Hellboy: Masks and Monsters, a Review

Hellboy + Batman + Starman + Ghost = :\, eh, who's Starman? who's Ghost?

I wanted to like Masks and Monsters, if only because Mignola illustrated (but didn't write) a Batman & Hellboy story. Sadly, there was very little for me to enjoy in this doubly-arced collection.

The first tale is a cut & paste typical Hellboy story. Nazis are trying to revive an Elder God down in San Diablo. The BPRD disapproves. So does Starman, because the Nazi's kidnapped his genius father and are using him for malignant purposes. Batman's involved early on because the poor, manipulated scientist is giving a boring lecture in Gotham City, and Hellboy goes to investigate.

That's about it. Mignola's art even seemed less spectacular than normal. The plot was a yawn and I'm thankful this is not considered in the Hellboy canon.

The second story is about Ghost, another notable "superhero(ine)" that I'd never heard of. This piece was written by Mignola (though not illustrated by him), and it was definitely more enjoyable than the first. I enjoyed the brutal, retro Mafia bit at the beginning, and this piece had enough humor to make it almost worth the read. Sadly, some of the art was flat, but not all, and some of the plot was ridiculous.

Perhaps part of the reason I didn't care too much for this collection was because the last several volumes have been amazing. This book may be better as a standalone for someone only passably interested in Mignola's anti-hero, though there are so many other better options I can't imagine why anyone would pick this one up first. I suppose a diehard Starman or Ghost fan may like it, but if you're reading for the Caped Crusader, you're only gonna get a few scenes.

Overall, for any serious Hellboy reader, this ones easily forgettable and pointless. They can't all be wonderful.

Hellboy: Volumes 9 & 10, Reviewed

The Wild Hunt is possibly the best graphic collection so far in the Hellboy universe. The artwork is beautiful (Duncan Fegredo is amazing), especially the huntsmen. The plot is crazy-good, partially because I've always been a fan of Arthurian legends and partially because so much happens in this volume.

Hellboy's destiny still calls, and we wonder how long he can refuse. Also, the antagonist's identity becomes known, and this makes the arc better for it, instead of waiting around for a long time before a reveal.

If you've read the previous eight volumes of Hellboy, then you'll likely read this one as well. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend starting here, but if you did I would think it'd be enough to get you to read the rest of the story.

The Wild Hunt was a remarkable volume in the grand story arc of Hellboy's life.  Wonderful.

***

I love these Hellboy short tales. The Crooked Man and Others contains four short stories, and all of them were enjoyable.

"The Crooked Man" is the longest arc and Mignola's first foray into American folklore. He chose the Appalachian region for his setting and source material, and I loved it. The artwork was different than the normal Hellboy style, but the change was fitting to this piece. I really liked the illustrations of the Crooked Man, and I thought this dark tale was great for the creepiness.

"They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships" is possibly the greatest art style I've seen in Hellboy. Each panel was beautiful, especially those of Blackbeard. The story was fast-paced and filled with the usual paranormal-ness of Hellboy and I really enjoyed this piece.

"In the Chapel of Moloch" is simple and straightforward. Hellboy is sent to investigate something for the BPRD and encounters problems. Nothing special for this piece other than the fact that Mignola illustrated it and his work is always nice to see.

"The Mole" was a short, fun piece with great illustrations and a somewhat humorous plot. Essentially, Hellboy has a mole on his hand that needs looking at.

Overall, Volume 10: The Crooked Man and Others offers some gems in the Hellboy catalog, and this collection is worth it for the inclusion of the first two stories alone. Any fan of the series should read this volume.

***

That's it for now.  I've read all ten volumes and have loved them all.  If you've not read this series and are a fan of paranormal/occultish type things with a heavy dose of world folklore, this is a must read.  Not only is the art beautiful throughout, but the stories and development of Hellboy's character make for fascinating reads.

The only collection I've got left to read is Hellboy: Masks and Monsters, which features Hellboy, Starman, and Batman, which may or may not make for an interesting read.  I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the continuity of the Hellboy universe or the DC one or neither, but I guess I'll find out.  I'm unsure when the next TPB collection will come out, so this could be it for a while.

Hellboy: A Five-Part Review

I spent the last several days immersed in Hellboy, tearing through three graphic novels and watching two films. All are reviewed below.

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Volume 6: Strange Places

Strange Places continues the fascinating saga of Hellboy, this time taking the reader to strange places such as the bottom of the sea and a mysterious island.

The first arc, "Three Wishes," picks up where Volume 5 left off. Hellboy has left the BPRD and gone to Africa. At some point he gets tossed into the ocean and this is where "Three Wishes" takes place. This story delivers a very fine plot and hints at a few more secrets to the Hellboy universe.

The second arc, "The Island," was an equally fun and entertaining story. This one tells a creation story for Hellboy, and to me, this was icing on the cake. I really liked "The Island" quite a bit, and the Epilogue was perfect.

Overall, Strange Places is a fine addition to the overarching story of Hellboy. It's made clear some things, muddled others, but at the end of the day, it's got me wanting to start Volume 7 (which I already have)

Volume 7: The Troll Witch and Other Stories

The Troll Witch and Other Stories is another collection of one-shots and different folktales accounted in the Hellboy universe. I really like these quick reads, especially discovering all the different legends and myths from other cultures. This was a great addition to the series, and though it doesn't add much to the overall arc, the layers it adds are fun and enjoyable.

This is the first volume where a new artist is introduced, but only partially. The art style was something to get used to. While not as amazing as Mignola's, it's still fitting to the feel of the book.

Volume 8: Darkness Calls

Wow.

Darkness Calls was an incredibly fast paced arc that made me turn page after page just to get to the end and see what happened. Hellboy gets whisked away into Russian folklore and is put up against the Baba Yaga, who's still mad at Hellboy for taking her eye. Meanwhile, the Witches are plotting something big, and by the end of the collection, it looks like the future is going to get rough for Red and the BPRD.

This collection is one of my favorites from the series so...moreWow.

Darkness Calls was an incredibly fast paced arc that made me turn page after page just to get to the end and see what happened. Hellboy gets whisked away into Russian folklore and is put up against the Baba Yaga, who's still mad at Hellboy for taking her eye. Meanwhile, the Witches are plotting something big, and by the end of the collection, it looks like the future is going to get rough for Red and the BPRD.

This collection is one of my favorites from the series so far. Mignola hands over the art reins to a different artist (Duncan Fegredo) who does a great job at creating the feeling of Mignola's art. Mignola is a master of minimal panels and simple color palettes; Fegredo adds more complexity to his illustrations, and it works.

Darkness Calls is a fantastic Hellboy collection, especially for anyone with interest in Russian culture. This would stand on its own, but depth and understanding would certainly be lost. Highly recommend.

Hellboy  --  (Live action film) 

Back when the first Hellboy movie came out, I was in high school and thought the film looked ridiculous.  Who the heck was Hellboy?  Particularly, I thought Abe Sapien looked stupid, and Hellboy was just plain cheesy.

Then, after falling in love with the comics, I had to rectify the situation.  Guillermo del Toro created the movie, so it had to be good, right?  And it better be, since I bought Hellboy 2 on blu-ray the day after Thanksgiving.

Anyway, we popped in the borrowed movie last night and settled on the couch for a Hellboy marathon.  The plot of the first film is somewhat similar to the comics, but there are some things that in no way hold up to the trade of mediums.  For one, the Ogdru Jahad, while cool, are nothing as awesome as Mignola's vision.  Another big difference was Rasputin's character and how he acted/looked.

Still, the movie was fun to watch, and the story mostly congruous with the source material.  A new recruit for the BPRD comes on board to help keep an eye on Hellboy, and the audience is pulled along with him.  John Myers isn't particularly memorable, but his role necessary as a protagonist to explain some things to folks unfamiliar with Mignola's creation.  The point of the movie is that there are dark things that go bump in the night, and the BPRD exists to bump back against them.

Overall, not a bad way to spend two hours, and a great bridge for folks that don't like comics, but definitely not as good as the actual books.

Hellboy: Blood and Iron  

(Animated film)

Apart from the standard animation and corny voice acting for some characters (Hecate!), Blood and Iron was a fun cartoon movie to watch that is in no way fitting for young kids.  Ghosts, vampires, wolves, witches, evil gods & goddesses, and plenty of other murderous evils abound, and I wondered if kids would get scared watching something like this.

This was partially written by Mike Mignola, and it's definitely more complicated than the live-action film.  The story is told through flashbacks and present-time, recounting the legend of Erzsebet Ondrushko, a vampire that would bathe in maiden's blood to retain her youth, and her relationship with the thrice-goddess Hecate.

I enjoyed this hour and change, even if I loathed some of the voice work.  This would be great around Halloween time, I think.  Plus, it's on Netflix!

Hellboy: Conqueror Worm, a Review

Hellboy Volume 5: Conqueror Worm returns to the narrative story of Hellboy and the BPRD after a few issues of short, folk stories. Hellboy, along with Roger the Homunculus, gets a new mission to go to a haunted castle in Germany and see what's going on. Apparently a Nazi space capsule is headed right for it, and Hellboy needs to stop whatever evil plans are in store.

This book is a beautiful story in the Hellboy universe. Right from the beginning, with the opening lines taken from Poe's "Ligeia" and "Conqueror Worm," the mesmerizing art of Mignola's book sucks the reader in. The creepy context of the mission is hair-raising, and the subtle shades of dark in the black backgrounds--a skull here, a gargoyle there--add to the experience of reading in the Hellboy universe.

Apart from the exceptional artwork, the plot is relentless. Some base knowledge of events prior make Conqueror Worm a deeper read, but I think this would be fine for new readers as well. I found the Nazi involvement and the twisted scientists completely believable. I loved the exposition that spanned the first few pages. The climax was intense, and the resolution satisfying.

In addition to the plot, the character building was great. I loved the relationship between Hellboy and Roger, as well as Hellboy and his boss at the BPRD. And what's not explicitly stated in dialogue is more than obvious in the art. You can see Hellboy's displeasure from his scowl, or his anger in his slitted eyes. I also liked the side characters, especially Lobster Johnson.

Really, Conqueror Worm is probably my favorite Hellboy graphic novel I've read as of yet. Every panel is lovingly cared for, with attention focused where it needs to be, whether its in the foreground or the background. I can't recommend this series enough, and I can't wait to dive into Volume 6.

Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others & The Right Hand of Doom, a Review

The Chained Coffin and Others is different from the previous two volumes in the Hellboy saga. Volume 3 is a collections of small vignettes that re-tells folktales Mike Mignola has come across. One such example is "The Chained Coffin," which stems from an Irish folktale the author once read.

Like the first two collections, this volume is beautifully illustrated and wonderfully scripted. The colors are still rich and dark, capturing the essence of the gothic-horror feel. The characters are getting more developed, especially Hellboy, and I'm very interested to see how his future will play out.

Also included in this collection is a story about the Baba Yaga, of whom I was interested from the Fables series as well as some previous stories of Hellboy. In fact, there are several short, wonderfully dark tales that any fan of folklore or fairy tales will love.

Overall, this collection was highly enjoyable, easing off the familiar plot of the previous volumes and venturing into short-story. Still, even these short tales add to the complex character of Hellboy and his world, and I was most impressed with Mignola's work. This is a highly recommendable addition to the so-far excellent series.

***

The Right Hand of Doom is similar to Volume 3, in that it collects a few short folktales in the beginning of the book and one longer story arc, "The Right Hand of Doom," to finish the work.

Like the previous edition, the short stories are all beautiful renditions of global tales I've never heard. Mignola deals with mostly European folklore, but he also includes a Japanese story in this issue that I found beautiful and interesting.

One thing I really liked about this volume was the revelations of Hellboy and his destiny. Most of these tales hint at his purpose in this world, and "The Right Hand of Doom" comes right out and tells it. Coupled with breathtaking artwork, the plot moves along nicely and captures the reader's attention.

The Right Hand of Doom doesn't carry the same conventional story progression as Volumes 1 & 2 do, but it's still a great addition to the Hellboy universe, easily worthy to sit alongside the rest. And with the truth about Hellboy coming out, I'm certainly eager to see where the hero will go now.

Hellboy: Wake the Devil, a Review

Hellboy: Wake the Devil picks up shortly after the incidents of Seed of Destruction takes place.  A brief introduction informs the BPRD team on the life of Vladimir Giurescu.  Giurescu lived an illustrious and bloody life during the early 19th century, fighting in wars and struggles.  More than once he received mortal wounds and died, but his body was always returned to Castle Giurescu, where he would return to life after the full moon, whole and fine.  Eventually Giurescu dies and his body is kept from returning to his castle.  Of course, something goes wrong and the BPRD is called to investigate.

The plot is really pretty straightforward from here on.  No one knows exactly where Castle Giurescu is, though there are three likely locations.  Three teams are sent separately to investigate and recover the bones before the full moon or things could be bad.  Very bad.  The hero, Hellboy, goes alone to one castle, and what he discovers there rocks him to his core.

Like Volume One, this issue has fantastic illustrations, using the same style and colorings to keep a very gothic feel.  Part of the beauty of these comics is how much information is conveyed with each panel, even the ones without dialog.  No scene is wasted.

I enjoyed this addition to the Hellboy catalog.  I'm not sure I fully understood what happened by the end, but what I did understand sat well with me.  Hellboy is a shiny, wonderful comic series that keeps pulling me back in, despite my efforts to try and read something else, and Wake the Devil is a perfect sequel to the excellent opening number.

Hellboy: Seed of Destruction, a Review

Back during WWII, the Nazis were experimenting with all sorts of things. One aspect of research dealt with the paranormal. Finally, after years of preparation, a Nazi wizard/researcher/delusional-psycho summoned up a creature from the Deep, a tiny red-skinned, hornless man that would be named Hellboy. Only he showed up on the Allies side...

So begins Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction, and this intro is covered in a few pages up front. The remainder of the novel fast-forwards several years. Hellboy is a world-famous paranormal investigator, working for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, or the BPRD. When the man Hellboy sees as his father winds up dying from some unknown otherworldly action, the investigator takes his team and begins to unravel the crime. In the process, he starts to learn a bit more about his life and why he's here.

The first thing I noticed about Hellboy was the beautiful artwork. The characters are all drawn very nicely, especially Hellboy, Abe Sapien, and the villains. All of the pages have a very dark coloring motif that makes the tale fit the Lovecraftian tones, mixed in with some pulp noir style to boot. The lettering is simple, nothing fancy, but anything else would detract from the story I think. Yes, Hellboy is beautifully illustrated.

Equally important is the characterization, and Hellboy was more complex than I was expecting. From obscure beginnings, Hellboy wonders why he is here and where he came from. Why is his right hand different? Indeed, Hellboy is not some tough and rowdy hellbeast, but actually a civilized mind that has loves and cares as you and I. Even the minor characters, Abe and Liz, have some depth to them, and this added greatly to the arc.

Finally, the story arc for the Seed of Destruction was compelling and interesting. I never really knew what to expect, and I kept wondering at things up through the climax. And oh what a climax. Several pages of excitement and some resolution to earlier mysteries, but also an impetus for plenty more questions and actions to come.

Overall I really enjoyed this first graphic novel in the Hellboy series. It had everything in it that I look for in a comic: beautiful art, interesting characters, and a great story. There was nothing I disliked about the graphic novel. In the end, if you're looking for a fun-filled, dark horror-tainted comic, Mike Mignola's Hellboy: Seed of Destruction is the perfect place to start.  Easily recommendable.