The following is an interview with writer Rob Williams (Judge Dredd, Petrol Head) regarding the release of the 2-issues mini-series, Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: The Ghost Ships of Labrador, in collaboration with Mike Mignola and Dark Horse Comics. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Williams about the shared creative process of working with Mignola to bring the story and characters to life on the page, more upcoming projects that he has in the works, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: You recently returned to the Hellboy Universe with the 2-issue mini-series, Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: The Ghost Ships of Labrador. For returning readers, where will this new series find our favorite characters in the world of Hellboy?
Rob Williams: The Ghost Ships of Labrador is a Hellboy and Abe Sapien story. It’s set in the early 1990s. It’s in a period where the B.P.R.D. are still active. If supernatural things occur, who you gonna call? – the B.P.R.D. So, when a small coastal town in Newfoundland is covered in a strange mist and ghost ships drop anchor in the harbour, a B.P.R.D. exorcist and her dog are sent in. When they don’t return, Hellboy and Abe go in to rescue her. Something is hiding in this town, and that goes back to the area’s history of whaling ships coming here in the 1600s.
BD: Your work has spanned a variety of genres – from the fast-paced action of Petrol Head to the survival horror of Judge Dredd. When tackling a ghost story in the world of Hellboy, is there anything that guides or propels your approach to crafting the world and characters?
RW: Primarily, it’s the tone, voices, and world of Mike’s Hellboy and B.P.R.D. books. I’m a fan and have read and enjoyed this world for years, so that helps hugely. You feel like you have a good handle on Hellboy and Abe, how they should sound, how they act. The Hellboy books often do this deft dance between scary, horror, and fun, with the occasional twee aspect thrown in. So, it’s a balancing act. But a very enjoyable one.
BD: Likewise, what can you tell us about your shared creative process in working with Mike Mignola and artist Laurence Campbell to bring the story to life on the page?
RW: Laurence and I worked with Mike and the Hellboy team on The Sword of Hyperborea a couple of years ago, which was set across different eras in the Hellboy universe. That turned out great, so we pitched a Hellboy story. All Hellboy roads run through Mike and his editor at Dark Horse, Katii O’Brien. Mike’s a big fan of Laurence’s work, so that helps. And Laurence and I have worked together numerous times over the years on things like Old Haunts for AWA, Wolverine and Punisher Max for Marvel. We’ve got a pretty good working relationship and shorthand these days. Laurence is a master at tone and mood. I think you can tell how much we both enjoyed working on this issue. Writing/drawing Hellboy and Abe – it’s a treat.
BD: Are there any additional projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
RW: Well, if people enjoy Laurence and my work together, they should check out The Sword of Hyperborea from Dark Horse, which jumps between eras in the Hellboy universe and introduces some fun, new characters, and Old Haunts, a creator-owned book we did via AWA along with Ollie Masters and Lee Loughridge, who colours Laurence on The Ghost Ships of Labrador. I’m always going to push people towards my Image book alongside Pye Parr. Because it’s great fun and we love it.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell fans who want to learn more about Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: The Ghost Ships of Labrador and your other work?
RW: The Ghost Ships of Labrador is a fun, spooky ghost story out just in time for Halloween, and it looks terrific. If you want to keep up to date with my work, you can follow me on Instagram @(Robwilliams1971) and on Bsky (@robwilliams71.bsky.social).
