After years of collaborating with Mike Mignola, Ben Stenbeck is going it solo. With this month’s The Skinless Man, Stenbeck officially treks deeper into the shadows of Lands Unknown with his first major turn as both writer and artist in the shared universe. Long known for his moody line work and atmospheric storytelling, Stenbeck now takes on a larger creative role, further shaping the folklore, horror, and connective tissue of a world that promises strange detours and long-game payoffs.
In our conversation, Stenbeck opens up about the freedom of working in this sandbox, the accidental descent into gore, planting seeds for stories that may stretch far beyond this first installment, and the joy of collaborating once again with Dave Stewart and Clem Robins.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: You’ve worked with Mignola for years, but The Skinless Man marks your first major writing and drawing contribution to Lands Unknown. What did it feel like stepping fully into this shared universe as both storyteller and architect?
Ben Stenbeck: It’s been really rewarding. I’ve had years to think about it because we first started talking about this in 2022. I’ve had a long lead-up while I was working on other things, so I’m happy to finally be working on this stuff I’ve been thinking about for years.
AIPT: Mignola describes Lands Unknown as a space where you could truly “cut loose.” What does cutting loose mean for you creatively on this series, and how does it differ from your previous work, like Our Bones Dust?
BS: The Lands Unknown stories are an opportunity to draw almost whatever I want. It’s a huge privilege. I hope that freedom and the fun I’m having come across on the page. Our Bones Dust was more restrained. I was always trying to ground that in reality as much as I could. Which, I think, worked for that story. But I love having the chance to go crazy in this fantasy folktale world.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: Bowling With Corpses leaned into the whimsical and folkloric side of this world, while The Skinless Man dives straight into nightmare territory. What drew you toward horror for your debut in this universe?
BS: It was an accident. I really didn’t mean to make this as gory as it is. I do want to do some more whimsical stuff, but this story just seemed to keep demanding blood and guts.
AIPT: The idea of stories that “seem disconnected at first” but are part of a larger narrative is intriguing. How intentional are the seeds you’re planting here for future Lands Unknown stories?
BS: Way too intentional for my own good. I’m probably being silly because I know how book six ends! I’m not sure if I’ll get to do book two! There are a few things in Skinless Man that have connections to other things way down the line. So, I hope I get to make those books.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: Dave Stewart and Clem Robins are longtime collaborators in the Mignolaverse. How did their colors and lettering shape the tone and atmosphere of The Skinless Man, especially in those stormy, claustrophobic sequences?
BS: We have a pretty easy relationship after all these years. I know I’m going to get an amazing result from both of them. Even when Dave does something I really wasn’t expecting, his influence on the art is an integral part of my work at this point. I’m always excited to see what he’s going to do with it. Getting colors from Dave might be my favorite part of the job.
AIPT: Do you have a favorite panel or page in The Skinless Man #1 that really captures the tone of the book? What makes that moment stand out to you artistically or emotionally?
BS: That page with the flowers. My mum always complains that I don’t draw enough flowers. So that’s for her. And I’m always happy when I get to draw some kind of exotic armor.
Lands Unknown: The Skinless Man #1 arrives in comic shops on March 4.
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