By: John C. Mayberry
Whether or not you were a fan of Mike Mignola’s work before, this film is going to either give you current fans a whole new appreciation for one of the comic book industry’s most renowned icons, or introduce your imaginations
to a colossal mythos of memorable characters that will guarantee you’re going to be spending massive amounts of time grabbing up as many BPRD collections as you can. The documentary film, Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters,
is a fascinating look at the rise of a comic book superstar from his earliest works as an inker to the very creation of the Hellboy universe itself, and one that I feel truly privileged to have been able to review for you all.
Through personal accounts, and those of family, close colleagues and friends, I got to see an intimate view of the personal experiences, people, places, and things that helped mold and shape one of the most celebrated mythos’ in comics history. You’ll see not only the visual inspiration Mr. Mignola has drawn from places like Oakland’s Mountain View Cemetery and the Czech Republic, but also unique character designs and details seen nowhere else in comics, expressed in a way that adds a unique sense of depth to every page.
Alongside his already impressive and memorable artwork, it was also interesting to see the inspiration behind his characters was drawn heavily from various mythologies and mythological creatures from around the world. More than that, however, one thing I find more interesting about stories and characters drawn from old lore, is when that inspiration comes from a real-life source, such as the character and background behind Hellboy himself being drawn from his father and his time serving in the Army.
Beyond the creation of the Hellboy universe, though, I can personally say that as a life-long comic book nerd, and a damn proud one at that, seeing how far reaching and universally connecting it was in the hearts and minds of fans everywhere truly hit a personal spot for me. It’s the comics’ themes of belonging and feeling like an outcast that I saw most resonated with fans of the Hellboy universe who, like myself sometimes, can feel beyond uncomfortable in their own skin. And after watching Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters, it is easy, and refreshing, to see that the sense of belonging, and the feeling that neither of us is alone in anything we face is alive and well in the comic book community. So, for that sense of unspoken connection, we all feel as fellow comic nerds, thank you Hellboy for reminding all of us that it’s okay to be different, and thank you Mike Mignola, for giving us that symbol, and for allowing us to share in your gifts and talents.
