Hellboy-inspired “Hell of a Comic Art Challenge” entries teased

By John Freeman on August 21, 2019

Mallory character design by and © Anne Farron

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has revealed some of the fantastic entries received for its 2019 “Hell of a Comic Art Challenge” from students of the arts and young comic art enthusiasts, who have been creatively exploring the depths Hell to create new comic characters!

The competition, supported by the University of Cumbria, is a tribute to Mike Mignola’s Hellboy. Students are challenged to create their own new character who. despite emerging from the hellish heat and fury of the underworld is, like Hellboy, are a cool force for good.

The challenge offers a devilishly excellent opportunity for comic creators to showcase their talent – and winners could end up being part of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival’s tribute exhibition, From the Depths: The Hellboy Comics of Duncan Fegredo. (There are some cool prizes, too).

Crowgirl, created by and © Gemma Rickers

The entries include Mallory, created by Anne Farron, a young adult who works in a small informal business as a psychic investigator; Crowgirl, created by Cheshire-based animator, illustrator and voice actress Gemma Rickers, a character hatched from a mysterious abandoned egg CrowGirl who appears to be some kind of half-breed; and Babe, created by Arreah Bihary, a character too disobedient for Heaven and too moral for Hell, stuck in the mortal plane with a decision to make – be a hero to humanity and reclaim his original place among the stars, or accept tempting offers and take his recently former position of power in Hell…

Babe, created by and © Arreah Bihary

From the Depths, running at Kendal’s Wildman Gallery from 21st September until 13th October 2019, will delve into Fegredo’s working techniques and uncover how images are summoned from the written script.

Duncan’s work on the Hellboy title Hellboy: The Beast of Vardo will be explored in fascinating detail and the exhibition will also celebrate The Midnight Circus, the Hellboy comic of which Duncan is most proud; along with a host of other material from his own collection.

• Hell of a Comic Art Challenge is open until 30th August 2019. If you know any budding artists or comic art enthusiasts, check out how to enter on the Festival’s Hell of a Comic Art Challenge page | View a gallery of some of the entries

• From the Depths: The Hellboy Comics of Duncan Fegredo – Exhibition Information

• Want to receive news about the Lakes International Comic Art Festival? Then sign up for their newsletter now

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Explorer (previously known as Star Trek Magazine) and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War and “Dan Dare”. He’s the writer of "Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies" for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

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