HELLBOY: WEIRD TALES #1

[MattBrady]

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HBYWTFC.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HBYWTFC_t.jpg" width="175" height="268" align="right" border="0" alt="Hellboy: Weird Tales #1 cover by John Cassaday"></a>From Dark Horse

As reported by Newsarama in November 2003 will be the Year of Hellboy for Dark Horse, with loads of new projects coming up. Beginning in February, the Hellboy: Anthology kicks off, featuring Hellboy stories by creators other than creator Mike Mignola. The publisher has provided Newsarama with a preview of John Cassaday’s story from issue #1.

From the original Newsarama <a href="http://www.newsarama.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000081" target="_blank"> article</a> on Hellboy’s 2003 plans for the anthology.

The anthology, is “close” to having a name change from what was originally solicited, the rather drab-sounding, Hellboy: Anthology. “We're still working on the title, but it's very close to being Hellboy: Weird Tales,” Hellboy editor Scott Allie said. “The series will run eight issues, three or four stories per issue, with some pinups, many superstars, and many surprising indy talents. Each issue will have roughly 26 pages of story.”

Allie said that the artists for the anthology were selected from a long list of people with one general criteria in mind: that the creator be new to Hellboy. “We mostly wanted people who had not contributed before,” Allie said. “We wanted this to feel all new. So you won't see Ryan Sook or Derek Thompson, although we love their work. The styles are really varied, from Alex Maleev to Jeff Matsuda to John Cassaday to Andi Watson. It's all over the place. I love anthologies.”

Other creators contributing to the anthology series include: Fabian Nicieza and Stefano Raffaele (pictured below), Mark Ricketts and Eric Wight; Jason Pearson; Randy Stradley and Seung Kim (pictured below); Bob Fingerman; Will Pfiefer and P. Craig Russell; Matt Hollingsworth; John Arcudi and Roger Langridge; Joe Casey and Steve Parkhouse; Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer; Scott Morse; Haden Blackman and J.H. Williams III; Eric Powell; Tom Sniegoski and Ovi Nedelcu; Doug Petrie and Gene Colan; Tom Fassbender, Jim Pascoe and Simeon Wilkins; Craig Thompson; Randy Green; Glen Murakami; Ron Marz and Jim Starlin; Sarah Ryan and Steve Lieber.

Covers for the series will be provided by Cassaday, Pearson, Maleev, Leinil Yu (pictured below), JH Williams and others, while Hellboy movie designer TyRuben Ellingson, William Stout, and Dave Stevens are slated to provide pinups.

Click on the thumbnails for larger versions of pages from Cassaday's story from issue #1.

<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT2_t.jpg" width="140" height="216" border="0" alt="Big-Top Hellboy, page 1" hspace="2"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT3_t.jpg" width="140" height="216" border="0" alt="Big-Top Hellboy, page 2" hspace="2"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT4_t.jpg" width="140" height="216" border="0" alt="Big-Top Hellboy, page 3" hspace="2"></a></center>

<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT5_t.jpg" width="140" height="216" border="0" alt="Big-Top Hellboy, page 4" hspace="2"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT6_t.jpg" width="140" height="216" border="0" alt="Big-Top Hellboy, page 5" hspace="2"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT7.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT7_t.jpg" width="140" height="216" border="0" alt="Big-Top Hellboy, page 6" hspace="2"></a></center>

<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Dark_Horse/HboyWT8_t.jpg" width="140" height="216" border="0" alt="Big-Top Hellboy, page 7" hspace="2"></a></center>
Hellboy: Anthology/Weird Tales #1 goes on sale on February 26th.

[Daniel Harvey]

7 pages of thumbnails? Isn't that pretty much the bulk of the Cassaday story?

[DanLTaylor]

"Answer me or I'll kick your clown-ass so hard you'll grow."

Classic.

[MattBrady]

[quote]Originally posted by Daniel Harvey:
<strong>7 pages of thumbnails? Isn't that pretty much the bulk of the Cassaday story?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yup, but the first issue will have colors, covers, staples, other stories...and stuff.

MattB

[choclitthunder]

my hat's off to cassaday. i hope they're all that good.

[SPEEDBOY]

I didn't think Cassady's art could get better after Captain America (although I hated the story after a few pages of #1) but I mena dman!!! I wished they wouldn't color this stuff, may ink it or clean up the pencils an print it that way. The stuff looks realy good.

SPEEDBOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Daniel Harvey]

[quote]Originally posted by Matt Brady:
<strong>

Yup, but the first issue will have colors, covers, staples, other stories...and stuff.

MattB</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah but will the staple be in HB's navel? :)

Was there supposed to be a Lenil Yu cover in those thumbs as well? I see a Cassaday one but no Yu....

[J.Scott71]

With all due respect to those who've taken a shot at Mignola's Hellboy in story form, this is easily the best of the lot thus far artiscally. And no doubt my favorite Cassaday artwork to date. Page seven is amazing!

While I think Ryan Sook and Matt Smith are cool storytellers, I never liked the idea of artists whose style closely resemble that of Mignola's taking on the character. It just didn't make much sense to me. I always wanted to see what other folks could do, and by looking at the line-up, there's a promise of some really great and funky takes on Hellboy.

I'm really, really looking forward to this series.

[Daniel Harvey]

and is Cassaday writing this one as well? Would that be a first for him?

[Absalom]

Excellent !!! I really love Hellboy series !! and seeing cassaday on it is amazing !! No doubt I'l buy this series !! :)

[Michael Eidson]

[quote]Originally posted by Matt Brady:
<strong>The anthology, is “close” to having a name change from what was originally solicited, the rather drab-sounding, Hellboy: Anthology. “We're still working on the title, but it's very close to being Hellboy: Weird Tales,” Hellboy editor Scott Allie said.</strong><hr></blockquote>

They should stick with the first name. How many other anthologies are called "Anthology"? It's so anti-original, it's original. Better than "Weird Tales," anyway.

[MattBrady]

[quote]Originally posted by Michael Eidson:
<strong>They should stick with the first name. How many other anthologies are called "Anthology"? It's so anti-original, it's original. Better than "Weird Tales," anyway.</strong><hr></blockquote>

The toss up came when there were legal questions about using the name "Weird Tales" as DH didn't know if the owners of the magazine still had ownership, or would grant them use of it.

MattB

[Gelogurte]

What a great time to be a geek...

[Jughead]

Last I heard the name "Weird Tales" was still owned by Weird Tales Ltd. They seem pretty willing to liscense it, though. It'd be a cool title if Dark Horse can get the rights.

[Derrick Fish]

I'm really looking forward to seeing such a distinct character interpreted by such different artists! Of course, anything "Hellboy" and I'm there!

[Zig Zag Wanderer]

The Cassaday stuff looks fantastic. I've got to say, though, that I'm most intrigued by the Sarah Ryan/Steve Lieber tagteam.

[Grendel Prime]

[quote]Originally posted by Matt Brady:
<strong>The toss up came when there were legal questions about using the name "Weird Tales" as DH didn't know if the owners of the magazine still had ownership, or would grant them use of it.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I think "Weird World" would make a better name for this project, with all its varied glimpses into the world of Hellboy (Helliverse?).

[OCM]

[quote]Originally posted by Grendel Prime:
<strong>

I think "Weird World" would make a better name for this project, with all its varied glimpses into the world of Hellboy (Helliverse?).</strong><hr></blockquote>

I think Marvel might object to that name being used! In their Epic line (and their regular line) they had a fantasy world by that name. Wish I still had those magazines.

[Zig Zag Wanderer]

[quote]Originally posted (re: the term "Weird World") by OCM:
<strong>

I think Marvel might object to that name being used! In their Epic line (and their regular line) they had a fantasy world by that name. Wish I still had those magazines.</strong><hr></blockquote>


I think they could get away with calling it "The Weird World of Hellboy" if they really wanted.

[Archipelago]

This looks amazing. Cassaday continues to kick serious a$$ in the art department. I can feel the money disappearing from my wallet already...