The following is an interview with Tom Sniegoski regarding the launch of the comic book series, Young Hellboy: The Hidden Land, with Dark Horse Comics. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Sniegoski about the inspiration behind the new series and characters, his shared creative process with Mike Mignola, Craig Rousseau, and Dave Stewart, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: This month will see the release of Young Hellboy: The Hidden Land, in collaboration with Mike Mignola, Craig Rousseau, Dave Stewart, and Dark Horse Comics. As this is a tale of our titular hero’s formative years, what can you share with us about your approach to crafting a young Hellboy?
Tom Sniegoski: The biggest thing with crafting this story was to come up with something fun and exciting. We really wanted to give readers something with that exciting 1930s pulp feel, but fun was our main objective.
BD: How would you describe your shared creative process in bringing this story to life, especially alongside Hellboy creator Mike Mignola?
TS: Basically, Mike and I sat down and started throwing ideas around as to what we wanted to see in our first Young Hellboy miniseries. Once we landed on the forbidden jungle theme, we were off to the races. I wrote up a plot, Mike gave me his notes, revised the plot, and BOOM! It went to script, and then off to the amazing [artist] Craig Rousseau.
BD: In having previously written for B.P.R.D.: The Hollow Earth, did you find that there was a shorthand in returning to the Hellboy world and characters?
TS: Hmmm. I’m not sure I would call it shorthand. I’ve been poking around the Hellboy universe for a little while, so I kinda know things? In your gut, you know what’s right, and what isn’t for the world, as well as for characters.
BD: Do you feel that this series would serve as a solid jumping-on point for new readers who may be unfamiliar with Hellboy’s previous adventures?
TS: I think it’s perfect jumping-on point. We’re hoping that it will whet the appetites of people who have never read any of Big Red’s other fantastic exploits and, hopefully, convert them to the wonders of the Mignolaverse! Primarily, we just want people to have a good time while reading it. That was our main objective.
BD: Lastly, what are you most excited for readers to experience with this series?
TS: I’m most excited for folks to get a look at Young Hellboy‘s first miniseries! It was super exciting to be asked to write this series, and fingers crossed I did a good job. Also, I can’t wait for folks to see Craig Rousseau’s amazing art on this book. It will blow you away. And finally, I’m super excited for readers to see the new characters that we’ve cooked up for the Hellboy universe. Fingers crossed, we’ll be seeing some of them again in the not-too-distant future.
