The Hellboy Universe Goes West In ‘Carmen Red Claw’
Dark Horse Comics has announced a new paranormal Western series, Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast, a four-issue series that expands the larger Hellboy Universe and connects to Lobster Johnson lore. The series is a collaboration between Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and writer/artist Rae Allen.
Mignola and Allen will co-write the series, with Allen handling the art. Michelle Madsen will provide colors, and Clem Robins will handle the letters. The series will feature covers by Allen, with variant covers by Mignola, Jake Parker, Tonci Zonjic, and Benjamin Schipper.
The story follows Carmen Red Claw, a supernatural contract killer and descendant of the infamous El Bogavante, as she investigates a mysterious ranch in 1870s New Mexico territory where cattle are being slaughtered. Carmen must determine whether a beast or humans are behind the sinister events. Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast #1 is set to be released on January 7, 2025.
“One of my favorite parts about Hellboy is the merging of classic folklore with the Hellboy universe,” says Rae Allen. “A lot of that ground has already been covered in Europe, how about more from America? I’m a big fan of the radio show Have Gun Will Travel (aired 1958-1960), and I thought a Paladin-style gun-for-hire in a supernatural Old West facing off with Native American, Colonial, and Mignolaverse monsters would be a lot of fun. Plus, why not add a lizard shoulder demon? Mike and I bounced ideas off each other and landed on a story that we think you’ll really enjoy. And I’m excited to introduce you to some Lakota folklore inspired by Yankton Dakota author Zitkala-Sa, enriched with the help of my friend Shiala King.”
