Animated Hellboy - Damn, That Was Good Stuff!

[thedeadlyhook]

Huh, that was interesting. Toys and I were just watching the two Hellboy Animated movies on Cartoon Network (there was a marathon tonight) and they were both infinitely superior to the Hellboy 2 movie that I recently bitched about. As in, they were actually like the comics, right down to some of the most memorable imagery and the loveable Office-esque character interactions. There's also more than one female character, and they actually talk about, y'know, work. Such as actual supernatural research, as in the name of the organization, the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense.

And real supernatural mythology, too - the film set in Japan featured real Japanese yokai, folklorish monsters, instead of the usual made-up stuff that Hollywood trots out.

Although... I'm damned if I can figure out why the animation was so good and the live-action film so lame. Largely the same creative staff all around, right down to the voice work. Maybe Mike Mignola is just a really laid-back guy who lets people do whatever with his property, and the animation guy just happens to be a bigger fan? Who knows.

But for those interested in why the Hellboy issue irks me so much - here's the driving philosophy behind Hellboy that I respond to.

It's a nature versus nurture story. Hellboy's origin is that he's the son of a major demon, summoned to this plane by Nazi scientists to help Hitler conquer the world. Additionally, he's the central feature of a prophecy about the Apocalypse, namely that he'll bring it about with his stone "right hand of fate."

But none of this matters to Hellboy because he was raised by a nice kindly old man who fed him pancakes and gave him a happy childhood.

Hellboy loves this world. That's why he fights. It's worth more to him than being a big cheese in hell.

That's worth something to me, message-wise. I'm tired of nihilistic, "oh, the word sucks" messages, especially for heroes. I want to hear what they're fighting for.

Boom-deyadda.

Oh, and damn, ABC Family (we're checking out Tim Burton's original Batman movie, which I haven't seen in years, for nostalgia value - shut up) just played a trailer for some new series called Samurai Girl, and now I'm dying to see it. All on the strength of one gag where some white girl (college roommate?) finds the Japanese heroine hiding in her closet for some reason, and reacts with "I thought you were that dead girl from The Grudge!" Bwah. Plus there's posing with weapons and beach-exercise-fu ala Karate Kid. I can't resist.

At this time next week, I'll be at San Diego Comic-Con. I haven't been in about three years, and I've been warned that "it's gotten more corporate." More than it was? Like, as in the year they drove a full-size Batmobile onto the dealer floor? My mind boggles.

I sorta can't wait. The bargain bins, they wait for my searching fingers. I have back issues that need finding, particularly anything featuring Hannibal King.

Comments

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

SD Con is just much, much bigger, and a large part of it is about promoting movies now -- most of them comic movies or fantasy or something under that broad umbrella. For the most part, I think that's cool. The booths for the heavy comics hitters (DC, Image, etc.) aren't booths at all anymore - they're environments four aisles square, towering constructions with lighting effects and stuff.

Because of the press of humanity, it takes a hell of a long time to navigate the exhibition hall. Actual comics sellers (muhahaha! *rubs hands*) are usually located at each end and around the sides, along with the T shirt sellers and the people who peddle painted unicorns and scrying balls and such. The only place where the choking throng thins up is Artist's Alley, which is so sad. :(

More than it was? Like, as in the year they drove a full-size Batmobile onto the dealer floor? My mind boggles.

Oh, yes. Much more of that kind of thing -- bigger! Wilder! Crazier! It's pretty fun, in its way, in terms of crass spectacle. :)

If only it weren't so crowded. There are lots of cool panels and sneak previews, but the lines are so long you either have to camp out for a big event and miss a bunch of other stuff, or wait at the end of a huge snaking line and maybe have the room fill before you get in.

(Props to the Buffy singalong people last year -- when they realized they had one third the space they needed for the crowd, they cajoled two more rooms, somehow found two more projectors, and managed to drive on.)

I'm hoping to see some Watchmen... something, but I can just imagine hgow mobbed that will be.

Oh, yeah, bring food -- granola bars or whatever. Keep them on your person. Really. ;)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Good tip on the food - I've already stocked up on some snacks, and I guess I'll plan to hit the Safeway when we get there for water and whatnot. And I guess we'll have to arrange some kind of way to meet up once there, since I don't have a cell phone. : ( It doesn't sound like it'd be much of an idea to just hope we'll run into you!

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

Bring my cell number with you, I'll have it on me always. I send it to you in email in case you don't have it handy.

When are you arriving? I'll just be kicking around Wednesday evening, as I don't think Astrid will arrive until midnight or so.

How about fish tacos at Anthony's? It's near the Maritime Museaum on the waterot. Say 5-ish? Or lunch there on Thursday at noon?

(The Watchemen trailer! Aiyeeee! I saw it and geeked! Ahhhhh!)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I think we do have your cell number, so we'll bring that along. Maybe we'll be able to borrow a phone for the weekend from the relatives. And we're arriving on Wednesday night too, although we'll be staying way out in the 'burbs with family and taking the bus in for the con, so maybe lunch on Thursday is the way to go. I'm pretty sure I know the restaurant you're talking about, too - it's in that little maritime village by the Marriot, yeah?

I haven't seen anything for Watchmen yet, so I'm completely unspoiled so far. Great to hear that it looks good!

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I know the restaurant you're talking about, too - it's in that little maritime village by the Marriot, yeah?

No, it's farther down the boardwalk, past the big docked aircraft carrier ship/museum. If you need a steer, just ask any of the bicycle rickshaw dudes.

Call me Wednesday night and I'll give you crystal directions. :)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Will do!

Just checked out the Watchmen trailer on the Apple site. I have to admit, it looks pretty cool. Although from the trailer, it almost seems like the entire thing was filmed in slow motion. Hee.