Mike Mignola Discusses New Hellboy Film and Del Toro's Trilogy

The upcoming feature adaptation of the Eisner Award-winning miniseries, "The Crooked Man," is generating excitement among fans of the long-running Dark Horse comic. Jack Kesy takes on the titular role, previously portrayed by Ron Perlman and David Harbour. Creator Mike Mignola, in a recent interview, described the film as “a much more grounded Hellboy movie” and the most faithful adaptation of his stories to date. Mignola emphasized the importance of focusing on his favorite narrative, "The Crooked Man," a 1950s period piece where Hellboy confronts witches and a soul-hoarding entity in Appalachia. He expressed a desire to avoid unnecessary additions from the expansive Hellboy universe, stating, “Let’s not try to shoehorn a bunch of extra sh** in here where we don't need it.” This approach aims to maintain the integrity of the original story while delivering a cinematic experience that resonates with fans. The creator shared his enthusiasm for seeing his favorite scenes come to life on screen, noting that this adaptation captures moments he never imagined would be visualized. Mignola acknowledged the uniqueness of each Hellboy film but asserted that this version stands out as the most faithful to his vision. Reflecting on his creative journey, Mignola revealed that he aimed to create something authentic and original, free from commercial pressures. He believes that this genuine approach is what has made Hellboy a distinctive character in the comic book landscape.