Today, Beehive Books launched a Kickstarter for the latest release from their Illuminated Editions imprint: an illustrated and annotated edition of Carlo Collodi‘s 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio. The new Pinocchio: The Illuminated Edition will feature Collodi’s original text accompanied by illustrations from comics superstar Mike Mignola and colorist Dave Stewart, as well as annotations to the text by novelist Lemony Snicket. To celebrate the launch of the crowdfunding campaign for the book, The Beat is pleased to present an exclusive first look at a few of Mignola’s illustrations, as well as a few words from Mignola himself about the project.

Here’s how Beehive Books describes Pinocchio: The Illuminated Edition:

This is a completely original way to read PINOCCHIO. Mignola and Snicket are not merely elaborating on or presenting Carlo Collodi’s beloved novel – they’re having their own strange adventures through it, and we’re lucky enough to be invited along as their companions.

Our edition includes not only a suite of over fifty exquisite original illustrations from Mike Mignola and colorist Dave Stewart, breathing a gorgeous new life to the charm, gloom, and chaos of this classic… it also features a full text annotation by Lemony Snicket, who takes the reader along with him for his own first experience of the story in all of its bubbling stew of anarchic madness, surreal symbolism and social commentary. Snicket’s annotations are presented as removable typewritten sheets, complete with all the tell-tale revisions and ink-stains of an incipient authorial madness. 

Speaking with The Beat about the project, artist Mike Mignola described what drew him to it. “I love that what PINOCCHIO comes down to is basically “If you’re bad, you will kill your parents.””, Mignola said. “I don’t know that that really resonates with me but it is what I find fascinating about the book.”

The new presentation of Pinocchio will be available in three different print formats, as described in the statement announcing the Kickstarter:

PINOCCHIO: An Illuminated Edition comes in three print editions: a slipcase hardcover, a signed and numbered edition, and a sketched and lettered edition. All ten titles in the Beehive Books’ Illuminated Editions series are available through the campaign, and Beehive will offer certain discounts on bulk orders. Each title also comes as a DRM-free digital PDF, which is included along with every print edition. The standard edition is an oversize 9×12″ hardcover, bound in sewn signatures, and housed in an elaborately embossed and debossed die-cut slipcase, silk-screened or foil-stamped with artwork. The interior is printed on creamy, acid-free heavy-weight 140gsm uncoated paper with a fine tooth, and includes dozens of full color illustrations, illuminated letters, and special design pieces.

The entire package is designed by Maëlle Doliveux with a restrained graphic boldness, and an unparalleled eye for beauty, clarity and readability. There will also be a signed & numbered edition limited to 250 backers which comes in a foil-stamped slipcase wrapped in natural-fiber binding cloth. The editions have dyed edges, bound-in silk ribbon markers, and specialty bookplates, signed and numbered by Mike Mignola and Lemony Snicket. This edition also comes with a Kickstarter-exclusive foil-blocked 8×11″ print by Mike Mignola. The lettered edition comes in a clamshell housing with enamel plates re-creating Mignola’s artwork mounted onto its French door enclosures, and includes an original Pinocchio drawing from Mignola. All editions include dozens of slipped-in typesheet pages authored by Snicket on a mid-century Smith Corona typewriter.

Check out the exclusive reveal of a trio of Mignola’s illustrations from the book below. The Kickstarter campaign for Pinocchio: The Illuminated Edition is live now, and runs through Thursday, April 20th.