The Amazing Screw-On Head

For the unaired television pilot, see The Amazing Screw-On Head (Pilot).

The Amazing Screw-On Head is a one-shot story written and drawn by Mike Mignola.

Publisher's Summary

When Emperor Zombie threatens the safety of all life on Earth, the president enlists the aid of a mechanical head. With Screw-On Head and Mr. Groin on the job, you just know there will be flying machines to be piloted, tombs to be robbed, and weird alien menaces to be thwarted—all that and talking dogs, too! It's pure mayhem—and pure Mignola!

Plot

Screw-On Head is an agent for President Abraham Lincoln. He is summoned by Lincoln to track down Emperor Zombie, an undead occultist and originally a groundskeeper at Hyde Park. Zombie and his henchmen, the vampire Madam and scientist Dr. Snap, have stolen an ancient manuscript, the Kalakistan Fragment—the manuscript details the life of Gung the Magnificient, who nearly conquered the world with supernatural powers derived from "a fabulous melon-sized jewel." Zombies has translated the manuscript that tells him the location of the jewel that he plans to use for himself.

With the aid of his manservant, Mr. Groin, and dog Mr. Dog, Screw-On Head tracks down Zombie in the Aswam Valley, but not before the villain and his henchmen find the treasure: instead of a jewel, the tomb contains a turnip. However, the turnip contains a small parallel universe and Dr. Snap inadvertently unleashes the Demigod within. Screw-On Head manages to defeat the Demigod by firing a missile into its mouth, causing it to explode, and stopping Zombie.

Story Within a Story

While not strictly canon, The Amazing Screw-On Head exists within the Hellboy Universe as a series of stories written by Walter Edmond Heap:

• The Incredible Adventures of a Small Mechanical Head (1899)
• The Mechanical Head Returns (1900)
• The Mechanical Head Returns Again (1902)

Connection to the Hellboy Universe

Emperor Zombie makes reference to Vril.

Connections to Other Mignola Works

Between two shared characters and a shared location The Amazing Screw-On Head connects to three other stories contained with The Amazing Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects.

Abu Gung and the Beanstalk

• A young Gung the Magnificent is the main character of Abu Gung and the Beanstalk.

The Prisoner of Mars

• Doctor Snap is the main character of The Prisoner of Mars and is seen investigating the turnip he found in this story.

The Witch and Her Soul

• The location that Emperor Zombie's Evil Skull Balloon blows up over is the same place the witch, of The Witch and Her Soul, lived.

Awards

• 2003 "Best Humor Publication" Eisner Award