Hellboy in Hell #4
“…Let him have his time. Let him at least feel free for a while…”
Hellboy’s forced vacation into hell has not been a pleasant one thus far. In fact, it’s been pretty down right crappy. From battling his brothers, to apperantly killing his own father, Hellboy’s left feeling pretty lost. Death has not been kind to Red.
Last issue, Hellboy learned that his role in the after-life is essentially, useless. With his family dead, and his determined avoidance to claim his seat on the throne of hell, it seems there is just no use for poor old Hellboy. Choosing to simply sink into the abyss, Hellboy is saved at the last minute by Sir Edward Grey. Ever the optimist, Sir Grey seeks to lift Hellboy’s spirit by unravelling the mystery of his own fate. After a flash-back and well deserved smoke, things start to look up for Hellboy. But then again, how long can a good thing last in hell?
Mike Mignola slows down the action a bit in this issue to focus on the tragic fate of Sir Edward Grey. The mystery surrounding Sir Grey’s fate is an excellent addition to the Hellboy mythology, and a story that Mignola has wanted to tell for years. In fact, this issue belongs to Sir Grey and this is a good thing since he is a fascinating and sympathetic character. The dialogue between Hellboy and Sir Grey is sharp and though the issue is wordy, the slower pace is a nice breather for whatever horrors Mignola has planned down the line.
Mignola’s art once again is in a league of its own. He has an instantly recognizable style, minimalist, yet distinctly characteristic. His passion for his character’s come out in every panel. This is his story and he is telling it every step of the way. His perfect marriage of writing and art is what makes his Hellboy books a must-have. One criticism however is the sometimes bland colouring of the environments. Yes this is hell, but a little more colour and a lot less grey could have gone a long way. One item of note is the presentation of not just this issue, but all of Mignola’s work. The excellent lay-out and design of the covers helps to drive the ‘comics as art’ argument. A Hellboy trade would fit comfortably on even the most snobbish of bookcases.
Hellboy in Hell is turning out to be another excellent addition to Hellboy’s long and vibrant history. The slower pace in Chapter 4 may turn some off, but if you’re a fan of the series than you haven’t been reading this long for non-stop action. With Hellboy enjoying his new found freedom in hell and the foreboding imagery in the last pages, Chapter 5 is going to be a doozy.
Hellboy in Hell, Chapter 4
Writer: Mike Mignola
Art: Mike Mignola
Colours: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Hellboy’s forced vacation into hell has not been a pleasant one thus far. In fact, it’s been pretty down right crappy. From battling his brothers, to apperantly killing his own father, Hellboy’s left feeling pretty lost. Death has not been kind to Red.
Last issue, Hellboy learned that his role in the after-life is essentially, useless. With his family dead, and his determined avoidance to claim his seat on the throne of hell, it seems there is just no use for poor old Hellboy. Choosing to simply sink into the abyss, Hellboy is saved at the last minute by Sir Edward Grey. Ever the optimist, Sir Grey seeks to lift Hellboy’s spirit by unravelling the mystery of his own fate. After a flash-back and well deserved smoke, things start to look up for Hellboy. But then again, how long can a good thing last in hell?
Mike Mignola slows down the action a bit in this issue to focus on the tragic fate of Sir Edward Grey. The mystery surrounding Sir Grey’s fate is an excellent addition to the Hellboy mythology, and a story that Mignola has wanted to tell for years. In fact, this issue belongs to Sir Grey and this is a good thing since he is a fascinating and sympathetic character. The dialogue between Hellboy and Sir Grey is sharp and though the issue is wordy, the slower pace is a nice breather for whatever horrors Mignola has planned down the line.
Mignola’s art once again is in a league of its own. He has an instantly recognizable style, minimalist, yet distinctly characteristic. His passion for his character’s come out in every panel. This is his story and he is telling it every step of the way. His perfect marriage of writing and art is what makes his Hellboy books a must-have. One criticism however is the sometimes bland colouring of the environments. Yes this is hell, but a little more colour and a lot less grey could have gone a long way. One item of note is the presentation of not just this issue, but all of Mignola’s work. The excellent lay-out and design of the covers helps to drive the ‘comics as art’ argument. A Hellboy trade would fit comfortably on even the most snobbish of bookcases.
Hellboy in Hell is turning out to be another excellent addition to Hellboy’s long and vibrant history. The slower pace in Chapter 4 may turn some off, but if you’re a fan of the series than you haven’t been reading this long for non-stop action. With Hellboy enjoying his new found freedom in hell and the foreboding imagery in the last pages, Chapter 5 is going to be a doozy.
Hellboy in Hell, Chapter 4
Writer: Mike Mignola
Art: Mike Mignola
Colours: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
A Look Inside
