Legendary Hellboy creator Mike Mignola is joining forces with writer/artist Rae Allen (The Manderfield Devil, Town with a Million Eyes) for a new paranormal Western in Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast, a new series that connects to Lobster Johnson lore and the greater Hellboy Universe.Co-written by Mignola and Allen, with art from Allen, colors from Michelle Madsen, and letters from Clem Robins, this four-issue series will feature covers from Allen with variants from Mike Mignola, Jake Parker, Tonci Zonjic, and Benjamin Schipper.
Mike Mignola explains:
“I’ve wanted to find a project for Rae for a long time, and finally just had the good sense to ask her if she had something in mind—and she did. She had half a dozen ideas—all great—but I was super impressed with this one, that she was able to create an entire character and situation based on a super tiny bit of a Lobster Johnson history. Such a fun addition to the Hellboy universe. We banged some details back and forth, but that was all fun and easy. She is a joy to work with and I hope this is only the beginning.”
Carmen Red Claw is a descendent of the notorious El Bogavante, the fearsome privateer who first appeared in Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Tonci Zonjic’s 2014 Lobster Johnson: Get The Lobster featuring iconic 1930s crimefighter, the Lobster. Working as a shape-shifting, supernatural gun-for-hire, Carmen investigates a supposedly cursed ranch in 1870s New Mexico territory. Something is killing the cattle in the area, and it’s up to Carmen to find out whether there’s a beast to blame, or if humans are the real monsters.
Rae Allen on the Mignolaverse:
One of my favorite parts about Hellboy is the merging of classic folklore with the Hellboy universe.” A lot of that ground has already been covered in Europe, how about more from America? I’m a big fan of the radio show Have Gun Will Travel (aired 1958-1960), and I thought a Paladin-style gun-for-hire in a supernatural Old West facing off with Native American, Colonial, and Mignolaverse monsters would be a lot of fun. Plus, why not add a lizard shoulder demon? Mike and I bounced ideas off each other and landed on a story that we think you’ll really enjoy. And I’m excited to introduce you to some Lakota folklore inspired by Yankton Dakota author Zitkala-Sa, enriched with the help of my friend Shiala King.”
Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast #1 is due out on January 7, 2025 from Dark Horse. Follow Dark Horse Comics on social media for more news, announcements, and updates.