As Hellboy currently resides in Hell, Mike Mignola and co. take the occasional opportunity to visit various parts of his pre-death life, from his time in Mexico to his childhood days under the care of Professor Bruttenhom. We get a lil’ Hellboy story today in the form of this hardcover graphic novel and – spoiler alert – you’re in for a real treat.
Written by Mike Mignola
Illustrated by Duncan FegredoYoung Hellboy runs away from the B.P.R.D. only to stumble upon a weird and fantastical circus and the few demons from Hell who inhabit it.
Brian: One of the magnificent things about being a Mignolafile is that he’s never content to do a clear, linear story without diversions, flashbacks or detours. Although Hellboy is dead and in Hell, there is no reason to not go back to his childhood for a graphic novel, right?
Well, that’s what we have here. “The Midnight Circus,” written by Mike Mignola and illustrated by Duncan Fegredo, is one of the finest comics released this year, and is a visual tour de force. What was your initial impression, David?
David: This is undoubtedly a remarkable visual achievement that is amongst the best artistic work of the year by anyone, and finds Duncan Fegredo and Dave Stewart both taking their work to new levels – which is saying something. The sections in the Midnight Circus part are just so astoundingly beautiful that they really kind of blew me away, and I’d be curious to know what they did differently. It seems like they were almost painted to me.
The story itself I really enjoyed, but I would say that the written aspect is a bit weaker in my mind. Hellboy stories often are fables by nature, and this one connected deeply with anything from local folklore to Pinocchio, and the Pinocchio parts are the most heartbreaking. The reality of the relationship between Professor Bruttenholm and Hellboy, and the fact that Hellboy more than anything wants to feel normal, is something anyone can connect with, but as per usual, Hellboy stories tend to be a bit more on the esoteric side.
It’s certainly not a bad thing. It’s the nature of the beast, but from a personal preference side, I connected more with the more emotive aspects than other elements.
That said, the appearance of Astaroth and his partner Gamori (who I have to imagine is Hellboy’s sister), and her suspicious “so long as you live, uncle…” line when we know Astaroth died in Hellboy in Hell #4…that’s one hell of a ball of wax that likely unveils something we’re going to see in the future in that book.
In short, I really loved it in a lot of ways, but it isn’t something I finished and was like “DAMMMNNN!”
Brian: See, I did end it with a “DAMMMNNN!” One of the bad habits I get into when it comes to reading comics is separating the writing and the art to a degree that I think is foolish. In fact, at New York Comic Con, I made an agreement with myself to stop looking at a comic as component parts quite as much, and take it in as more of a complete experience.
And so, reading this in the light of that personal revelation, I was simply blown away. The way that Fegredo, Stewart and Mignola weave their work together, telling stories within stories, and presenting Hellboy’s reality with various bits of folklore tossed in just really spoke to me as a fan.
I want to get to all the various art techniques eventually, but first I want to talk Gamori. As far as I can recall, this is the first time we’ve seen Gamori, right? So, I did a little research, and this came up:
Continued below(56.) Gremory, or Gamori. — The fifty-sixth Spirit is Gremory, or Gamori. He is a Duke Strong and Powerful, and appeareth in the Form of a Beautiful Woman, with a Duchess’s Crown tied about her waist, and riding on a Great Camel. His Office is to tell of all Things Past, Present, and to Come; and of Treasures Hid, and what they lie in; and to procure the Love of Women both Young and Old. He governeth 26 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, etc.
Do you think that this Gamori, is the same one we’ve encountered in this book?
David: Well, I wouldn’t say I looked at them separately, I looked at them within the context of each other. I just never had that moment that made me super crazy pumped about the experience. A beautiful, technical achievement, and most of the hugely emotively connective moments came from Fegredo’s art – Hellboy finding a dying Professor Bruttenhom(ish) in the belly of the whale was truly heartbreaking – but I know that’s the whole team working in concert. I guess what I’m trying to say as well done as it was and incredible of an achievement it is, it wasn’t something that floored me.
That sounds like Gamori, and based off of what we know about the other players involved and her appearance, it seems likely that she is also Hellboy’s sister. Looks the same, has the same uncle in Astaroth, has a dangerously close name to Hellboy’s brother Gamon, you name it. This, to me, was the most important player coming from this book, and like I said, I have to imagine she’s a factor going forward and at least part of the reason this story was told. She clearly wants to kill Hellboy, and after Astaroth died in issue #4, she should be getting her shot soon. Very interesting Brian. Very interesting.
Brian: Don’t think I was bagging your criticisms, I was just stating that I was trying to look at the book as a more cohesive unit than I normally would, that’s all.
I think Gamori is an interesting character to bring in at this point in the story, pretty much for all the reasons you mentioned. It is really fascinating how all of these books fit together into this fun mosaic. I wonder if reading the books one day, after the story is complete, in a linear fashion will somehow take away from what makes the publication order interesting. I can see her playing a role in “Hellboy in Hell” real soon. In fact, I’d bet on it.
Let’s talk a little more specifically about the art. Fegredo and Stewart manage at least four separate tones in the book – the “real” world of the B.P.R.D., the fantastical world of the Midnight Circus, the children’s book illustrations of Pinocchio and the nightmarish child murderers of the Hobo Jungle. These all do not exist on islands, as characters from one style will pop up in a panel comprised mainly of a different tone, making the book have a dream line quality of shifting realities.
Personally, I enjoyed the Circus and Hobo Jungle styles the most, but that’s unfair to the other two tones, which were also well done and gorgeous. Stewart deserves a ton of credit here, as his palettes are as unique and distinct as could be possible, and yet his colors also help to connect the various sequences together. Really incredible stuff.
David: I think one of the most incredible parts isn’t that they seamlessly created these different tones and sheens to each section, but how masterfully they slipped in and out of them. The transitions to and from each were incredible, and it made it feel like Hellboy was literally slipping behind curtains to find these new worlds. Like you said, the way it felt like we were shifting between realities was astonishing, and speaks volumes as to how simpatico these artists were in working together.
Can I just say too that I always enjoy stories about Li’l Hellboy and Professor Bruttenholm? This was one of the best examples ever of their relationship and how innately good Hellboy really is. Lost in his adulthood and all of what came with it, Hellboy is good, and the dichotomy that exists between who he is and who people think he was destined to be is never not incredible to read. Especially when it involves Astaroth’s unerring faith that this will be the boy who helps him destroy the world.
Brian: Young Hellboy stories are my jam, son. They really do bring in a rather large question of nature versus nurture – is Hellboy who he is because of his DNA or because of his upbringing? I think, especially after seeing Hellboy’s death and descent into Hell, it makes these early tales seem even more tragic. You can see the desire to be normal, to be good, to be accepted, and then you are confronted with the reality – he never really got to do anything he wanted. He was able to do a lot of good in the world, but always on the world’s terms, and not his own.
Continued belowThis got sad real quickly, didn’t it?
David: Well, I think to a degree he did. He wanted someone to treat him like a real boy and to treat him like a person, not the bringer of doom. I think in many ways this book itself underlined that Professor Bruttenholm did, and that he genuinely cared for him like a father would a son. Hellboy’s life really fell apart and went a different direction than he likely wanted once Bruttenholm died, and that was the domino that first led to his death and to where the Mignolaverse is today.
The funny thing is most of the B.P.R.D. did treat him like a normal kid, and in this book, it was his desire to be grown up more than normal that led him down this path. Plus, how nice of a touch was it that he stole Zinco brand cigarettes? That made me laugh.
Brian: The Zinco cigs was a great touch, for sure. Overall, this felt like the best of both worlds: a story that is “important” to the overall fabric of the Mignolaverse, as well as an aside that let everyone take a breather and enjoy a story from the past. It easily makes my best graphic novels of 2013 list.
David: Oh, absolutely. For myself as well, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it leads to, even if it does stand alone beautifully. Anything else to add before we give this bad boy a grade?
Brian: Just one more mention of how stunning the art is. You go, Duncan and Dave!
This gets a 9.0 from me – I assume you’ll go a little lower?
David: Just a bit. It gets an 8.5 for me, if only because I want to have something that leaves my mouth agape at the end to give something a 9 or higher. It is a remarkable artistic achievement that has beautiful character moments throughout, but I didn’t get that completely, absolutely inexplicable charge out of it that I typically want from a book of that level. Masterful achievement that I appreciate deeply though.
Brian: While I respect your views, I will gladly gloat a year from now when you re-read this and tell me how wrong you were!
Final Verdict: 8.75 – Buy!
