, but yeah, I think we’re both getting a break. Almost immediately once I decided I was leaving once I wrapped up HELLBOY IN HELL , I started thinking about all the things that could and should happen. There’s stuff that’s yet to be done, I hate to say it.. I can’t imagine a time when I’m not drawing HELLBOY. But I think I’ve done all the big HELLBOY stuff I want to do. As an artist I might be done drawing the HELLBOY comic. That doesn’t mean I might not step back in and draw a short story here or there, I do change my mind all the time. But right now I just need this year to figure out what to do. Before HELLBOY I’d never done any series or character for longer than a year. Most things I did much shorter than that. Ive been on HELLBOY 22 years it’s pretty amazing. There are plans to do other stuff with that world and with HELLBOY BPRB thing which theoretically could go on for ages were going from ’52 until whenever. Lots left to do but as far as day to day drawing the book I can’t imagine doing that again.
AY: Speaking of the BPRD, the folks you’re got writing and drawing the other HELLBOY books like Abe Sapien, how much autonomy do they have now and how will that change?
MM: That stuff doesn’t change. My role in those books is what it’s always been, except for those times I wrote various books myself. Fortunately with John Arcudi with Scott Ally and Chris Robeson we work the same way occasionally we get together or have long phone conversations where we discuss the directions of things, bounce ideas back and forth. For the most part once we agree where things are going I get out of their way. I don’t micromanage. I leave these guys with room to do what their gonna do.
AY: I love you’re Macabre, Gothic style. I follow you avidly on Facebook and Twitter and you’ve got these wonderful “Lovecraftian” themed paintings and drawings that are a natural fit for HELLBOY. Would you consider something like Gotham By Gaslight a straight gothic horror Wayne or Arkham family story?
MM: I have no interest in doing anything for Marvel or DC again! That’s ancient history to me. Really as soon as I started HELLBOY, as soon as I realized I could get away with doing my own stuff I could t imagine going back and doing someone else’s stuff, especially now! I can imagine there’s so little freedom doing someone’s character where there’s going to be a crossover I can’t imagine there’d be any room for me to go back and do what I want. I was very lucky to do that stuff when I did it, it was a really good time, and honestly I don’t know what it’s like up there now I’ve paid no attention since I’ve left. But no…, that stuff holds no interest for me at all.
AY: I also follow Ron Perlman and we know he’s been pushing hard for HELLBOY 3 do you know if that’s still the case?
MM: I think he’s moved on to CABLE now I think he’s moved on from HELLBOY and now he’s lobbying for CABLE! That stuff is so out of my control I have no say in what happens at all. So for various business reasons I’d love to see another HELLBOY movie, but I’m not holding my breath. That stuff is really good for book sales, ultimately I have no power there so my energy goes into stuff I can control, creating comics or books.
AY: Your artwork is amazing. I know you were a big lifelong fan of Bram Stokers Dracula & Shellys Frankenstein gothic horror style. What’s your plan for the future of your Art?
MM: I’m taking a year off to paint. My goal short term is to do a couple of color pieces that I’m happy with. Spooky, moody things not directly connected to the comic stuff, just to see if I can do it. My brain is already thinking up things I’d come back to do in comics but nothing solid, it’s been at least 25 years since I’ve had no projects lined up, and right now I really like that. The gothic stuff, the spooky stuff, the supernatural stuff that’s what I’ll do, that’s what I like, I won’t come up with another long running series. I can imagine myself coming back and doing short stories. I did this collection a couple of years ago called “The Amazing Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects” it was the best thing I’ve ever done, they are my favorite stories, they are the most ME things I’ve done and I’d like to think I’ve got another collection like that, another batch of odd little semi-related short stories still in me. For right now I’m taking this year off to get into this what am I doing mode.
AY:Where would we contact you? If I wanted to commission something would I just go to your regular website or are you opening a new one?
MM:If I do any halfway decent paintings I’m sure they’ll end up posted on our website. But I don’t do commissions. Right now I’m doing what I want to do and when I have some halfway decent stuff I’ll put it up there so people can see it!
AY: That’s awesome Mike! Is there anything you’d like your fans to know about you taking this time off?
MM: I think the important thing for fans to know is even though I’m taking this time off it doesn’t change my involvement in all the books. When I say I’m taking this year off it’s just that I’m not going to be drawing any comics. There is some writing I have to do. My involvement in BPRD, Lobster Johnson & Witchfinder none of these things change. I’m still there as much as I’ve ever been. So the books won’t change.
HELLBOY in Hell came out so seldom I think I can step away for a year and no one will notice. Except issue 10 we clearly do a bizarre interesting end of the series reveal. I still love all this stuff, I haven’t removed myself from the process.
I’m relieved to hear that Mike! Again, I think you are one of the most talented writers and artists in the business and I really appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. I’d love to follow up after your year and I can’t wait to see what you come up with! I wish you well!
MM:Cool Alex! Thanks!
check out Mike’s art on his Facebook page The Art of Mike Mignola
all art-Mike Mignola