WONDERCON: MIKE MIGNOLA PANEL

SAN FRANCISCO -- Hellboy creator Mike Mignola said he is pleased with the development of the two Hellboy animated movies.

"I helped with the stories and I'm happy with the stories and I'm happy with design," Mignola said at his WonderCon panel on Friday. "So maybe there will be a series."

The two films are from IDT Entertaiment, in partnership with Revolution Studios, and are geared for release on DVD. Mignola said they might air on Cartoon Network first, although they are not currently scheduled.

Mignola said that, like the Batman franchise did, the Hellboy animated universe will be separate from that of the comics and that of the live-action movies. For instance, there will be no romantic interest between Hellboy and Liz Sherman, as in 2004's film.

"We're sort of splitting the difference between the comics and the movie," Mignola said. "They're not quite my designs and they're not quite the movie designs."

In other highlights from the panel:

* Mignola provided an update on the live-action sequel, which will again be directed by Guillermo del Toro.

"Guillermo recently finished the screenplay and it got everybody jazzed," Mignola said. "There's some rewriting going on, and hopefully it will be his next picture."

* Mignola said the pilot for an animated The Amazing Screw-On Head series for Sci Fi is nearing completion.

"I haven't seen it," he said. "It's very difficult to see things when other people interpret my work and they're trying to stick close to it. My wife saw it and liked it."

Mignola said he was present for voice recording, including that of Paul Giamatti in the title role and David Hyde Pierce as Emperior Zombie.

Sci Fi has yet to schedule an air date, and Mignola said he didn't know when that would be.

* In terms of comics, Mignola said the three mini-series with art by Duncan Fegredo form "one big epic."

"In my head, the first 10 years were the first act, Duncan's Hellboy is the second act, and when I return after Duncan's mini-series, we get into the final act because I've finally figured it all out."

* Mignola said there won't be any more Amazing Screw-On Head comics. "Because I don't think I can compete with what I've done with that," he said.

* Mignola and Chris Golden are collaborating on a novel, in which Mignola is co-writing and providing illustrations that complement the story.