Mike Mignola’s Hellboy holds a special place in comics history. Debuting in John Byrne’s series Next Men from Dark Horse comics in 1994 and having gone on to become one of the most successful independent comic book characters of all-time. Several live-action and animated movies have brought Mignola’s creation to a large audience and another feature film is due in late 2024.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the character the Copro Gallery in Santa Monica, CA has enlisted the aid of over 40 artists to shine a light on the character and his influence on comics since his debut. Owing to both the character’s ethos as well as the visual and narrative storytelling, Hellboy has influenced a wide variety of creators over the years. Now the are using that inspiration to honor the work Mignola and his collaborators have gifted us with since his first appearance. You can get more details and see some art from the gallery show in the official press release below.

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Copro Gallery Hosts Mike Mignola’s Hellboy 30th Anniversary Tribute Group Art Show Curated by Gary Deocampo 

(July 1, 2024) 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most influential independent comic characters in pop culture: Hellboy. Mike Mignola’s iconic character has inspired artists working in every medium for decades. To celebrate Hellboy and Mignola’s legacy, curator Gary Deocampo has assembled a group exhibition with over 40 artists paying tribute to Hellboy with paintings, drawings and sculptures. The Hellboy 30th Anniversary Tribute Group Show will open on Saturday, July 6 at Copro Gallery in Santa Monica, CA. “Curating this show was a labor of love not only for me and Copro Gallery but for all the artists that joined us on this creative journey,” explained curator and artist Gary Deocampo. “The 30 year anniversary of Hellboy is not only a testament to the universe that was built and still thrives, but to Mike Mignola and his indelible impact on the industry and fans worldwide. This show is a love letter to Hellboy and Mike for all the joy that he and Hellboy continue to gift the world.”The show brings together a diverse roster of acclaimed artists from the worlds of comics, film and fine art, including  Rachele Aragno, Attack Peter, Abby Belle, Mitchell Bernal,Steven Russell Black, Scott C, Anthony Carpenter, Rick Cortes,  Martin Darkside, Gary Deocampo, Dos Diablos,  Alban Ficat, Luke Flowers, Thom Fluharty, Francesco Francavilla, Gabriel Garcia, Juan Gedeon, Joseph Gonzalez,  Mab Graves, Gris Grimly, Jorge R. Gutierrez, Natalie Hall,  Kevin Hanna, Rustam Hasanov, Tomás Hijo, Dan Hipp, Mike Huddleston, David Igo, Warwick JC, Karikatura, Paul Komoda, Mark Laszlo, Travis Louie, David Mack, Ruben Martinez, Kamila Mlynarczyk,  Kirk Nelson, Kory Nelson, Stephen Oakley, Kelly Olson, Thomas Perkins, David Peterson, Craig Rousseau, Heidi Marie Smith, Matt Smith, Javier Soto, Tad Stone, Vin Teng, Katsuya Terada, Patrick Thai, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Doug William, Allen Williams, Chet Zar, and more! The variety of art on display is a testament to the breadth of Mignola’s influence and inspiration. “The first time I saw Hellboy I was awestruck by Mike’s design and style,” said MONDO creative director and designer, Attack Peter. “The work knocked me off my proverbial horse and set me on my path to become a professional artist. I was forever changed.”“I’ve gotten too much from Hellboy to properly list in a few sentences,” said cartoonist Matt Smith (BARBARIAN LORD). “ Hellboy brought me back into comics after drifting away for years. It widened my eyes to a form of storytelling that was atmospheric and gorgeous. It inspired me to make my own comic and then unexpectedly became part of my professional comics life. Hellboy means a mountain of significance for me. Happy 30th, fella.“When Gary Deocampo contacted me to participate in the exhibition honoring Hellboy I was so happy!,” said artist Rachele Aragno (LEONIDE THE VAMPYR). “HELLBOY was the comic that made me love comics and choose to do them professionally. This character has paved a path straight into my heart, I can never stop thanking and loving him.”Bestselling cartoonist David Mack (KABUKI, DAREDEVIL) adds, “Mignola’s art & creativity has sent ripple effects of inspiration to creators and fans. It is an honor to contribute to this Hellboy exhibition!”Copro Gallery will host an opening reception for The Hellboy 30th Anniversary Tribute Group Show from 6-10 PM PT on Saturday, July 6. Follow @CoproGallery or visit the gallery’s website for updates. 

About Mike MignolaMike Mignola’s fascination with ghosts and monsters began at an early age; reading Dracula at age twelve introduced him to Victorian literature and folklore, from which he has never recovered. Starting in 1982 as a bad inker for Marvel Comics, he swiftly evolved into a not-so-bad artist. By the late 1980s, he had begun to develop his own unique graphic style, with mainstream projects like Cosmic Odyssey and Batman:Gotham by Gaslight. In 1994, he published the first Hellboy series through Dark Horse.There are thirteen Hellboy graphic novels (with more on the way), several spin-off titles (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien, and Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder), prose books,animated films, and two live-action films starring Ron Perlman. Along the way he worked on Francis Ford Coppola’s film Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), was a production designer for Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), and was the visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro on Blade II (2002), Hellboy (2004), and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). Mike’s books have earned numerous awards and are published in a great many countries. Mike lives in Southern California with his wife, daughter, and cat.

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