A comic book cover is a gateway to an interior realm, instantly creating a mood, an emotion, or a reaction to beckon one into the story it serves to herald. It's the first impression that entices prospective readers to engage with the creators and forges a bond to lure you into its pages upon purchase.

As part of SYFY WIRE's ongoing series saluting some of the finest cover artists in the industry, which has already showcased living legends Neal Adams, Jim Steranko, and Francesco Francavilla, we now celebrate the considerable artistry of Mike Mignola.

The Eisner Award-winning creator of Hellboy and the entire Mignola-verse — which encompasses titles like B.P.R.D, Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien, Witchfinder, Joe Golem, and Baltimore — began his career with Marvel inking Daredevil and Power Man and Iron Fist. He then migrated over to DC for various Batman series like A Death in the Family and Legends of the Dark Knight before blazing his own trail in 1994 with the horned, hammer-handed paranormal detective Hellboy.

With Halloween fast approaching and the new Hellboy movie starring David Harbour on the horizon, SYFY WIRE sat down with the wizard of this weird world at Portland's Rose City Comic Con last month to hear his personal comments on 13 classic Mignola covers encompassing his 35-year career.

From Bram Stoker's Dracula and Hellboy to Batman: Gotham by Gaslight and Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil, follow along and let us know if our collection includes any of your favorites.

Here in his own words are the secrets and surprises on how these covers were conceptualized and composed in Mignola's uniquely stark, evocative style.