Back in June of 2023, we had the opportunity to talk to talented writer Christopher Golden about the 3-book AudioGraphic series of Hellboy books he was working on. Starting with Hellboy: A Plague of Wasps and followed by Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club. Now, the third audio book of the series comes out September 10th with Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. – The Goddess of Manhattan. This installment Christopher collaborated with his frequent writing partner Thomas E. Sniegoski. (Look for a chat with Thomas coming soon).
In preparation for the release of this final book of this series, we sat down with Christopher once again to find out what he’s been up to, his work on this story with Thomas and what else he has on the horizon. So, let’s welcome back to GVN Talking Comics, writer Christopher Golden.
GVN: Thanks once again for taking some time to chat, Chris. It’s always a pleasure talking to you. The last time we spoke was in June 2023 when we announced the exciting Hellboy GraphicAudio series. But before we dive back into that, I’d like to ask you about your horror novel, The House of Last Resort, which was published earlier this year. What inspired the book, and how long did it take you to write it?
The House of Last Resort
CG: Thanks, Martin. The idea for The House of Last Resort was prompted by various news stories I’ve read about towns in Italy–Sicily in particular–that were withering on the vine, where local authorities took it upon themselves to offer abandoned homes to buyers around the world for tiny sums. It occurred to me that in a time when so many people can work remotely, it would be so tempting to pull up roots and relocate to a beautiful place. But, of course, in a horror novel, there’s a catch. I’d guess it took me about nine months, but I don’t really keep track. I’m terrible with chronology.
Hellboy: The Crooked Man
GVN: We also spoke a little about your work on the screenplay for the newest Hellboy film, Hellboy: The Crooked Man, which is coming to theaters in late September of this year. Have you had an opportunity to see the finished product, and did you enjoy the experience of contributing to the next Hellboy cinematic experience alongside your writing partners Mike Mignola and Brian Taylor?
CG: I haven’t seen the final cut. I saw a very early version, which was the first time I’ve ever seen a film so early in the process. When I saw the trailer, it was amazing to see the difference in the visual texture and the sound design. I love cinema and this has been an incredible experience. This is the kind of film that Mike always hoped for with Hellboy, and honestly, these are the kinds of Hellboy stories that always work the best.
At the beginning of this process, I wrote a long sort of statement-of-purpose to the folks at Millennium that explained the philosophy behind what we were going for. In his heart, Hellboy is just a guy doing his job. That’s so important to understanding the character. He works best in a smaller story, with human stakes, and real evil. We talked a lot about The Crooked Man being a folk horror story, and that it had to then be a folk horror film.
The drafts that Mike and I did were about bringing all of that to life as close to the original comic as possible, with the addition of Agent Song, and the creation of a third act that builds on everything from the original comic. The best thing about Brian Taylor coming on is that he loves the material so much and his vision for the film was exactly what we’d been talking about. His drafts of the script changed some elements significantly, either because of his vision for it or due to budget and schedule, but fundamentally, all three of us came from the same place, and boy you can really see that in the film. It’s truly a horror film, folk horror. If Hellboy existed in the real world in the 1950’s, this is what you’d get.
Working Through Life Issues
GVN: So, getting back to the Hellboy GraphicAudio series. The first two installments, “Hellboy: A Plague of Wasps” and “Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club,” were released as planned in 2023. But the release of this third installment “Hellboy and the BPRD: The Goddess of Manhattan” will be released next month. Was the delay (from 2023 to 2024) for the third installment a strategic decision or was it simply a matter of making sure all the i’s were dotted and t’s crossed? The first two were outstanding by the way. Looking forward to this release.
CG: There were a variety of delays on both ends, thanks to a lot of scheduling issues. For my part–which I think was the most significant–a member of my immediate family developed cancer, and anyone who has been through that knows the way it takes over your life, even when you’re not the patient. Fortunately, treatment was successful.
Co-Writer Thomas E. Sniegoski
GVN: My best wishes to your family and prayers for continued health. You wrote this third book with your frequent collaborator, Thomas E. Sniegoski who is no stranger to Hellboy fans. What does Tom bring to the table that complements your own storytelling talents, especially where Hellboy and the Mignolaverse is concerned?
CG: Once upon a time, Tom and I worked together regularly, and we’re still very close. He and I wrote the very first BPRD miniseries–Hollow Earth–together. Honestly, I’m sure he wishes I’d had him do the Lobster Johnson one with me, but I selfishly wanted that one for myself. With The Goddess of Manhattan, I was bringing in Abe and Liz, and linking all three adventures, and doing all kinds of things with monsters living under Manhattan. Tom has a fantastic sense of humor, but also a gift for making the absurd seem utterly reasonable. We’ve been working sort of in tandem on a lot of Mignolaverse stuff for quite a while, and I knew I’d have a lot more fun with this one if he was along for the ride. We’re still doing Frankenstein: New World together, and we have a creator-owned series we’re developing. It’s always a pleasure when we get to team up.
Listening in Order or Not
GVN: When it comes to this GraphicAudio series, is it a pre-requisite to listen to the first two chapters to enjoy Hellboy and the BPRD: The Goddess of Manhattan or does it stand on its own?
CG: Oh, you absolutely do NOT have to listen to the others to understand this one. The narration gives you everything you need. You can also listen to them in whatever order you prefer. That said, I encourage everyone to listen to the other two. Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club is particularly connected, and I do think you’ll enjoy this one more if you’ve listened to that, but it’s certainly not necessary.
Getting the GraphicAudio Treatment on Future Projects
GVN: The audio immersive quality of a GraphicAudio series is second to none. Now that this three-book series is complete, do you foresee producing future books with them, whether they be more of the Mignolaverse or your own works in this format?
CG: I’d love to. I spoke to them about several other things back before we began this process, and it’s been an enormous pleasure working with them, particularly with Scott McCormick, who is both the director of all three of these projects as well as the voice of Hellboy. I hope there’s more to come.
What’s Coming Next from Christopher Golden
GVN: Thanks again for sharing a small part of your day, Chris. In our previous interview, you had mentioned in closing a secret project that you couldn’t talk about. With a year now passed, do you have any future projects you can discuss, and where can fans go to follow your current or upcoming projects?
CG: I’ve got all sorts of things going on, as always. My next novel, THE NIGHT BIRDS, will be out in May of 2025. There are more comics coming. I’ve just closed film deals for two different novels but I can’t say anything further until they’re announced. And Brian Keene and I have edited an anthology that’s coming out next year, THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: TALES OF STEPHEN KING’S THE STAND. And there’s always more to come! Thanks again for having me!
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.
