We recently engaged in a discussion with the accomplished author Christopher Golden regarding his third entry in the Hellboy Universe GraphicAudio book series, “Hellboy and the BPRD: The Goddess of Manhattan.” Upon reflection, it appeared unjust to converse with Christopher without also including his collaborator on this particular project, Thomas E. Sniegoski. Thomas has often worked alongside Christopher, particularly concerning the Mignolaverse. Thus, it was certainly logical for Chris to bring in his close associate for this latest addition.
With that in mind, and to make things fair and equitable, we recently sat down with Tom to discuss his writing beginnings, his frequent collaborations with the aforementioned Mr. Golden, his work on this project and what’s coming up in the future. Let’s welcome talented writer Thomas E. Sniegoski to GVN talking Comics.
Beginnings
GVN: Thank you for sharing a few moments of your time, Tom. Since this is our first time chatting, I want to start with your creative beginnings. When did you first consider writing as a career and whose work inspired you to pursue that noble profession?
TOM: Thanks for having me! Hmmmm. I’ve always been a storyteller, even as a little kid with my action figures I’d play out these elaborate scenarios that would continue day to day. I remember banging away on the manual typewriter, writing these Godzilla stories with zero punctuation. HA! I wish I still had copies of those. In high school and college, I wrote short stories, and eventually that led to my work in comics and then novels. I think getting published for that first time made me think that maybe there was a chance that I could do this, and I could leave my career as a Financial Aid Officer at a Boston College behind.
As far as inspirations, there were lots in comics . . . Jack Kirby, Alan Moore, Bernie Wrightson, Frank Frazetta–I could go on and on here. In books? Hmmm. Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway, Robert Parker, Robert Bloch, Richard Matheson, Mickey Spillane . . . again, I could go on and on.
Working with Jeff Smith
GVN: In researching you a bit, I found that besides your work on so many projects that I find cool, i.e. Vampirella (been a fan of the character since the original Warren publications), Batman, Wolverine, and Punisher you also did some work with Jeff Smith and his Bone characters. Talk about cool! How did that collaboration come about?
TOM: Vampirella and I go back a long way! HA! And yeah, I’ve had the chance to write many of my favorites over the years. It’s been super cool.
My relationship with Jeff Smith started on the comic convention circuit. We were introduced, and really hit it off. I think he liked my bizarre sense of humor or something. But we remained friends, and at one convention he asked me to write a series of backup stories that I ended up working with Usagi Yojimbo’s Stan Sakai on. They were about a little pig called Riblet and how he tortured the Rat Creatures. It was pretty funny, and my take on O. Henry’s The Ransom of Red Chief.
After that, I worked with Jeff himself on “Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails: The Adventures of Big Johnson Bone” (published by Scholastic Books as Bone: Tall Tales) and then, years later, I wrote three original Bone novels–The Quest for the Spark trilogy, and just recently, returned to the Valley with Bone: More Tall Tales. I love working with Jeff and working in the Bone universe.
Hellboy and the BPRD: The Goddess of Manhattan
GVN: Of course, we’re talking today because of your work with frequent collaborator Christopher Golden on the Hellboy universe audiobook: Hellboy and the BPRD: The Goddess of Manhattan. How did this particular story come about and was it planned from the beginning that you and Christopher would team up on this third book in the audio series?
TOM: I wasn’t part of the initial plans. Seeing that Chris and I are really good friends, I was aware of his plans for the audiobooks–three stories that take place within the Hellboy universe that all loosely connect but could be listened to separately and still enjoyed. Having him ask me to add my two cents to Goddess of Manhattan was really exciting, as well as challenging. Having worked on multiple projects together before, Chris and I have a kind of shorthand. We discuss the story together, throwing ideas around, write up a pretty detailed outline and then divvy up the chapters accordingly. We then write our chapters, playing off one another, each of us attempting to outdo the other. It’s pretty fun.
Writing for Audio Presentation
GVN: When it comes to writing a story that is specifically for audio presentation, did you have to make any adjustments to your process, or is storytelling just storytelling no matter what the media used?
TOM: I had never written an audiobook before, so there was a bit of a learning process. I really had to think of the scenes I was writing, being aware of all my senses, but, of course, paying more attention to the sound aspects. It was challenging to think of this story, and how to best tell it taking full advantage of what Graphic Audio has to offer. I think it came out pretty awesome.
Appeal of the “Mignolaverse”
GVN: You have done many stories in the Hellboy universe. What is it about the Mignolaverse characters that appeal to you and your style of writing?
TOM: Mike has created what I feel, is the ultimate storyteller’s toybox. There is so much about this world, and these characters, that speaks to me. It’s everything that I love as a storyteller put into a big pot and stirred up creating the ultimate soup! It is an absolute honor getting to write in this world, with these fantastic characters.
Writing with Mr. Golden
GVN: As I mentioned, you have worked quite frequently with Mr. Golden. When did you first decide to do a project together and why do you feel you and he mesh so well in your writing?
TOM: I think the first time Chris and I worked together was at Harris comics when I was wrapping up my tenure on Vampirella. We worked on Vampirella: Death & Destruction, which was pretty much me destroying everything I created for the character at Harris. It was very cathartic. HA! But we enjoyed the process, having very similar styles and sensibilities and kept working together on comics, novels and video games. It’s always fun to get back together and do something. I was very flattered, and excited when he asked me to do Hellboy and the BPRD: Goddess of Manhattan with him.
Future Projects
GVN: Thank you once again for your time, Thomas. Before I let you go, I want to give you an opportunity to share where fans can go to follow your work and perhaps promote any new projects you have upcoming.
TOM: Thank you, it was fun.
First, I’d like to tell everybody that they need to listen to the first two books of these audiobooks–Hellboy: A Plague of Wasps, and Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club, both written by the amazing Christopher Golden. They’re super fun, and when listened to along with Hellboy and the BPRD: The Goddess of Manhattan, they connect to form this really cool story. Trust me. You want to listen to all three.
And I’ve just finished adapting the novel that I wrote with Mike Mignola, Grim Death and Bill the Electrocuted, for a dramatic podcast, which should be showing up sometime in October 2024 from Echoverse. I’m also getting ready to start writing new Grim Death adventures with Mike, and our writing partner, Jeannine Acheson, for Bad Hand Books. The first new book should be out sometime in 2025.
I can be found on Facebook/Instagram –Thomas Sniegoski, Twitter- @TomSniegoski, Threads-TSniegoski, Bluesky – @Tomsnig.bsky.social
All three of the GraphicAudio Hellboy Universe Audiobooks: “Hellboy: A Plague of Wasps”, “Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club” and “Hellboy and the BPRD: The Goddess of Manhattan” are now available.

Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.