“This Project is Honestly a Dream Come True for Me” — Q&A: Rae Allen Discusses Working with Mike Mignola on CARMEN RED CLAW: BELLY OF THE BEAST

A "paranormal western adventure set in 1870s New Mexico territory," the new four-issue comic book series Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast follows "shape-shifting, supernatural gun-for-hire" Carmen Red Claw, the granddaughter of notorious pirate El Bogavante (who debuted in 2014's Lobster Johnson: Get The Lobster).

With the first issue of Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast now available from Dark Horse Comics, we caught up with artist and co-writer Rae Allen to discuss teaming up with Mike Mignola, colorist Michelle Madsen, and letterer Clem Robins to introduce Carmen Red Claw to readers in vibrant and vivid fashion.

Below, you can read our full Q&A with Rae Allen, and we also have a look at cover art and preview pages from the first issue. To learn more about Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast and other exciting releases from Dark Horse, be sure to visit:

• https://www.darkhorse.com/comics/3016-721/carmen-red-claw-belly-of-the-beast-1/

Thank you for taking the time to answer questions for us, Rae, and congratulations on Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast! How did you initially get involved with this series as an artist and a co-writer with the legendary Mike Mignola?

Rae Allen: Thank you, and thanks for having me!

I had made it a longterm goal many years ago to one day work on a project with Mike, and during college I wrote and self-published The Manderfield Devil, a graphic novella heavily inspired by Hellboy and Mike’s art style. I got the book printed and hand-delivered a hard copy to Mike at LightBox Expo in Pasadena back in 2022. He was impressed enough to say he wanted to work with me someday, and a year later he asked me to pitch him something.

What has the creative collaboration been like between you and Mignola? Was there a lot of insightful communication back and forth while you’ve both worked on this series and built the world of this story?

Rae Allen: I felt very nervous about the prospect of working with one of my lifelong heroes, but it turned out to be surprisingly natural. Most of our brainstorming happened over the phone, where I’d pitch ideas and Mike would help me refine them with his sage advice, and enrich them with deeper Hellboy lore. He’s always been available to answer my questions throughout the process, but he’s been really hands-off otherwise, trusting me with a lot of creative freedom.

I love how Mignola and Dark Horse have been expanding the Hellboy Universe with intriguing standalone stories, and Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast is the latest addition to the Hellboy library. How fun has it been to bring your own ideas and stories to life in the Hellboy Universe?

Rae Allen: This project is honestly a dream come true for me—it’s exactly the kind of work I want to be making, and hope to continue making. I love the Hellboy universe because it’s so full of folklore and history, which I’m a total geek for. And it’s magical, dark, and comedic all at once. I’m most passionate about the Hellboy stories that are standalone, so the opportunity to add to that lineup is an honor and a blast.

“A shape-shifting, supernatural gun-for-hire,” Carmen Red Claw is such a wonderfully unique character to join the haunted ranks of the Hellboy Universe (and she is a descendant of El Bogavante, who debuted in the 2014 series Lobster Johnson: Get the Lobster from Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Tonci Zonjic). What are you the most excited for readers to experience when they meet Carmen Red Claw for the first time?

Rae Allen: Carmen is a skilled hunter with a strong moral compass. She walks a fine line between brutality and heroism, holding her bloodthirsty instincts (inherited from her pirate grandfather) at bay. What’s most fun to watch, in my opinion, is her stark contrast against Pest—her deranged and unhinged lizard companion—who constantly tempts her to give in to her brutality.

I love how your artwork depicts this paranormal Western in vivid and vibrant fashion. What has it been like to work with colorist Michelle Madsen and letterer Clem Robins as you’ve all collaborated to bring this story from you and Mignola to life visually on the paneled page?

Rae Allen: Thank you! I’d say we have Michelle to thank for that vibrance; her work has been perfect for this story. And Clem has been so amiable despite my very particular lettering directions. Both are true masters of their craft, and I’m honored and grateful that they joined forces with me on this project.

Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast is initially planned as a four-issue series, but do you have plans to continue the adventures of Carmen Red Claw (or introduce other new characters in the Hellboy Universe) in future stories if the opportunity arises?

Rae Allen: Oh I definitely have lots of plans for future Carmen Red Claw stories! And I’ve got pretty high hopes that Dark Horse will keep me on for at least a few more books, if not many more, within the Hellboy universe and beyond. Here’s to hoping I don’t jinx it.

With Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast #1 now available from Dark Horse Comics, do you have any other projects coming up that you can tease for our readers?

Rae Allen: I do have a few more projects in the works, but none that I can share publicly for now. I’ll just say that one of them is for one of the world’s top fantasy authors. ;) If you’re interested to hear about my work as it’s announced, you can keep up to date via my newsletter.

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From the Press Release: "Legendary Hellboy creator Mike Mignola is joining forces with writer/artist Rae Allen (The Manderfield Devil, Town with a Million Eyes) for a new paranormal Western in Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast, a new series that connects to Lobster Johnson lore and the greater Hellboy Universe. Co-written by Mignola and Allen, with art from Allen, colors from Michelle Madsen, and letters from Clem Robins, this four-issue series will feature covers from Allen with variants from Mike Mignola, Jake Parker, Tonci Zonjic, and Benjamin Schipper.

“I’ve wanted to find a project for Rae for a long time, and finally just had the good sense to ask her if she had something in mind—and she did,” explains Mike Mignola. “She had half a dozen ideas—all great—but I was super impressed with this one, that she was able to create an entire character and situation based on a super tiny bit of a Lobster Johnson history. Such a fun addition to the Hellboy universe. We banged some details back and forth, but that was all fun and easy. She is a joy to work with and I hope this is only the beginning.”

Carmen Red Claw is a descendent of the notorious El Bogavante, the fearsome privateer who first appeared in Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Tonci Zonjic’s 2014 Lobster Johnson: Get The Lobster featuring iconic 1930s crimefighter, the Lobster. Working as a shape-shifting, supernatural gun-for-hire, Carmen investigates a supposedly cursed ranch in 1870s New Mexico territory. Something is killing the cattle in the area, and it's up to Carmen to find out whether there’s a beast to blame, or if humans are the real monsters.

“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.”

Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast #1 is due out on January 7, 2025 from Dark Horse. Follow Dark Horse Comics on social media for more news, announcements, and updates."

Cover Art by Rae Allen:

Variant Cover Art by Mike Mignola: