04.22.08
New York Comic Con 2008 Wrap Up: Hellboy II
Hands down the best panel at the show was the one for Guillermo Del Toro’s latest big monster flick Hellboy II:The Golden Army. Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Mike Mignolia and Del Toro were there to talk about this unexpected sequel. No one speaks more plainly than Del Toro as he let the explatives fly showing his overwhelming excitement for the sequel to the underated Hellboy film from 2004. It brought in decent box office business but was mostly lost in the shuffle amongst more popular mainstream comic book adaptations.
This time around its his show as they revealed a brand new trailer that almost had me went my pants. Okay who am I kidding I did indeed wet my pants but with good cause. This film is going to kick so much ass you have no idea what Del Toro has in store. It’s as if somehow he was able to get the artistic freedom from Pan’s Labyrinth and apply it to his already well designed Hellboy films. For the first time we got to hear the voice behind the new character Johann Kraus; Seth McFarlane creator of Family Guy and voice of Peter Griffin.
After the trailer the stage was filled with many of the films brilliantly designed creatures. Del Toro’s gift is truly to find the most unexpected design concept and take it to that next level to make everything in his films feel unique and original. Compare it to the dull vampires in I am Legend or the Abomination in this years hulk and you’ll instantly notice that he’s not just thinking outside of the box he deficates on it, throws it away, and makes a weird box with eight sides and twelve corners.The films stars didn’t have too much to say as Del Toro did most of the talking. He spoke about the different approach he takes to his smaller films as opposed to the ones financed by millions of studio dollars. The level of freedom he can afford when their aren’t studio execs nervously looking at thier bank books.
He encouraged one ten year old to persue his dream of being a film maker and openly talked about how they hire new talent to help design for his films and take on internships for those seeking to break into the industry. Its wonderful to see someone who can find success and not forget what it was like to struggle and help those who also seek to make it as directors. Del Toro stole the show, the con, and will steal this summer with Hellboy II: The Golden Army.
