'Hellboy' has potential to fire up theaters, stores

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Ron Perlman is Hellboy, a demon-turned-do-gooder who battles the forces of evil on Earth. Columbia Pictures 'Hellboy' Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro Based on Mike Mignola's serial comic Rated PG-13 Now playing at local theaters

And he dresses like Janet Jackson.

What's not to love about Hellboy?

The big, beet-red do-gooder hit movie theaters last week as one of the season's most anticipated comic-to-film projects — pretty impressive given the fact that, unlike recent predecessors Spider-Man, Hulk and the X-Men, Hellboy had zero mainstream presence until the film's trailer started attracting attention late last year.

Within comic circles, of course, the Hellboy release has been big stuff.

Last Sanctuary, a comic store on Kapi'olani Boulevard, sponsored a Hellboy art contest last week that drew 27 entries, all artistic, a few downright professional looking. The winning entries were an oil painting, a diorama and a Hawaiian-theme drawing.

"It's been crazy," said Brett Joubert, manager of the store. "We've been selling a lot of toys, action figures, hats, everything associated with Hellboy. Some people are fans of the comic, but others, I think, were just waiting for the next big thing."

And Hellboy is a decidedly different next big thing.

Part of a generation of edgy publications developed after comics stopped being distributed in markets, drugstores and other mainstream outlets, Hellboy has grown up largely out of the public eye.

So, while fans of the Dark Horse Comics character are predictably nervous about their hero's transition to the big screen, most mainstream filmgoers are entering the film with no knowledge of the comic's history.

"I think it's easier, in a way," says Joubert. "The larger titles like Spider-Man have become icons so beyond the realm of comic readers and comic collectors. People who go to see the movie know Spider-Man as a comic, a kids' cartoon, a video on MTV, a cool T-shirt from Sears."

Joubert says that while all that might help draw people to the theaters initially, those same people are likely to carry with them the baggage of familiarity and expectation.

A diorama by Rayson and Elena Sakugawa won in an art contest.

Brett Joubert, manager of The Last Sanctuary, hangs Hellboy-inspired paintings in the store, including one at right by Jamen Chai. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Joubert, a member of the Theatricus theater group, says he tries to evaluate comic-inspired movies on their own cinematic merit, without demanding absolute fidelity to their print roots.

While the current wave of comic-inspired movies has focused on familiar favorites, a few lesser-known comic properties have also been tapped as film material, including "The Crow," "Spawn," "From Hell," and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."

"I think the lesser-known comics make better movies," says comic fan Cory Yamamoto of McCully. "When you have a big comic, you expect a big hit. When you have something that isn't well known, the only reason you consider it is because it's unique and you have to keep it unique."

Joubert, for one, thinks "Hellboy" has the potential to make a mainstream merchandising splash.

"Hellboy is not obvious, and that's why he could be a hit," Joubert said. "He has a big gun, he has a big stone hand, he's red. He's sort of 'cutified.' I can see a kid cuddling up to a stuffed Hellboy doll."

With the comic-to-film trend showing no signs of abating, publishing giants Marvel and DC have been dusting the cobwebs off of baby boomer favorites.

And as these buyers seek out comic specialty shops — the major point of sales since Diamond Comic Distributors Inc. all but monopolized comic distribution in the 1980s — what they're finding are comics that are darker, more stylistic and significantly more expensive than a generation ago.

Invulnerability has given way to frailty in many comic titles, and superheroes now find themselves dealing not just with megalomaniacal super villains, but with alcohol, family violence and depression.

No wonder Hollywood is interested.

Reach Michael Tsai at 535-2461 or mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Weighing in on comics-turned-films

We asked comic and film buffs to give us their opinion of some recent comic-to-film releases. With the exception of Ang Lee's "The Hulk," which people either loved or hated, opinions were surprisingly consistent. Here's the gist of what they said.

"Spider-Man" (2002): Good story, good casting and a faithful treatment of the spirit of the comic. The consensus favorite. "It's the new standard," said Peter Yu of Makiki.

"X-Men" (2000)/"X2: X-Men-United" (2003): Great action and special effects, combined with an impressive ensemble cast, make up for a rather weak storyline. Social commentary is a bit heavy-handed. "X-Men (comics) are my all-time favorite and I think the movies came out pretty well," said Rayson Sakugawa of Mililani. (Sakugawa and his wife, Elena, submitted one of the three winning entries in Last Sanctuary's Hellboy art contest.)

"Hulk" (2003): It's wonderful. It sucks. It's gripping. It's tedious. Ang Lee is a genius. Ditch Lee and get Peter Jackson next time. Oy, check back with us in 10 years.

"Daredevil" (2003): Thumbs down all around. Ben Affleck was a poor fit as the brooding lead, his costume made him look like a red barn, and the story hit all of the obvious marks without making an impression. Colin Farrell did a nice turn as Bullseye, though. "It royally sucked," summarized Jason Hargrove of Kahala.

"The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (2003): A Frankenstein-like cobbling of Captain Nemo, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, Dorian Gray, Tom Sawyer, the Invisible Man, Mina Harker and Allan Quatermain without the charm that made them classics. Many authors — perhaps even the creators of the comic — are rolling in many graves.

"Spawn" (1997): Not really part of the latest wave of comic movies, but several in our survey group held it up as one of the best of the genre. Dark, weird funny, even moving. And John Leguizamo is terrific as a Virgil-like psychotic clown.