Comic creator Mike Mignola’s Hellboy and his compatriots with the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense have seen their exploits told in comics, in cartoons, on film, in novels, and, increasingly, in audiobook form. This September, GraphicAudio, RBmedia’s audiobook arm, released Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: The Goddess of Manhattan, the third chapter in the Hellboy GraphicAudio Trilogy. Written by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski—two creators who are no strangers to writing for the Hellboy universe—The Goddess of Manhattan is replete with sound effects, actors, and music that give listeners a robust, romping experience similar to how they have had with other Hellboy media. (Also, just look at the cover for the audiobook by Mignola and Dave Stewart! *chef’s kiss*)

I spoke with Mr. Sniegoski recently about the idea behind Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: The Goddess of Manhattan, the connections this new tale has to previous Hellboy stories, writing for an audiobook, and how The Goddess of Manhattan has the definite feel of a Hellboy yarn.

Audiobooks can be a hit-or-miss endeavor, depending on the writing and the production value. However, Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: The Goddess of Manhattan looks to give listeners an experience that is supernaturally resplendent with raucous, devilish delight!

 

 

FreakSugar: What can you tell us about the conceit of Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: The Goddess of Manhattan?

Tom Sniegoski: Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: The Goddess of Manhattan is the third book in GraphicAudio’s original Hellboy adventures. The first two audiobooks, Hellboy: A Plague of Wasps, and Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club, were written by the amazing Christopher Golden who had a plan to write three audiobooks that all took place in the Hellboy universe that could be listened to and enjoyed separately, but would also contain connective tissue linking the three stories together. Chris asked me to join him on the third book, and I couldn’t have been more honored and excited.  

The story of Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: Goddess of Manhattan, is that in the early 1990s, Hellboy, Liz Sherman, and Abe Sapien have been drawn into a bizarre case in New York, linked both to Hellboy’s 1980 adventure with Anastasia in Brazil (A Plague of Wasps) and to The Lobster’s encounter with the Proteus Club (The Proteus Club) in 1933. A strange community of bizarre humans has been living in secret beneath Manhattan for more than sixty years. Now, though, someone is stalking them, murdering them one by one—someone who claims to be the ancient goddess Sem-Karul. With aid from the now elderly Cynthia Tynan, a character from the Lobster Johnson audiobook, Hellboy and the BPRD must face the Goddess of Manhattan, and the monsters who serve her.

FS: How do you approach writing an audio story for Hellboy in ways that differ from prose or comics?

TS: This was my first time working on an audiobook so I approached it with great caution. HA!  It was interesting; I needed to flex and build up some different muscles than I would normally use writing prose, or comic scripts. Chris helped quite a bit, having just written the first two audiobooks, to get in the proper mindset. I really had to think of the scenes I was writing, being aware of all my senses, but, of course, paying more attention to the sound aspects. It was challenging to think of this story, and how to best tell it taking full advantage of what GraphicAudio has to offer, but I think it came out pretty awesome.

 

 

FS: Following up on that, have any fun story opportunities opened up in writing the story that you haven’t had the chance to employ before with this tale?

TS: When you’re writing anything, books, comics, etc., your senses are super important as to the way you tell your story.  You’re painting a picture for the reader when writing prose (helping the artist to visualize what you’re seeing/experiencing in your head for the artist to interpret for the reader, in comics). But with audiobooks, your focus is on how to best take advantage of the tools that you’re being given. GraphicAudio’s fully immersive production really is amazing, and really does bring the writing to life for the listener.

FS: An alleged ancient goddess is front-and-center in the story. What can you tell us about Sem-Karul and creating this new adversary for Hellboy and company?

TS: Oh, I don’t think you want me to spoil things for readers/listeners.  All I’ll say is that Sem-Karul is an ancient foe with a strong connection to certain elements introduced in Hellboy: A Plague of Wasps and Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club.  She’s a goddess of darkness with a unique ability to be able to sculpt flesh, blood and bone.  If that doesn’t get you to want to listen, I don’t know what to say.

FS: Is there anything you can tease about what we can expect in the story?

TS: I think one of the coolest things about the Goddess of Manhattan is how ‘Hellboy’ it feels.  And, what I mean by that is that it feels just like how the comics feel. Close your eyes while listening, and you’ll practically see Mike Mignola’s artwork come to life. The audiobook has it all, a cool setting, monsters, and the unique camaraderie of our three members of the BPRD.  It really is a thrill, and it was an absolute joy to work on.

Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: The Goddess of Manhattan is out now from GraphicAudio.

From the official press release about the audiobook:

RBmedia, the largest audiobook publisher in the world, will release its third original Hellboy Universe audiobook via its GraphicAudio brand. Written by bestselling author Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski, Hellboy and the B.P.R.D: The Goddess of Manhattan is due out on September 10, 2024.

Written exclusively for GraphicAudio and produced with a full cast of actors, sound effects, and cinematic music, this audiobook provides an immersive story set in the Hellboy Universe created by legendary cartoonist Mike Mignola. Accompanied by cover artwork by Mignola and award-winning colorist Dave Stewart, Hellboy and the B.P.R.D: The Goddess of Manhattan will connect Hellboy’s adventure with Anastasia in Brazil in Hellboy: A Plague of Wasps and Lobster Johnson’s mysterious 1930s caper from Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club. 

Hellboy and the BPRD: The Goddess of Manhattan follows Hellboy, Liz Sherman, and Abe Sapien as they help a strange community of bizarre humans that has been living in secret beneath Manhattan for more than 60 years. Someone who claims to be the ancient goddess Sem-Karul has been stalking them and murdering them one by one. With aid from the now elderly Cynthia Tynan, Hellboy and the BPRD must face the Goddess of Manhattan and the monsters who serve her.

“It’s been such a great adventure doing these projects with GraphicAudio. The Goddess of Manhattan is a wild tale of ancient goddesses and supernatural mutation that takes Hellboy and the BPRD into an environment we rarely find them in—New York City… and beneath the city as well, ” teased co-writer Christopher Golden. “You don’t need to have listened to the previous two stories, but if you have, you’ll find a rich connection to both of them, especially to Lobster Johnson: The Proteus Club. In fact, this adventure is so bizarre that I knew I had to bring in my old writing partner and Mignolaverse veteran Tom Sniegoski, who has the most bizarre mind I know!”

“There is no other character universe that I enjoy playing in more than the Hellboy universe,” said Thomas E. Sniegoski. “From the very first time that I encountered the big, red guy and his amazing cast of characters, I was hooked and couldn’t wait to read more. To be part of that, as a writer, is an absolute dream come true. When Chris first told me about his initial ideas for the three Hellboy universe novels for GraphicAudio and how they would subtly connect, I was totally excited and couldn’t wait to hear them . . . and when he asked me to join him in writing The Goddess of Manhattan I couldn’t say ‘yes’ quick enough. There’s something about the richness of the Hellboy universe, and the strange characters that inhabit it that completely fires up my imagination. I couldn’t wait to add my special brand of weirdness to this latest audio adventure.”

“I am excited to be bringing this chapter in the Hellboy GraphicAudio Universe Trilogy to life this year as we celebrate 30 years of the Big Red One and his friends,” said GraphicAudio’s Creative Director and voice talent, Scott McCormick. “With the return of classic characters like Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman, we get to see Hellboy in his element, up against the weird and evil, while fighting for the lost and the lonely. Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski are masterful storytellers and, when you add the audio magic of GraphicAudio, you get an adventure like no other, all beneath the mean streets of Manhattan.”

In addition to celebrating 30 years of Hellboy, GraphicAudio also celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Since 2004, GraphicAudio has published over 1,900 titles, including the Hellboy trilogy, featuring full-cast dramatizations, richly scored with cinematic music and layered with immersive sound effects and design.