Ahead of San Diego Comic-Con, Dynamite Entertainment announced new licensing deals for Elvira and Pumpkinhead, a Hack/Slash / Vampirella crossover, Mike Carey as writer for the new Barbarella comic, and an art retrospective of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

Dynamite has signed a licensing deal with Queen B Productions and DevlinAgency for Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the beloved horror icon portrayed by actress Cassandra Peterson, to develop and manufacture a variety of product categories including comic books, trading cards, posters, lithographs, card games, and board games.  "Where better to find ‘Yours Cruelly' then with my fellow freaks and fiends of the comic book scene?” Cassandra Peterson said in the announcement. “Nooo….of corpse I'm not talkin' about you, darling, but the ghouls and goblins in the pages of my very own Dynamite comic book! I can't wait to light this powderkeg!" Specific release information was not announced.

Dynamite also signed a licensing deal with MGM for the 1988 horror film Pumpkinhead to for new comic books and graphic novels. The film, directed by Stan Winston, is a revenge-tragedy where a grieving father invokes the demon Pumpkinhead to avenge the accidental death of his son. The farmer soon regrets his choice, and tries to stop the demon.

Mike Carey (Ultimate Fantastic Four, X-Men, Lucifer) will be writer on Dynamite’s upcoming Barbarella comic series. Jean-Marc Lofficier, custodian of the Barbarella brand, will serve as supervisor on the project. Carey’s work includes comics, TV and film scripts, radio plays and books, including his bestseller The Girl with All the Gifts. The license was announced at last year’s New York Comic Con (see “Dynamite to Publish New 'Barbarella' Comics”).

Tim Seeley’s Hack/Slash will join Dynamite’s Vampirella in a horror crossover event launching ion October 4. Hack/Slash vs. Vampirella will be written by Shawn Aldridge and drawn by Rapha Lobosco. The comic will see Cassie Hack and her protector Vlad crossing paths with Vampirella on the Vegas Strip.

Kevin Conran’s 2004 dieselpunk film will be immortalized in a comprehensive art book, curated by Conran and edited by Shannon Eric Denton. Art of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow will include a gallery of Conran’s illustrations and designs, behind-the-scenes details on how the movie was developed, and more. The film starred Jude Law, Angelina Jolie, and Gwyneth Paltrow (see “Sky Captain Captures Box Office”).