Clive Barker Revisits Hellraiser In Comic Form

Horror king Clive Barker is revisiting Hellraiser in a new comic book series, and he has help from G4tv.com's own previews editor Christopher Monfette. 'Gratz, Chris! Barker and Monfette are writing a new ongoing series to be drawn by Leonardo Manco of Hellblazer fame. The pair's last collaboration -- the surrealist, 3D comic book Seduth -- was published last year by IDW and illustrated by Locke & Key artist Gabriel Rodriguez.

"Hellraiser #1" ships as an oversized 40-page issue in March with A & B covers in a 50/50 split with art by Tim Bradstreet and Nick Percival, as well as a very special 1-in-50 incentive cover with art by Clive Barker and signed by Barker himself.

"There's virtually no greater honor than being entrusted by Clive with the voice of his most iconic character," says Monfette. "Hellraiser remains one of the single greatest reasons why I fell in love with the genre, and to have this opportunity to journey into Hell and back alongside Clive and the folks at Boom! is truly a writer's dream." 

With regard to the series' enigmatic storyline, Monfette remains mum. "Without giving too much away, I'd hope that fans of the film series will see these issues, collectively, as the unofficial cap to a trilogy begun with Hellraiser and Hellbound. It's very much rooted in that original universe, exploring Pinhead's own personal suffering, his own demons, and an almost literal deal with the Devil. And it all builds toward a harrowing conclusion that will fundamentally change the character, and the entire world of Hellraiser, as you know it."

Along with the new series, Boom! Studios is also releasing Hellraiser: Masterworks Vol. 1, a reprint of stories from the Hellraiser anthology published by Marvel’s Epic, with stories by Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, Mike Mignola and Alex Ross, among others.