Although Marvel and DC currently dominate Hollywood’s superhero film market, many other superhero characters have emerged and established their own unique places in different domains. “Dark Horse” is a prime example of such cases.
Known as a leading comic book publisher in the US, Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by writer and publisher Mike Richardson. The most famous title that has become synonymous with the Dark Horse brand is Hellboy, a superhero with an incredibly quirky design. In addition to Hellboy, several notable titles include: The Mask, The Vampire Slayer, Conan The Barbarian, Mass Effect, and 300.
Speaking of Hellboy, this character is considered one of the most iconic superheroes of modern times. Born from a demonic origin, Hellboy has the appearance of a red-skinned devil with a large stone hand and a tail. His unique look is further defined by a pair of filed-down horns (which he later had cut off).
From his birth, he was rescued by Professor Trevor Broom (US), escaping from the clutches of a demonic summoning. Growing up in the supernatural environment of the US military, Hellboy has engaged in countless battles against the dark forces of various supernatural entities (including evil spirits and other supernatural beings). His first public adventure was known through the comic series of the same name published by Dark Horse in 1994.
After a period of publication, the story of Hellboy by writer Mike Mignola attracted the attention of director Guillermo del Toro. He envisioned a way to bring this superhero to the big screen. Del Toro’s enthusiasm surprised Mignola because he believed that the stories of his characters were meant to remain on the page.
The first film was released by Revolution Studios in collaboration with companies such as Dark Horse Entertainment and Starlite Films, featuring main actors Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, and Jeffrey Tambor. The film was a significant success, grossing 100 million USD worldwide. With such impressive earnings, Hellboy ranked in the top 10 of the highest-grossing films in 2004.
The story of Hellboy continued in the second installment directed by Del Toro in 2008, titled “The Golden Army.” Compared to the first installment, Hellboy 2 developed deeper and more complex narratives. The film featured the appearance of numerous mythical characters created by writer Mike Mignola in the comics. The comic world of Hellboy always delves into the vibrant colors of mythology that were not visible in the first part. Therefore, the director introduced a variety of mythical creatures from the hidden world, including Rasputin, powerful sorcerers, and other scientific figures.
While Hellboy embodies the dark humor of classic heroes, The Mask represents a modern superhero with many peculiar traits and a more whimsical personality. The Mask first appeared in 1982, created by Mike Richardson (who later founded Dark Horse). Unlike many other superhero series, The Mask does not have a fixed main character. Instead, it consists of a series of interconnected stories centered around a common element, which is The Mask – the mystical mask of Loki.
With its divine power, The Mask can turn anyone who wears it into a superhero of great significance. However, the dark humor and whimsicality of this mask also make its owner vulnerable to losing control. Throughout the series about The Mask, there have been numerous occasions where this mask fell into the hands of villains. Ultimately, the mask tends to favor the victorious heroes and always belongs to those who deserve it most.
To date, The Mask has appeared three times on screen, with two feature films: The Mask (1994), Son of the Mask (2005), and one animated series: The Mask: Animated Series (1995-1997). In the 1994 feature film, Jim Carrey received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. Additionally, the film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects (though it ultimately lost to Forrest Gump).
