Mike Mignola Talks His New ‘Pinnochio’ Project [Exclusive]
Mary Beth McAndrews
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Renowned Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, award-winning colorist Dave Stewart, and celebrated novelist Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events) are teaming up with Beehive Books for an illustrated and annotated edition of Carlo Collodi’s classic novel PINOCCHIO. This all-new, deluxe hardcover edition includes exquisite original illustrations from Mignola, which breathe new life to the charm, gloom, and chaos of the seminal novel, alongside over 100 full-text annotations by Snicket, presented as slipped-in typewritten sheets produced by Snicket during his Pinocchio-induced descent into madness.
The project is part of Beehive Book’s acclaimed Illuminated Editions imprint, the Philadelphia-based company’s distinctive line of book art editions of literary classics which reimagine literary masterworks with all-new covers and illustrations from the world’s greatest graphic artists. Beehive Books is now crowdfunding the PINOCCHIO: The Illuminated Edition on Kickstarter. New York’s Society of Illustrators is hosting an exhibit of Mignola’s full portfolio of yet-to-be-published Pinocchio illustrations, including all the drawings done for the book, as well as additional art not included in the book, including paintings, process work for the project, and an original puppet from Red Nose Studios. The exhibit will be open to the public from March 22nd to July 8.
Beehive Book’s PINOCCHIO: The Illuminated Edition provides commentary by Lemony Snicket, which takes both the reader and the acclaimed writer on a first experience of the iconic novel, chock full of surreal symbolism and commentary. “For many years I have been curious to see if I, too, will join the tradition of readers completely transformed into lunatics from a reading of PINOCCHIO, and although Carlo Collodi died long ago, I like to think that somewhere, somehow, he is interested in seeing what I might have to say as I read this book and likely lose my mind,” writes Snicket. “Perhaps you are too.”
We were lucky to speak with Mignola over email about his relationship with Pinocchio, its horror elements, and more. We also got an exclusive look at some of Mignola’s art included in the new edition.
Dread Central: Pinocchio is obviously a children’s story, but it has horror elements! Did it ever scare you as a kid?
Mike Mignola: No, but I first read it as a young teen. If somebody had read it to me as a little kid…There are some bits in there that might have haunted me.
DC: Is there a particular moment in the book that you consider your favorite or the most formative for you?
MM: There’s a scene where Pinocchio is running through the woods to the house of the Blue Fairy (The Fairy with the Azure Hair) and he stumbles across a tombstone that says, basically, Here lies the Fairy, she died because Pinocchio was bad. Yikes.
Would you consider Pinocchio to be body horror?
MM: Not at all, although he does burn his own feet off because at the beginning he’s pretty stupid.
With two recent film adaptations of Pinocchio, why do you think audiences are still drawn to this story today?
MM: I don’t know. I think we all fell in love with the Disney version—which means most people only know a little of the actual story. Del Toro’s film is great but it is HIS version and still a mile away from the book.
DC: How did you approach making your own versions of these timeless characters?
MM: I gave it a lot of thought for a long time. The book has been illustrated so many times and a few times very well—the Attilio Mussino version I consider to be the classic—so I did feel the need to put my own distinct look to the book—and that meant pushing it into a sort of darker Victorian gothic look. I didn’t really change anything, just dressed things up a little differently.
DC: Is there one character you’re particularly proud of adapting?
MM: I am particularly proud of my Fairy with the Azur Hair.
DC: What was your familiarity with Lemony Snicket before this project? If you were, did you ever read A Series Of Unfortunate Events?
MM: I remember reading the Unfortunate Events book to my daughter when she was little. I loved them — very much the way I love Pinocchio. So I was thrilled with the idea of him providing a running commentary on the book. I can’t think of a better person to comment on how odd this book really is.
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