Nazis performing occult experiments to summon Elder Gods was a well worn trope even then, but one that got a new luster by Mignola's superior renderings. The Lovecraftian mythology underlying much of the first series is well known and appreciated in Sweden. The first translation of the Providence gentleman's stories appeared as early as 1954. And as the series progressed and expanded its scope my admiration has just grown exponentially. Mignola has continued to tap into things we both hold dear: monsters, folklore, occultism, art history, pulp heroes, Hammer and lucha libre movies - you know the score. Like most Swedes I have weak spot for when our little corner of the world gets recognition in pop culture from across the Atlantic. I remember how the whole theater freaked out when “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede started blasting from the speakers at the premiere of Reservoir Dogs and I’ve lost count of how many times friends have repeated that “Borg? Sounds Swedish,” line from Star Trek: First Contact. And let me tell you people over here really went bananas when “He Who Is Not To Be Named” made his infamous and uninformed “Last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this!” quip in a speech last year. So needless to say I’ve gotten a thrill when Mignola’s folklore studies have brought the stories closer to my home. To the best of my recollections there are references to Nordic but not specifically Swedish myths in the comics. You have for instance "King Vold" and "The Troll Witch" taking place in Norway where Mignola used regional tales (and even a reference shot of a Norwegian cottage a fan sent him) as a basis. The "King Vold" story as you know ends with the scheming Aickman begging on the streets of Copenhagen. He next shows up in illustrated novel The Bones of Giants where he has relocated to Swedish capital Stockholm. Despite having never set foot here writer Christopher Golden gives the story some local flavor throwing in references to the legendary jazz club Stampen and having some of the action take place in the Royal Gardens (Djurgården). During the course of the story Thor’s hammer fuses with Hellboy's Right Hand of Doom and various references to Norse mythology sprinkles the narrative. Then we have "Abe Sapien: The Haunted Boy" where some allusions are made to the water spirit Nacken/Neck who pops up under various names in the Nordic and Germanic mythology and folklore. I actually wrote in to ask much missed editor Scott Allie about the inspiration for the story. Only to hear that in this instance they just made stuff up, which was a hoot in itself!