This just in, the latest Mignolaversity News Update! …Ah, who am I kidding. Most of this is a month old. Still, you may have missed some of it what with the internet and all its distractions, so here it is together in one place. Also, we have the August solicitations (and that’s an exclusive), but we’ll get to that after the month’s news…
Note: If there was any movie news this month, I probably missed it. Totally wasn’t paying any attention, and the idea of sifting through a month’s worth of film sites all reporting on the same single sentence from an actor’s tweet was not appealing at all. (Seriously, how do they bloat those things to three paragraphs?) So if there was something and you caught it, please link in the comments. There’s a lot going on and I’m gonna miss stuff, even though I try not to.
OK, on to the monthly news!
• Part of the reason I was so distracted from anything movie related is because there’s a Hellboy game happening. That’s right, Hellboy: The Board Game is a thing that’s happening thanks to a Kickstarter, Mantic Games, and all the backers. I gotta say, I love a good board game, and this thing looks awesome. I got to speak to Rob Burman from Mantic Games about it (there’s a bunch more links in the article too) and show off some of the sculpts from the “Hellboy in Mexico” expansion pack. Check back on the Kickstarter this Wednesday too as there is one last optional add-on being announced and it’s gonna be another expansion. If you’ve got any theories on what this could be, I’d love to hear ’em in the comments. Yes, I am aware I’m geeking out a bit.
• This month Skelton Crew Studio announced the newest addition to their B.P.R.D. Artifact Archive collection: The Baba Yaga’s Acorn. It’s available for preorder now and will ship late this year. Oh, and Mike Mignola’s signing the preorders made before June 18 too, so that’s cool.
• Comic news! So, Playboy had an exclusive “Hellboy” story in their May/June issue, ‘Return of the Lambton Worm’ by Mike Mignola and Ben Stenbeck with colors and lettering by Dave Stewart and Clem Robins respectively. The story’s set in 1960, so it’ll eventually make its way to a “Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.” collection in a few years, but you’ll have to patient. As always, Mignola, Stenbeck, and co. craft a fantastic little story. I hope they keep dropping by and doing these short little stories from time to time because they’re always fun.
• This month the first of the “Hellboy” omnibus collections came out. I’m happy to report that my speculation was wrong—there is some scetchbook material after all, but significantly less than you’d find in the library editions. Oh, Dark Horse Digital is marking the occasion with a “Hellboy” digital bundle.
• Speaking of digital bundles, there’s also one for “Witchfinder” since the series will soon be returning after a two-year absence. And I got to chat with Chris Roberson about the series, which is always fun. He also chatted to the Horror News Network today.
• As for Mignolaversity content, I did a new Hell Notes. I’ve got to say, the response to this one has been really positive. Thanks for that!
• Mike Mignola did an interview with Geeks & Sundry reflecting on the past quarter century working on “Hellboy.” Yeah, that’s right, March next year “Hellboy” turns twenty-five!
• Oh, and Mike was kind enough to let me share some of his recent life drawings. Normally I’d link to the pictures, but these are from his private account. Thanks for letting us share these, Mike.
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• Brian Churilla posted his thumbnail layouts for “Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: 1955—Occult Intelligence” #2. Again, these were from his personal account, so there’s no direct link, but you should check out his Twitter and Instagram. Please note, I’ve added the final pages for the sake of comparison. Brian, thanks for letting me share this stuff. I love seeing layouts and we don’t often get to see this stage in the trade sketchbook sections.
• Toni Fejzula (“Lobster Johnson: The Glass Mantis”) drew this Lobster commission.
![](http://<div class="image-outer" style="text-align: center;margin: auto;"><img src="http://www.multiversitycomics.com/wp-content/themes/mvc/images/timthumb.php?src=http://multiversitystatic.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018/05/Toni-Fejzula-May-2018-LoJo.jpg&q=95&w=438&zc=1&a=t" /><div style="clear:both"></div></div>)
He also shared some images for some upcoming prints. There’s one of all the “B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth” omnibus covers together and another group picture, which will presumably be used in future “B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know” trades.
• Duncan Fegredo has been creating so much Hellboy art this month it could practically be its own article. Check it all out here.
• Sebastián Fiumara’s been sharing his inks from the latest issue of “B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know.”
• And Max Fiumara’s been sharing his cover work as well as some convention drawings.
Man, that’s a lot of art to share! OK, and now on to those exclusive solicitations I mentioned earlier. First up, the monthly issues coming out in August…
B.P.R.D.:
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW #9
Written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie
Illustrated by Laurence Campbell
Colored by Dave StewartOn sale August 8, 2018
Full color, 32 pages
$3.99
OngoingThe B.P.R.D. arrive in New York to an immediate attack by cultists-turned-zombies and familiar demons.
WITCHFINDER:
THE GATES OF HEAVEN #4 (of 5)
Written by Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson
Illustrated by D’Israeli
Color by Michelle MadsenOn sale August 15, 2018
Full color, 32 pages
$3.99
MiniseriesA terrible loss draws the Witchfinder ever deeper into the hunt for the source of the supernatural terror gripping London. Recruiting new allies to his cause, Grey’s search brings him to the very doorstep of those responsible, but is he in time to stop their horrific scheme from engulfing the entire city in darkness?
And here are the collections headed your way in October…
HELLBOY – VOLUME 9
THE WILD HUNT (Second Edition)
Continued belowWritten by Mike Mignola
Illustrated by Duncan Fegredo
Colored by Dave StewartOn sale October 10, 2018
Full color, 192 pages
$14.99
Trade paperbackServing as the inspiration for the new feature film, Hellboy is called to England to take part in an ancient ritual of hunting giants, but quickly faces a much more dangerous enemy: Nimue, the Queen of Blood, who has risen with plans to create a monstrous army.
Lauded as “one of the greatest sagas of the modern comic book industry” (IGN), Hellboy’s story has spanned 20+ years and led to multiple spin-off titles, prose books, and films.
• The story that inspired the upcoming Hellboy movie!
B.P.R.D.
HELL ON EARTH
—OMNIBUS EDITION—
Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Illustrated by Laurence Campbell, Tyler Crook, Peter Snejbjerg, and James Harren
Colored by Dave StewartOn sale October 17, 2018
Full color, 424 pages
$34.99
HardcoverThe B.P.R.D. fight to protect the world from the rise of the monstrous Ogdru Hem, as teams hit a blizzard-torn Russia and the ruins of both Chicago and New York City. Meanwhile, Liz Sherman fights a deranged doctor in Utah, and the young psychic Fenix goes head to head with a monster-worshipping cult.
This deluxe hardcover edition collects B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth volumes 7–9 plus an expanded sketchbook section.
