With a career spanning nearly forty years, one of the most celebrated and acclaimed comic book creators in the entire industry is Mike Mignola. From work at DC and Marvel to creating the iconic Dark Horse Comics character Hellboy and the B.P.R.D., Mignola's work has been highly influential for decades, with the creator serving as the subject of a planned documentary film Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters. A crowdfunding campaign has launched on Kickstarter, with the documentary featuring interviews with a whole host of comic creators and superstar fans, including Neil Gaiman and Hellboy actor Doug Jones, all examining Mignola's legacy.
In an exclusive interview with CBR, Mignola explained why now is a good time for the documentary project, why he trusts filmmakers Jim Demonakos and Kevin Hanna and shared looks at art prints by Alex Maleev and Paolo Rivera that are included as potential Kickstarter incentives to backers. Additionally, Mignola talked about the release of Mike Mignola: The Quarantine Sketchbook, with all profits going towards the benefit of José Andres' World Central Kitchen and its mission to provide food to immediate disaster areas.
Mike, what made this the perfect time to look back on your career in the form of a documentary film?
Mike Mignola: Well, I really had nothing to do with the timing. Jim Demonakos came to me and told me what they wanted to do, and I’ve always liked Jim, so I said good luck. Of course I never imagined the thing would actually get made. But about the timing -- I suppose it is good, as I now consider myself sort of semi-retired. I’m not really retired, but working on it.
What was it about Jim Demonakos and Kevin Hanna that ensured to you this project is in the right hands?
Mignola: Jim explained to me that the focus would NOT be on “how cool is it to have a movie?” I see too much of that these days. People skip over the beginning (the real work) and focus on movies and toys. Nothing against movies and toys, but I have so little to actually do with that stuff. Happy to have the focus be on what I really did.
What interviews and observations within the documentary are you looking forward to hearing for yourself?
Mignola: Any and all. I’m really fascinated to hear what people who I don’t actually know, or barely know, have to say.
With the Mike Mignola: The Quarantine Sketchbook coming out soon, what sketches and artistic inspirations surprised you the most looking back on the past year's worth of sketches?
Mignola: Those sketches were just such a joy, especially the ones I did based on old cartoon characters. I’d never really thought about doing stuff like that, and once I started it was just addictive -- seeing what these characters would look like translated into my style. Milton the Monster? I loved that cartoon as a kid but never once ever considered drawing him. It was just pure fun. I’ve been drawing comics for more than thirty-five years, and this was the first time I allowed myself a huge chunk of time to draw just for the fun of drawing. And I think some of the drawings are the best (or at least my favorite) drawings I’ve ever done.
Your work has often revolved around monsters and ghouls and things that go bump in the night. What is it about the horror genre and its sensibilities that have continually inspired you as a storyteller?
Mignola: That’s a question I get a lot, and it’s really a question for the therapist. I have no real idea. When I was in elementary school I stumbled across a book about ghosts (“true” ghost stories) and a big book of Norse mythology (great monsters) in the school library. I checked them out over and over. And then around that time I read Dracula, and that was just it. Must have been around 5th or 6th grade. I just felt like I’d found my thing. I’ve never felt the need to wonder about it, I'm just super glad I did.
The Kickstarter campaign for Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters is currently live, with the film expected to premiere Spring 2022.
0 Comments