We turn back the clock to the days of Eisenhower to check in with Red and co. on his first mission with the Bureau!
Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Illustrated by Alex MaleevHellboy’s first mission takes an ugly turn when one of his team members turns against him. Will Hellboy be able to survive the assault from within the BPRD and the onslaught of terrors hiding in the ancient fortress above?
David: The book that’s been lighting in a flame in the cockles of our Mignolaverse hearts is back, Brian, and with it the resolution to the cliffhanger from the last issue. Did Arcudi, Mignola, Maleev and Stewart kill Hellboy in “Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.”? Not likely, but hey, the kid’s had a tough life. What’d you think of the latest chapter of this book?
Brian: I think the issue was yet another really solid issue from Mignola and co., but it had one thing going for it that nothing else on the shelves had today: killer monkeys going apeshit (pun totally intended).
David: That was something it definitely featured, but man, they went from unstoppable monkeys of doom to redshirts pretty damn fast in this issue. I love me some monkey violence, don’t get me wrong, but the one last issue must have been the Biff Tannen of the gang and the ones in the car in this issue were apparently his meager yes men who keep getting covered in crap in every timeline. As far as complaints go, though, killer monkeys only being slightly badass versus intensely so isn’t a huge one.
I just really, really enjoy this book. It continues to feel like a perfect hybrid of “B.P.R.D.” and classic Hellboy, and it’s just a hell of a lot of fun. This issue raised a number of questions within it – what’s the deal with the alligator and the tribesman who had a chat in the sewer? – but they just added to the overall mix. One thing I thought was cool about that specific interaction, beyond it being absolutely classic Mignola, was this: is that the first time we’ve ever had one of these spirit guide types suggest that Hellboy isn’t necessarily only a harbinger of doom, but also perhaps a portend of potentially positive change? That’s what I took from the last lines from them, and I found that intriguing.
Brian: I had the exact same reaction – this was the first time that Hellboy wasn’t instantly thought of as a liability for the world but, in an odd way, perhaps its savior. I suppose that is what happens when you step back and look at the grand scheme instead of the situation directly before you. That said, to look past humanity is some pretty big picture shit.
To go off of your excellent Biff Tannen riff, I hereby challenge Alex Maleev to draw a monkey henchman with 3D glasses on. If he does so, I owe him a Coca-Cola of his choosing. Regular, Diet, Cherry, Vanilla even. His choice, no strings attached.
So, let’s go back to the very beginning of the issue – and forgive my memory if this was teased last month – do we know why Bob would want to kill Hellboy, beyond just being a little uncomfortable around him?
David: That’s a huge miss, Brian. You know Back to the Future was Pepsi Cola friendly.
They still haven’t explained Bob at all. I presume that will be sussed out now that Archie and Hellboy are together, but my best guess is he’s possessed by something at the mansion. I feel like it has an area of effect on those in the township, and weaker willed people – i.e. not Arch and the rest of the gang – are affected. Seems logical, but I suppose it’s possible he’s just like, “screw that guy, he’s a demon.” What do you think?
Brian: Au contraire – Marty first orders a Tab, which is a Coca-Cola product. The McFlys are an equal opportunity cola household. Don’t sass me on Back to the Future – my wife gave me a “You are my density” Christmas ornament one year.
Continued belowI think you’re spot on with Bob – either he is possessed/influenced by something in the area, or perhaps he is a mole for some evil force, although the former option sounds more logical to me.
Bringing it back to Maleev, he does such an incredible job on this issue nailing the perfect middle ground, art wise, between the classic Hellboy stories and early B.P.R.D. tales. He’s far more Mignola than Davis, but there is something about his approach that sandwiches the look between those two tent pole artists, and makes the book feel like it belongs, artistically.
David: Yeah, I think Maleev’s Mignolafication of his art is really incredible. He seems to be using deeper blacks than ever before, or at least it seems to me that he is, and it fits the book tremendously well while still being totally himself. His work on this book has been so much more than I hoped for, and that’s saying something.
Do you have anything else major to add before we get to grading?
Brian: No sir. I am enjoying every panel of this book, so I am happy to be more silent than usual. This is an 8.0 to me. What say you?
David: Agreed. 8.0’s all around, and I’m looking forward to what’s next as we near the end.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – This is heavy, Doc.
