Mike Mignola‘s latest series takes a look at the early career of his beloved character, Hellboy.
“Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1952″ takes place eight years after Professor Trevor Bruttenholm found Hellboy. In that time, Hellboy has grown to the size of an adult but doesn’t have much life experience.
The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.) investigates paranormal activity throughout the world using a team of former military men and women.
On this particular mission to Brazil, the professor thinks it is time for Hellboy to learn some skills and to become a man, which he can’t do locked up in his room.
The crew arrives in Brazil and is given shelter by an old woman. However, an interaction between the old woman and a priest seems to show there is more going on than the crew truly knows.
This first issue sets up a lot of background information and sets the scenes for the thrilling, paranormal, action-packed story to come. And whereas that can be quite boring in other stories, the flow of this one keeps it progressing. Readers soak up the information like a sponge, eagerly awaiting the a-ha moments to come. Mike Mignola loves his character, and that love shines through the story. John Arcudi contributed to the story, as well.
The art keeps the constant Mignola style, with the dark shading and eerie feel, yet it isn’t gloomy or depressing. The slight colors pop off the page yet tie it all together.
We can’t forget Hellboy, of course. This Hellboy is younger — youthful and skinny with an almost naive look. He isn’t the larger-than-life, burly demon we know and love. Yet, he still gives that vibe, ever so slightly. You can tell he is a badass waiting to emerge, and maybe we will see him in subsequent issues.
Alex Maleev did an amazing job with this issue’s art, really tying together the story.
This issue will probably make you addicted to Hellboy, but go out and grab a copy anyway. You won’t be disappointed.
Comic Book Wednesday is a feature that will showcase a variety of visually based books that fit into this wide category, to give a taste of this other form of reading.
