A unique version of Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio is coming from Hellboy’s Mike Mignola and A Series of Unfortunate Events’ Lemony Snicket. The two creators have launched a Kickstarter for the collaboration project, which is published by Beehive Book’s Illuminated Editions imprint. The unique book features Mignola’s signature artwork with over 100 removable text annotations to the classic story from Snicket.
Mike Mignola and Lemony Snicket’s Pinocchio
According to the official. Kickstarter page, Pinocchio: The Illuminated Edition is a “completely original way to read Pinocchio”. The book is not just a re-telling of Collodi’s classic novel, but a whole new way to experience the story from these two master storytellers. In fact, the two are not just discussing the classic story, but “having their own strange adventures through it”.
This includes over fifty original illustrations from Mike Mignola alongside colorist Dave Stewart. Together, they breathe new life and a touch of chaos into the classic tale. Meanwhile, Snicket contributes over 100 text annotations to the story. These annotations, which come as removable typewritten sheets, take the reader along as he experiences the story for the first time. The sheets add some authenticity with signs of revisions and ink-stains.
Why Take On A Classic?
According to Mike Mignola, he has been in love with the story of Pinocchio for as long as he can remember. At least since he saw the original Disney film and then sought out Collodi’s novel. What really draws him to the story is how “brilliantly strange” it is: “Very funny and also heartbreakingly sad. It’s one of the two books (along with Dracula) that I think sort of make me do what I do the way I do them.” So, when Beehive Books came to him with this opportunity, he couldn’t say no.
Meanwhile, Snicket was just curious if he would “join the tradition of readers completely transformed into lunatics from a reading of Pinocchio”. The book’s campaign is currently underway with three editions available to back: A slipcase hardcover, a signed and numbered edition, and a sketched and lettered edition.
