Hellraiser has always been one of my favorite movies. Clive Barker came up with a great concept that unfortunately was taken a little too far in the films. Recently Boom! Studios launched a HELLRAISER series with Barker's involvement. What that means is it's been a great series. Besides the return of some familiar Cenobites such as Pinhead, we've also had the return of Kirsty Cotton, the heroine from the first couple movies (the ones that only really matter to me).
Kirsty was a survivor and in her debut in this series, she was on the verge of finding happiness. She banded together with other survivors that suffered from encounters with the Lament Configuration. She eventually confronts Pinhead once again who manages to convince her to take his place ruling Hell so he could return to the land of the living as a mortal. A new series, HELLRAISER: THE ROAD TO HELL, focuses on Kirsty's first days as the new Pinhead. It is due in October and is written by Brandon Seifert (WITCH DOCTOR) with art by Ibraim Roberson.
We had the chance to talk to Ibraim about where this new series will take Kirsty and readers.
Comic Vine: What's the setting for the series? Will we see Kirsty in Hell or out in the world?
Ibraim Roberson: I can say that we will see Hell... and perhaps we will find out that Hell is not that bad at all. I have a specific approach to Clive's universe. I like to think that maybe the real world is not as real as we think and that we need to try to go through the tissue of our reality to actually see what we are. But as I said, it's just the way I like to think about it.
== TEASER ==
CV: What sort of reference material were you given to create the environments and characters?
IR: I'm trying to imagine everything based on what I felt after seeing the first movie. Whether I work with concept art or need to create an entire world, I like to keep it close to the core idea or reference. In this case, the aesthetics of the first movie. I believe this way I'm not creating a subproduct or an adaptation, but part of the original work that you can understand and evokes the same feelings you have when you watch the movie.
CV: Were you a fan of the original movies?
IR: One of the first things I said to my editor was something like “I need to do this series because I’ve loved Clive's work since I was a kid.” The movies had a huge impact in the way I see and draw darker stories and create my own monsters.
CV: Which is better, Hellraiser or Hellraiser II and why?
IR: What led me to watch Hellraiser II was the first film, so that first impression will never go away. Maybe in the sequel I was more prepared to deal with all the fear that I felt watching the first movie. I'll never forget the feeling when I first saw that pale face covered with those nails.
CV: Will we see other/new Cenobites?
IR: Some of them will make you look for a hiding place inside the pages...
CV: When drawing, does the time of day matter when producing darker material?
IR: Now that you mentioned, when I was working on The Zombie Survival Guide with Max Brooks, I did the entire book during the night. I believe it helps you to get in the mood to draw these kinds of stories.
CV: Are you getting detailed scripts for this or are they looser ones that call on your imagination more?
IR: I have enough room in there to add my personal touch without conflicting with Brandon's writing. Normally I like to always add something without changing or distorting the energy that I feel when I first read the script.
Also, Brandon is an amazing writer and I love the ambience and the rhythm that he's giving to this series.
CV: What's it been like taking on this project compared to your recent ones?
IR: It's thrilling! When I started my career in the comic book industry, it was with an horror story then I jumped to superheroes. Now I'm turning myself back again to horror stories, and this time it involves one of my favourite horror movies. I'm a really lucky guy, because so far I’ve had the chance to work with everything that I love in comics and I want it to stay that way!
HELLRAISER: THE ROAD BELOW #1 is on sale October 31, 2012. Make sure to let your comic shop know ASAP that you are interested in reading this series. Also, check out the other HELLRAISER series from Boom! as well.
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