Mike Mignola

Hellboy

Mike Mignola's Hellboy illustrations are a very unique entry in the world of graphic novels and comic book art. Not quite as hardcore black and white as frank miller, yet not as traditionally comic book as DC's Rob Leifields work. Mignolas work uses a handsome and well considered colour pallet in his illustration that underlays emotion and realistic grit to fairytale characters and villains.

Hellboys character and adventures are compelling through use of humour, and action. The fact that the story of Hellboy is embedded in the roots of real history with Mignolas cunning use of Satanic Nazi's and villains from the biblical representation of hell only helps to expand understanding and story telling for the audience, who can relate to the evil that has been embedded in the culture of out modern lives. These devices are strong ways to get the ball rolling for an audience who are looking for alternate realities to escape to in their free time and with its popularity as a comic, shows the strength of using historical and cultural references as a starting point for visual styles and narratives.

In my experiments with 'Jump!' today, i have been considering how to use subtle imagery that people recognise to invoke a feeling and understanding in the narrative that i am trying to create, i have done this through using propaganda type imagery, dark brooding colour schemes and an apocalyptic visual style.