Hellboy & The B.P.R.D. - Her Fatal Hour & The Sending
Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Tiernen Trevallion
Colours: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
This Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. story gives us two separate stories, Her Fatal Hour and The Sending. Short stories is something which the Hellboy comics have always got right, and this issue is no different. Mike Mignola understands the importance of telling a story as it’s meant to be told, and not feeling the need to fill it with unnecessary bloating just to fill an issue. The story isn’t long enough for one comic? Put two in. A lot of other writers could learn from this. Mignola sets out to tell the two stories he wants to, and takes the time he needs to tell the story right.
First up we’ve got Her Fatal Hour, a follow up issue to The Beast of Vargu, released earlier on this year. It’s nice to find out what happened to the characters from the Beast of Vargu in the aftermath of Hellboys appearance and helps to flesh out the already huge Mignolaverse. It’s the larger of the two stories and has everything that we’ve come to expect from a short Hellboy story. There’s humour, there’s action, there’s magic and mysteries, and a memorable villain.
The second story, The Sending, again has everything we’ve come to expect from a Mignola comic. Not that that’s a bad thing, not by any stretch, readers know what they’re getting go in and this doesn’t disappoint. This issue has the return of Harry Middleton, a long time fan favourite, and a chance for readers to learn more of the relationship that he had with Hellboy. Mignola delves deep into Icelandic folklore here, with a chilling story. One of the strengths of the Hellboy mythology is how it takes inspiration from different cultures from all around the world, faithfully introducing readers to creatures and magic they might otherwise never encounter.
The art is from Tiernen Trevallion in his debut within the Hellboy universe, but he draws the characters with such ease you would never know it’s his first foray into it. He manages to fill the stories with plenty of atmosphere, and of course the fight scenes are as excellent and dynamic as you would expect from Hellboy. His style is reminiscent of Mignola’s but there’s a lot more detail in each of his panels, it feels at home amongst the other Hellboy stories while having a character very much of its own.
Would it be a Hellboy story without Dave Stewart colouring it? While there are a few stories he hasn’t coloured Stewart is as synonymous with Hellboy as Mignola is. He does his usual magic here, and fans will not be disappointed with any of the colours.
Hellboy short stories always stand out as some of Mignola’s best work, and these two will fit in nicely amongst the others. Mignola tells the story he wants to in the space it requires, and there is no unnecessary bloating to make these stories longer. Fans of Hellboy will be picking this up, no doubt about it, while newcomers will get a good taste of Hellboys world and this could be a stepping stone to investigating the larger mythology. The art from Trevallion feels like a good fit for the Mignolaverse.
Artist: Tiernen Trevallion
Colours: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
This Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. story gives us two separate stories, Her Fatal Hour and The Sending. Short stories is something which the Hellboy comics have always got right, and this issue is no different. Mike Mignola understands the importance of telling a story as it’s meant to be told, and not feeling the need to fill it with unnecessary bloating just to fill an issue. The story isn’t long enough for one comic? Put two in. A lot of other writers could learn from this. Mignola sets out to tell the two stories he wants to, and takes the time he needs to tell the story right.
First up we’ve got Her Fatal Hour, a follow up issue to The Beast of Vargu, released earlier on this year. It’s nice to find out what happened to the characters from the Beast of Vargu in the aftermath of Hellboys appearance and helps to flesh out the already huge Mignolaverse. It’s the larger of the two stories and has everything that we’ve come to expect from a short Hellboy story. There’s humour, there’s action, there’s magic and mysteries, and a memorable villain.
The second story, The Sending, again has everything we’ve come to expect from a Mignola comic. Not that that’s a bad thing, not by any stretch, readers know what they’re getting go in and this doesn’t disappoint. This issue has the return of Harry Middleton, a long time fan favourite, and a chance for readers to learn more of the relationship that he had with Hellboy. Mignola delves deep into Icelandic folklore here, with a chilling story. One of the strengths of the Hellboy mythology is how it takes inspiration from different cultures from all around the world, faithfully introducing readers to creatures and magic they might otherwise never encounter.
The art is from Tiernen Trevallion in his debut within the Hellboy universe, but he draws the characters with such ease you would never know it’s his first foray into it. He manages to fill the stories with plenty of atmosphere, and of course the fight scenes are as excellent and dynamic as you would expect from Hellboy. His style is reminiscent of Mignola’s but there’s a lot more detail in each of his panels, it feels at home amongst the other Hellboy stories while having a character very much of its own.
Would it be a Hellboy story without Dave Stewart colouring it? While there are a few stories he hasn’t coloured Stewart is as synonymous with Hellboy as Mignola is. He does his usual magic here, and fans will not be disappointed with any of the colours.
Hellboy short stories always stand out as some of Mignola’s best work, and these two will fit in nicely amongst the others. Mignola tells the story he wants to in the space it requires, and there is no unnecessary bloating to make these stories longer. Fans of Hellboy will be picking this up, no doubt about it, while newcomers will get a good taste of Hellboys world and this could be a stepping stone to investigating the larger mythology. The art from Trevallion feels like a good fit for the Mignolaverse.
A Look Inside
