A comic based on an animated movie, that’s based on a comic: it’s Hellboy like you’ve never seen him before!

In conjunction with the upcoming, groundbreaking Hellboy Animated series, directed by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and Guillermo del Toro, Dark Horse Comics announces the release of a line of all-new graphic novels, products, and custom publishing projects.

Dark Horse is creating a 32-page custom comic that will be packed in an estimated 500,000 Hellboy Animated: Sword of Storms DVDs in early 2007. The custom comic features story by Jim Bascoe ( Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and art by Rick Lacy ( Star Wars Clone Wars Adventures).

“Jim got to work these stories out with Mike [Mignola], so Mike’s stamp is visible here too—and with Tad, Mignola’s co-producer on the animated shows, writing backups, we’re fleshing out the world of the two slated animated films, bringing some great stuff from Mike's comics into that parallel world,” Scott Allie, editor of Hellboy and the Hellboy Animated comics, says.

Beginning in late 2006, Dark Horse will release a series of products, including polyresin statues, mini-busts, PVC figures, magnets, rubber stamps, stationery, journals, and flip flop sandals. The line will kick off with the release of two Hellboy Animated statues–Hellboy and Abe Sapien–sculpted by the gifted hands of Tony Cipriano. Dark Horse will partner with Tim Bruckner, Gentle Giant Studios, and IDT on these projects.

“All in all, we’ve assembled a world-class team that is delivering the goods—and then some,” David Scroggy, Dark Horse’s Vice President of Product Development, says.

The Hellboy and Abe Sapien statues arrive in stores in late 2006 with a retail price of $150.