Collective Consciousness: Hellboy and BPRD #1
Our latest weekly column, Collective Consciousness, is a group review of a single issue. We gather all the reviews and put them together so you can see just how diverse the tastes of all our writers are. This week we take a look at the latest Mignolaverse offering Hellboy and BPRD #1 1952!
Hellboy and BPRD #1 1952
A bizarre series of murders and rumors of something worse lead Professor Bruttenholm to send a young Hellboy to a Brazilian village on his first mission. Hellboy and a small group of agents uncover something terrible in the shadows of a sixteenth-century Portuguese fortress . . .
This miniseries is brought to us by the writing team of Mike Mignola and John Arcudi. Alex Maleev provides the pictures and the colours are done by Dave Stewart.
Now let’s find out what the CTG writers had to say about this issue.
Robert James Cross
This is an excellent comic book full of amazing artwork and quality writing. The thing that stood out above everything was Alex Maleev's control when it comes to the lighting in every panel. The shadows and the contours were so spot on that I envisioned movie scenes with the lighting that Maleev provided. It added extreme depth to the characters that the writing (although good in its own right) piggybacked on. What I loved about the writing was the authenticity of every word; it all sounded very 1950s to me. I loved it, a solid first issue, for the art alone.
Andrew King
My experience with Hellboy is a bit sparse and scattered, but growing up I’ve only read stories of him as either a full grown adult or an innocent child. This story finds itself somewhere in between, offering readers new and old a glimpse at Hellboy’s development and first foray out into the world with his father’s blessing no less. In the undertaking of his first mission, Mignola and his team find yet another way to add some refreshing perspective to a beloved cultural icon, while doing so through a coming of age tale welcoming readers new and old. I must admit that my only disappointment is Mignola not lending his signature brand of art to further drive the series’ narrative and pathos, but this is easily overlooked by Maleev’s careful attention to detail and ability to convey the grim and supernatural airs expected of a Hellboy series.
Louie Whiteford
Full disclosure - I just read my way through the complete history of Hellboy a month ago and loved every page of it, so I might be predisposed to enjoy this comic. I came in ready for a denser story than what I got. The last few Hellboy yarns have been increasingly involved and increasingly grim. This issue felt more like a return to the early days of the title, when it was mostly about how cool Hellboy was and how much ass he could kick. The Hellboy we see here is younger and more idealistic than we're used to, and he's delighted and excited to go on an adventure. Alex Maleev's art also differed from my expectations. His usual scratchy style lends itself perfectly to the Hellboy Universe, but it looks like he cleaned it up to get closer to the blocky shadows Mignola uses. This was an intriguing, promsing, and brief first issue. There's no immediate hook to this story, but the sense of dread is strong enough to merit a continuation.
Forrest Hollingsworth
I love Hellboy. I love everything about Hellboy. He’s my second favorite character in all of media. Second only, to Abe Sapien, HB’s best friend. I also love the BPRD. That BPRD shirt HB is wearing midway through this issue? I have it. I wear it all the time. I love Hellboy, I love the BPRD, I love them together again after so long even if it’s not the BPRD characters we know and love like Liz or Abe. Is it fan service to see them together again like this? I was worried it may be, somehow in a way cheapening the world and story I love so much. But after reading this issue, I can assure you it’s not. This is a concise, intricate and delicately told story that stands at the precipice of the depth that is the Hellboy and mignolaverse as a whole. The art is a perfect choice too, drastically different from the Mignola drawn stories, almost signifying the difference in time between this issue and where Hellboy is “now” but also one that has distinct call-backs to that original source material. Dark, scary, telling, sharp and bold, this is a great first issue, one that we already know is leading to something even greater.
Matthew Mahar
I've read a little Hellboy in my day. This story fits right into the existing world mainly due to its beautifully moody and atmospheric presentation. My main qualm is with the disjointed story. It starts off well, but fails to deliver any sort of hook to entice a new reader into coming back for more. It seems to just end in the middle of a story beat. As a Hellboy fan, I'm invested. However, I just can't see this drawing in new readers.
6/10.
FD White
I've read quite a few Hellboy comics in my day. Not all of them, but a lot of them. However, I'm slightly ashamed to admit that this is my first time reading a BPRD book. My knowledge of them is only directly related to their brief appearances in the Hellboy comics and films. So, what I'm about to say about this book might not be entirely true, but this book FEELS different from a regular Hellboy book. Generally, those stories tend to dump us right into the nitty-gritty in short, but sweet stories. Even the extended stories tend to fly by briskly avoiding exposition as much as possible and instead focusing on mood and tone. They are much less cinematic as they are similar to the folk tales and myths they incorporate.
However, Hellboy and the BPRD: 1952 feels much more cinematic, adventurous, and bold. Mignola and Arcudi take their time to flesh out the story and characters a little, and give us a real feel for the area. Arcudi's art is phenomenal and perfect replacement for Mignola here. He's able to grasp all of the tension and mood normally in an HB comic, but build on it for the necessary needs of this comic. This is a book that I expected to enjoy, but not this much. I'm already waiting for the next issue.
9/10
Kalem Lalonde
I’ll start off my review by saying that I’ve never read any Hellboy in my life but this was a very accessible and good issue. So many people rave about this character and so I finally get to see what he’s like first hand. Hellboy was definitely the strongest aspect of this issue. He’s quiet and shy but his presence brings an interesting divide in the team that he works with. The character interactions written here were entertaining and sometimes thoughtful. And while the character-work was strong, the plot suffered from a lack of any exciting or note-worthy events. The story is set-up but I found myself waiting for something to happen and then saw the “to be continued” in the corner of panel. The comic left me with something to be desired and this issue felt more like a transitory issue rather than an inaugural one. Alex Maleev handles the art duties and this book is a reminder of why I fell in love with his art during his Daredevil run. Overall, this is a good issue with awesome art yet the plot failed to really pique my interest.
ToriBee
The thing about a Hellboy story is that Mike Mignola has a way of telling it so that it reads like a fairytale almost. A fairytale for us older kids probably, but there's still a very fantastical quality to it. Not quite fantasy, not science fiction, but incredibly surreal nontheless. Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1952 is no different. Post second world war, it does take on a more serious tone, which is what the addition of the B.P.R.D. members do nicely, keeping the fantasy of Hellboy a little more grounded at least for now, but by no means takes away from Hellboy at all. Which is especially highlighted in Alex Maleev's (who is a superb artist choice by the way) art and Dave Stewart's colouring that keeps Hellboy vibrantly red against the sepia tone of the rest of the world around him. Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. so far is a greatly balanced story of fantasy in post war times with both dashes of humour and more earnest storytelling. And like every other Hellboy story so far, it's bound to have a lot of story to tell.
And there you have it folks another week of Collective Consciousness! Tell us what you think and share your thoughts on the issue in the comments section.
Hellboy and BPRD #1 1952
A bizarre series of murders and rumors of something worse lead Professor Bruttenholm to send a young Hellboy to a Brazilian village on his first mission. Hellboy and a small group of agents uncover something terrible in the shadows of a sixteenth-century Portuguese fortress . . .
This miniseries is brought to us by the writing team of Mike Mignola and John Arcudi. Alex Maleev provides the pictures and the colours are done by Dave Stewart.
Now let’s find out what the CTG writers had to say about this issue.
Robert James Cross
This is an excellent comic book full of amazing artwork and quality writing. The thing that stood out above everything was Alex Maleev's control when it comes to the lighting in every panel. The shadows and the contours were so spot on that I envisioned movie scenes with the lighting that Maleev provided. It added extreme depth to the characters that the writing (although good in its own right) piggybacked on. What I loved about the writing was the authenticity of every word; it all sounded very 1950s to me. I loved it, a solid first issue, for the art alone.
Andrew King
My experience with Hellboy is a bit sparse and scattered, but growing up I’ve only read stories of him as either a full grown adult or an innocent child. This story finds itself somewhere in between, offering readers new and old a glimpse at Hellboy’s development and first foray out into the world with his father’s blessing no less. In the undertaking of his first mission, Mignola and his team find yet another way to add some refreshing perspective to a beloved cultural icon, while doing so through a coming of age tale welcoming readers new and old. I must admit that my only disappointment is Mignola not lending his signature brand of art to further drive the series’ narrative and pathos, but this is easily overlooked by Maleev’s careful attention to detail and ability to convey the grim and supernatural airs expected of a Hellboy series.
Louie Whiteford
Full disclosure - I just read my way through the complete history of Hellboy a month ago and loved every page of it, so I might be predisposed to enjoy this comic. I came in ready for a denser story than what I got. The last few Hellboy yarns have been increasingly involved and increasingly grim. This issue felt more like a return to the early days of the title, when it was mostly about how cool Hellboy was and how much ass he could kick. The Hellboy we see here is younger and more idealistic than we're used to, and he's delighted and excited to go on an adventure. Alex Maleev's art also differed from my expectations. His usual scratchy style lends itself perfectly to the Hellboy Universe, but it looks like he cleaned it up to get closer to the blocky shadows Mignola uses. This was an intriguing, promsing, and brief first issue. There's no immediate hook to this story, but the sense of dread is strong enough to merit a continuation.
Forrest Hollingsworth
I love Hellboy. I love everything about Hellboy. He’s my second favorite character in all of media. Second only, to Abe Sapien, HB’s best friend. I also love the BPRD. That BPRD shirt HB is wearing midway through this issue? I have it. I wear it all the time. I love Hellboy, I love the BPRD, I love them together again after so long even if it’s not the BPRD characters we know and love like Liz or Abe. Is it fan service to see them together again like this? I was worried it may be, somehow in a way cheapening the world and story I love so much. But after reading this issue, I can assure you it’s not. This is a concise, intricate and delicately told story that stands at the precipice of the depth that is the Hellboy and mignolaverse as a whole. The art is a perfect choice too, drastically different from the Mignola drawn stories, almost signifying the difference in time between this issue and where Hellboy is “now” but also one that has distinct call-backs to that original source material. Dark, scary, telling, sharp and bold, this is a great first issue, one that we already know is leading to something even greater.
Matthew Mahar
I've read a little Hellboy in my day. This story fits right into the existing world mainly due to its beautifully moody and atmospheric presentation. My main qualm is with the disjointed story. It starts off well, but fails to deliver any sort of hook to entice a new reader into coming back for more. It seems to just end in the middle of a story beat. As a Hellboy fan, I'm invested. However, I just can't see this drawing in new readers.
6/10.
FD White
I've read quite a few Hellboy comics in my day. Not all of them, but a lot of them. However, I'm slightly ashamed to admit that this is my first time reading a BPRD book. My knowledge of them is only directly related to their brief appearances in the Hellboy comics and films. So, what I'm about to say about this book might not be entirely true, but this book FEELS different from a regular Hellboy book. Generally, those stories tend to dump us right into the nitty-gritty in short, but sweet stories. Even the extended stories tend to fly by briskly avoiding exposition as much as possible and instead focusing on mood and tone. They are much less cinematic as they are similar to the folk tales and myths they incorporate.
However, Hellboy and the BPRD: 1952 feels much more cinematic, adventurous, and bold. Mignola and Arcudi take their time to flesh out the story and characters a little, and give us a real feel for the area. Arcudi's art is phenomenal and perfect replacement for Mignola here. He's able to grasp all of the tension and mood normally in an HB comic, but build on it for the necessary needs of this comic. This is a book that I expected to enjoy, but not this much. I'm already waiting for the next issue.
9/10
Kalem Lalonde
I’ll start off my review by saying that I’ve never read any Hellboy in my life but this was a very accessible and good issue. So many people rave about this character and so I finally get to see what he’s like first hand. Hellboy was definitely the strongest aspect of this issue. He’s quiet and shy but his presence brings an interesting divide in the team that he works with. The character interactions written here were entertaining and sometimes thoughtful. And while the character-work was strong, the plot suffered from a lack of any exciting or note-worthy events. The story is set-up but I found myself waiting for something to happen and then saw the “to be continued” in the corner of panel. The comic left me with something to be desired and this issue felt more like a transitory issue rather than an inaugural one. Alex Maleev handles the art duties and this book is a reminder of why I fell in love with his art during his Daredevil run. Overall, this is a good issue with awesome art yet the plot failed to really pique my interest.
ToriBee
The thing about a Hellboy story is that Mike Mignola has a way of telling it so that it reads like a fairytale almost. A fairytale for us older kids probably, but there's still a very fantastical quality to it. Not quite fantasy, not science fiction, but incredibly surreal nontheless. Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1952 is no different. Post second world war, it does take on a more serious tone, which is what the addition of the B.P.R.D. members do nicely, keeping the fantasy of Hellboy a little more grounded at least for now, but by no means takes away from Hellboy at all. Which is especially highlighted in Alex Maleev's (who is a superb artist choice by the way) art and Dave Stewart's colouring that keeps Hellboy vibrantly red against the sepia tone of the rest of the world around him. Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. so far is a greatly balanced story of fantasy in post war times with both dashes of humour and more earnest storytelling. And like every other Hellboy story so far, it's bound to have a lot of story to tell.
And there you have it folks another week of Collective Consciousness! Tell us what you think and share your thoughts on the issue in the comments section.
A Look Inside
