GVN Talking Comics Interview: Writer Christopher Golden For The ‘Hellboy Universe’ Audiobook Original Series

The Transition from Traditional to AudioBooks

I have been an avid reader since I was a small child. I veraciously read any comic book I came across (naturally…this IS Talking Comics after all) and every Science Fiction, Fantasy and Star Trek book that came my way. It was not uncommon for me to spend a day in my room, reading continuously aside for a bathroom break or finding a snack in the kitchen.

That love of reading hasn’t been stilled but it had been supplemented by my appreciation of audiobooks. I drive almost an hour to and from work, so I have more than a little time to kill between destinations. Not to mention my job that requires long excursions outside. So, it is become my habit to start up an audiobook to help keep me engaged. An audiobook that is done well, usually influences the voices I hear for characters when I read a “traditional” book in a series. So, there is that.

‘Hellboy Universe’ Audiobook Original Series

With all that in mind, I was very excited when RBmedia’s GraphicAudio recently announced that they were teaming with writer Christopher Golden on a three book audio series based on Mike Mignola’s Mignolaverse. Starting with Hellboy: A Plague of Wasps in July, Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club in October and Hellboy and the BPRD: The Goddess of Manhattan in November. Each with new covers by the iconic creator of Hellboy, Mike Mignola and his usual partner in color, Dave Stewart.

But the question now was…what to do until the first audiobook comes out in July? How about talking to the man behind these three original tales, writer Christopher Golden. Fortunately, we caught up once again with the talented writer to find out how this project came about and how it has been working with the audio geniuses at GraphicAudio for this exciting new series. So, let’s welcome back writer Christopher Golden to GVN’s Talking Comics.

Christopher Golden

GVN: Thanks once again for letting me steal a few of your minutes, Christopher. This is becoming a common occurrence. Especially when it comes to the Mignolaverse.

CG: My pleasure!

GVN: This recently announced project is very exciting, especially when it comes to audio books whom I’ve become a big fan of. How long has this project been in the works and were the stories involved written specifically for the audio series?

CG: The last year or so has been a blur because of several projects I’ve been working on. One of them is still secret, but the others were the new Hellboy film script and these three new audio adventures in the Mignolaverse. All three of these stories were developed specifically for this audio experience. The folks at Graphic Audio were very keen to explore the world of the Hellboy comics in this format, which we keep calling audio books, but which are so fleshed out with a full cast and sound effects that it verges on audio drama.

RBMedia’s Graphic Audio

GVN: You are working with RBmedia’s GraphicAudio on this series. Were you already familiar with GraphicAudio before or did you familiarize with them when the prospect came calling?

CG: Some years back I did a trilogy of graphic novels with Charlaine Harris called CEMETERY GIRL. Graphic Audio did adaptations of that trilogy, so I had seen what they were up to and admired their work long before this Hellboy project came into being. It’s been a real pleasure working with this team. It’s nice to find people who are both huge fans and true professionals.

Inner Voices

GVN: I had mentioned in my opening about how audiobooks influence how I “hear” the character when I read. In this case, we are dealing with a franchise that many fans know and love. Not only through the comics but also through the screen adaptations. With that in mind, fans most likely have a voice or sound in mind for these beloved characters. Whether on their own through the comics or through the films. As you wrote these stories, do you have a certain voice in mind for the characters you are writing about? Or do you leave that to the GraphicAudio folks to navigate.

CG: First, these stories are comics stories. They’re not told in comics, but this is the original Mignolaverse, connected to the comics, in the comics continuity, having zero to do with any of the film stuff. I’ve been reading Hellboy and its various spinoffs since day one and back when I wrote the first couple of novels, there was no such thing as a Hellboy film. So the voice of Hellboy that’s in my head is the voice I heard in my head the first time I read the comic, and then the first time I spoke to Mike, and then the first time I wrote his dialogue into a book. For me, he sounds a bit like Mike, but with a voice a little deeper and rougher. Fans who know the character best from the movies will love Scott McCormick’s take on the voice, which will sound a bit familiar to them, I think.

Discussing Language Elements

GVN: It sounds like you read a lot like I do. I imagine each character’s way of speaking, in my head in almost a theatrical performance. When it came to producing your stories, does the GraphicAudio team confer with you about possible pronunciations or inflections that you intended in a certain scene? Or are all those types of questions answered early on in production?

CG: We did go back and forth on a number of things. I haven’t listened to the final version of book one yet, but these folks know what they’re doing, so I have faith in them. We talked about the foreign language elements and GraphicAudio cast actors with backgrounds appropriate for the roles.

Choosing Favorites

GVN: You have three different stories in this initial (I say initial because I am hoping for more) series. Hellboy: A Plague of Wasps, Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club and Hellboy and the B.P.R.D: The Goddess of Manhattan. Do you have a favorite of the three? One you were most excited about hearing to come to audio life.

CG: Well, I wrote the first two on my own and I’ve drafted Tom Sniegoski to write the third one with me for a variety of reasons. My life has become extremely busy, but that’s only one reason. Tom and I have enjoyed working together again on FRANKENSTEIN: NEW WORLD and we’re about to start writing HELLBOY AND THE BPRD: THE GODDESS OF MANHATTAN, and it’s such a pleasure to work together again. He’s a lunatic. We wrote the very first BPRD miniseries together, all those years ago, and so not only was this appropriate, but Tom is the only person I would have teamed up with for this. I can’t pick a favorite until I’ve heard them all, but I’ve had a blast so far.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man

GVN: Finally, you mentioned in the recent Press Release you having co-written the screenplay for the upcoming Hellboy: The Crooked Man film. Is there anything ELSE you can tell us about that story? Probably not, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t at least try. 😊

CG: I can tell you that it’s based on the Hellboy comics miniseries of the same name, and that all the advance word from those who’ve watched the dailies is that it’s coming together beautifully. It’s a very dark folk horror film, which is exactly what we hope for it to be. As for the finished product, I’ll be crossing my fingers and hoping hard, just like everyone else.

GVN: Thank you again as always, Christopher. So, looking forward to these great audio compilations.

Starting in July

RBmedia’s GraphicAudio’s Hellboy Universe Audiobook Original Series starts July 31st with Hellboy: A Plague of Wasps, written by Christopher Golden with cover art by Mike Mignola and Dave Stewart. Followed in October with Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club written by Christopher Golden with cover art by Mike Mignola and Dave Stewart. Finally (hopefully not final), in November with Hellboy and the BPRD: The Goddess of Manhattan, written by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski with cover art by Mike Mignola and Dave Stewart.