Darkness Calls SPOILERS AHOY!

[absenter]

Let er rip.

I'll go first:

IGOR YOU SNEAKY, LITTLE $#!%

[posh_undead]

(i've been partially dreading this issue--i make a few predictions in my thesis, and so far i'm right, but who knows where this story may end up... :)

well! Igor Bromhead! forgot about him! i bet he's mad he's still got iguana legs! could he want....revenge? is "Darkness Calls" going to be a great big vengeance party? (Bromhead, Baba Yaga for shooting her eye out, Gruagach for trapping him inside a teeny war monster,...)

can't decide if the witches are up to helping or hurting HB. also, i wonder where the Daoine Sidh stand w/ all this, esp. since the last time we saw any of them, they were warning Mohlomi about what he may have started by intervening. Battle of the Amulets? wooden bell vs. horn Hellboy?

speaking of which, that's the coolest reappearance yet. HELLBOY'S BROKEN HORNS. well f*%king done.

apart from a slight "Very Special Wake the Devil/Box Full of Evil Reunion" feel, i liked this issue. it's going to be hard to wait a whole month.

[Angilas-Man]

Awesome! It's amazing how Mike is bringing together all this continuity. I especially love it since Wake the Devil and Box Full of Evil are two of my favorite HB comics. Really makes you feel like all of Hellboy has been one long story.

Terrific issue, and that's saying something as it's really just a prelude to what is to come (suppose all the neat continuity stuff was meant to hold us over to the real action of the series?).
;)


I don't see how anyone can doubt Duncan now. He has his own unique style, but when I started reading it I forgot all about the big "new artist" issue and it felt like a pure Mignola Hellboy story.

Neato

[Swift]

I didn't realize how much of this book I had already seen until just now. 24 pages, and I had already read 10 of them between the preview and the "making of a comic" Duncan posted the other day. Thats like 40% of the comic. In the future I think I will resist the previews, so I can enjoy the actual book more. The beginning was great but then i had 10 pages to just flip past, then only 7 more at the end. :(

[Catlin]

Wow...I am blown the heck away. Using Ilsa's name to bind her - pure genius. Not to mention Hellboy's horns. And the art is fan-tas-tic! Three cheers for Duncan!

[Ninth Hispana]

My terrible prediction...Arthur's Bane ...To you, a son, but remember.''How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is, to have a thankless child''......[To the Bard, with respect]....I may well be on the wrong track, but It does seem to me we are coming full circle.....all the best.

[Maija]

apart from a slight "Very Special Wake the Devil/Box Full of Evil Reunion" feel
hehe :)

This was great and yet... aaag! I have to wait a month!! It was many things set in motion and all of them barely begun by the time I hit the lettercol. I agree whole-heartedly about the clever retrieval of the broken horns and the use of Ilsa's name and the return of Igor. Awesome!

I loved the scene in which Hellboy is entering the woods as the sea chanty echoes in the background and the ghost of Henry Horn materializes among the tree branches... and then is gone. Such atmosphere! This is not just a product of the story telling but of Fegredo's fantastic art.

I'm glad we've got BPRD in the gap to tide us until the next issue!

[diablo7]

this series is starting off great...lots of past characters and duncan's art meshing in perfectly with the hellboy universe...mignola's writing is in top form also..can't wait for issue 2

[Neil Hill]

Wow...I am blown the heck away. Using Ilsa's name to bind her - pure genius. Not to mention Hellboy's horns. And the art is fan-tas-tic! Three cheers for Duncan!

I like this assessment, so I'll simply echo your comments, Naiad.

This series is shaping up nicely, and were only on issue 1!

[ultramandingo]

jezz what took em so long to sign up fegredo .....so can hellboy wind up some wheres and it not be crawling with creepyness?

[Myron L]

BANGIN" way to kick this one off !!!!! Ilsa...the horn thing...the witches !...damn...must...wait...one...more...month!

Sweet job to all !

[Duncan Fegredo]

So glad you've enjoyed it so far, and thanks for the comments on by pen scratchings- so if you've enjoyed it thus far believe me when I say it gets better, much better. My work really steps up a notch as I get more comfortable with deptcting Mike's word and the story, wow! I'll sign off before I get all blabbermouthy and blow the fun you are all in for... enjoy the ride!

Duncan

[Catlin]

So glad you've enjoyed it so far, and thanks for the comments on by pen scratchings- so if you've enjoyed it thus far believe me when I say it gets better, much better. My work really steps up a notch as I get more comfortable with deptcting Mike's word and the story, wow! I'll sign off before I get all blabbermouthy and blow the fun you are all in for... enjoy the ride!

Just promise us you'll be around for a long, long time to come :) That's all I need to know.

[Neil Hill]

Just promise us you'll be around for a long, long time to come :) That's all I need to know.

I echo this comment. We hope you're here to stay...at least until Ragnarok comes. :D

[Kelly Tindall]

Wow.

I fear that a lot of this issue is fan service for those of us who've been around forever, but man... Igor Bromhead. This is going to be damned interesting, I'd say.

[craig rousseau]

So glad you've enjoyed it so far, and thanks for the comments on by pen scratchings- so if you've enjoyed it thus far believe me when I say it gets better, much better. My work really steps up a notch as I get more comfortable with deptcting Mike's word and the story, wow! I'll sign off before I get all blabbermouthy and blow the fun you are all in for... enjoy the ride!

Duncan

much better, huh? can't imagine that (considering how good this one looked)... but i guess we'll see!

on a somewhat unrelated note, i can't tell ya how much i'm looking forward to your book with sean phillips... is that still on track for a release this month?

-c

[Ninth Hispana]

Just recieved and read DC#1, it's a great beginning. I see our McBethian witches are back as well as Hecate and Igor ''Yapping Dog'' Bromhead. With beautiful art,[well done Duncan] and an on target storyline by Mike, this story is going to ''shake the pillars of Heaven''....all the best.

[Hellcow]

I loved this issue, which is really saying something given my love for Mike's art. So well done Mike, Duncan and Dave.

Now I'm going to ask all the hellboarders to forgive me in advance, but with all the arse kissing that goes on around here, I've got to throw in at least one negative comment to balance it up.

I was happy to be told we were in ITALY, I felt the atmosphere of the ruins, and from the next panel It wasn't too hard for me to work out that we were now under the ruins. So I didn't need to be told "SOMEWHERE UNDERGROUND." This felt forced and clunky and was not needed.

Scott, when this gets released as a trade, please convince Mike to delete that caption, I'd rather look at Duncan's art underneath.

[jnapper]

I loved this issue, which is really saying something given my love for Mike's art. So well done Mike, Duncan and Dave.

Arg, I need to read the issue-- it's been sitting on my desk for three days now!

I want to sit down and enjoy reading it, not multi-task like I normally do. :p

[dreadblueavenger]

Scott, when this gets released as a trade, please convince Mike to delete that caption, I'd rather look at Duncan's art underneath.

I never noticed any forced captions or clunkiness.

[Asa]

D.C. issue # 1 issue was really good, well worth the wait, the artwork though different from mike's, much kinder to the eyes . I sertainly felt much more comfortable showing it to my daughter who is ten. The cats were really great. I do have friends who have introduced the animation series to their kids, and often their kids ask about the comics. These are looking real good. My comic shop got alot of these this time and they sold out . I am really going to have a hard time waiting one whole month for the next.

[AnOdeForCruelty1]

Just picked up DC #1 and all I've gotta say is - it's going to be pretty damn hard to wait a whole month for the next issue. :D

Actually, I lied, I have more to say.

The use of Ilsa's name and finding out the little carving was made from HB's horn? That's some seriously clever continuity! I love it. But what really made me excited was to see a new artist who's style so perfectly mirrors Mike's HB universe, while at the same time retaining a personal flair to set it apart. Duncan, you're awesome, seriously. Can't wait to see where this goes.

[shonokin]

Great story so far, it's like the old days coming back at us! And Duncan, you can keep on drawing HB as far as I'm concerned. You've really nailed the feeling like no one else could outside of Mike himself. It's super impressive and a real joy to read and look at.

[Duncan Fegredo]

much better, huh? can't imagine that (considering how good this one looked)... but i guess we'll see!

on a somewhat unrelated note, i can't tell ya how much i'm looking forward to your book with sean phillips... is that still on track for a release this month?

-c

It looks like Intersections may be pushed back to the end of the month which is a shame as Sean and I had hoped to pimp it at the Bristol uk con this weekend- hell we'll bore everyone about it anyway!

-Duncan

[Duncan Fegredo]

Warm fuzzy feelings abound, thanks all, makes the effort worthwhile:)

-D

[Neil Hill]

Warm fuzzy feelings abound, thanks all, makes the effort worthwhile:)

-D

I just hope we don't all run out of new forms of praise by the third issue, Duncan, as we scour the English language in search of new hyperbole related phrases and colloqualisms, trying to find new ways to say basically the same thing- we love your work on Hellboy! :D

[red razors]

i have butterflies just thinking about where this story is going to go. amazing art, love the continuities... i will be wishing the summer away to get to the next issues!

[Rachel Edidin]

I just hope we don't all run out of new forms of praise by the third issue, Duncan, as we scour the English language in search of new hyperbole related phrases and colloqualisms, trying to find new ways to say basically the same thing- we love your work on Hellboy! :D

Here ya go. (http://thesaurus.reference.com/)

[Neil Hill]

Here ya go. (http://thesaurus.reference.com/)

LOL! Problem solved! Thanks, Rachel.

[gdeo]

Hey all previews are up for issue #2 http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=10-360

[Kelly Tindall]

Did it occur to anyone else that the guy (Harry?) that Hellboy was staying with might be an aged member of the team from the upcoming B.P.R.D.: 1946 book?

[Neil Hill]

Hey all previews are up for issue #2 http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=10-360

Thanks for the link, Gary!

Kelly, it wouldn't surprise me if Mike did weave the Harry character into the overall tapestry of Hellboy history in that way- not one bit.

[absenter]

Did it occur to anyone else that the guy (Harry?) that Hellboy was staying with might be an aged member of the team from the upcoming B.P.R.D.: 1946 book?

I thought exactly that Kelly. In fact I even referenced the blog of the artist who's working on the series (link provided by Tad i think? he makes real purty pictures) to see if one of the sketches he had posted of some soldiers who will appear in said series were named Harry. Don't think they were. I'm sure I would have gleefully posted about it if this had been the case.

And as fer the preview of ish 2: Wowwy wow wow! Scott was right! Go Dunkin Go! (and thnx gdeo!):D

[highlandhellboy]

hey im new here i alway come on this forum to read whats happening in the world of big red all the time, so i thought i'd join and make some friends can't wait for the next issue of DC. #1 kicked ass

p.s did you guys know that theirs a preview of DC #2 up at darkhorse.com it looks fab

talk again soon

love me some hellboy

mike dave and duncan rock

[posh_undead]

Hey all previews are up for issue #2 http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=10-360

i KNEW those three were the toad, cat, and bird. i love being right. :)

so, my theory is that some of the animals that talk are actually fairies; i've got a reference somewhere for Daoine Sidh being able to shape-shift. any takers?

(i don't actually think this about the animals in 3rd Wish #1 who spoke to Mohlomi. he seems the sort who actually could talk to real animals. :)

[gdeo]

Welcome aboard!!!hey im new here i alway come on this forum to read whats happening in the world of big red all the time, so i thought i'd join and make some friends can't wait for the next issue of DC. #1 kicked ass

p.s did you guys know that theirs a preview of DC #2 up at darkhorse.com it looks fab

talk again soon

love me some hellboy

mike dave and duncan rock

[Tad]

OMG! That page 3 is absolutely fantastic. Not just the drawing, everything!

[Swift]

its nice to see HB use that .45 on page nine. i feel like its been forever since hes had a pistol. seriously... a loooong time.

[Angilas-Man]

I just want to say that Duncan outdid himself with the sky full of witches and the end with HB at the wasteland.

[ultramandingo]

..........man o man! its like hell boys gratest hits ! and now babba yaga. somebody chain fegredo to that drawing board for a good long time

[Neil Hill]

Scott Allie was right that by issue 2 Duncan had really found his 'groove' (so to speak). This issue was stellar in every regard and I truly, truly enjoyed it!

Some highlights:

-A sky full of witches riding mythical creatures
-Hellboy trying to avoid the almost drunken whirling-dirvish sword of a skeleton
-Hellboy tromping off to more new locations than a George Lucas Ep. 1,2,3 movie
-A really nicely detailed close-up of poor old Baba Yaga
-An army of long dead Russian soldiers marching across a wind swept snowscape- truly epic!

This issue was something special and I have no doubts that this is truly (as the saying goes) just the beginning of richness yet to come.

[Neil Hill]

hey im new here i alway come on this forum to read whats happening in the world of big red all the time, so i thought i'd join and make some friends can't wait for the next issue of DC. #1 kicked ass

p.s did you guys know that theirs a preview of DC #2 up at darkhorse.com it looks fab

talk again soon

love me some hellboy

mike dave and duncan rock

Hey welcome, fellow friend in Hellboy from Scotland! I'm always heartened to see people from other countries joining our community. Just adds nicely to the diversity of opinions around here.

[posh_undead]

Issue #2:

actually, i was a teeny bit disappointed in this issue....i know, sacrilege!! :) it pains me to even think it... just a lot of action is all. maybe too much? not enough balance? i've only been through it 3 times though, i might be speaking too soon.

so the plot thus far: everyone is headed for WitchCon 2007 Leeds, minus Hecate who's trapped in Italy. is the old church part of the big gathering? (i got the impression that HB got off the train early when he shot the witch that was carrying him.) at any rate, THOSE witches want HB to take over where Bromhead failed. unsurprisingly, he refuses w/ a characteristic "screw you!" and he leaves. but the witches use Baba Yaga to trap him. bring on the Army of the Dead.

i do love seeing Koku again. i really liked his little role in WtD.

i ALSO love that once again, HB destroyed his horn(s). he was so mad the little doll just exploded!

finally, i reread #1, and i decided i don't trust Harry. "take your time...go for a walk...have another drink..." he sounds shady. also, "Trevor's proud of you"--??? how is Trevor in the present tense? unless he's still around somehow.....HMMMMMM!!!!!


it's gonna be a long month...

[Angilas-Man]

I second cheers for Koku's return. I thought he was such a neat little character that popped up in WtD.

...also, not part of the book's story, but I love the little hint in the letters collumn that Dark Horse has something Hellboy planned for Free Comic Book Day next year.

[Hellcow]

Issue #2:

actually, i was a teeny bit disappointed in this issue....i know, sacrilege!! :) it pains me to even think it... just a lot of action is all. maybe too much? not enough balance? i've only been through it 3 times though, i might be speaking too soon.

.

Well I was a bit disappointed too, but maybe for different reasons. BPRD seems to a always developing, where as issues like this one for Hellboy started giving me a "feeling" that I'm just reading the same comic every time. I know its not the same comic, but that's just the feeling it gave me.

Character X: Hellboy accept your fate
Hellboy: No
Character Y: Hellboy... it is your destiny...
Hellboy: Screw you
Character Z: Hellboy.. join with me
Hellboy: you've got the wrong guy.

Poor Hellboy... nobody knows that no means NO....know wot I mean..

[el seth]

I am loving everything about this series.

[Phrenic]

The only thing that bothered me was that the witches chose to turn on him so quickly. They come up with this elaborate plan to get him to meet with them, he says no, they're somehow surprised by this, then within a minute (before he even gets out the door) sends him off to be messed up by Baba Yaga. They didn't even attempt anything to persuade him. Kinda makes the witches look stupid. Mind you it's only the second issue and a small fraction of the overall story, things usually balance out before they are done. It's not a significant complaint, it's just something that struck me as off.

Other than that little weirdness I loved this issue. I totally agree that Duncan loosened up on this one big time. The first issue art was excellent and this one is even noticeably better. I like how he reduces detail on things in the background and things that are unimportant. It adds emphasis, to the detailed parts and helps the composition of the page. Mignola did that well too. The flying horde of witches was some awesome strangeness. My favorite of the group was the witch with the frog on a string.

I wonder when Graugach will pop up again, he seemed really pissed at the end of Strange Places. He's gotta get in on this Hellboy bashing.

[Neil Hill]

I wonder when Graugach will pop up again, he seemed really pissed at the end of Strange Places. He's gotta get in on this Hellboy bashing.

I completely agree, and after seeing Koku from Wake the Devil show up in issue 2 and getting to see Duncan's version of that character, I'm all the more excited to see how he'll translate Graugach to the page.

[DannyBoy7783]

I miss the samaritan. I don't recall him losing it (though I have no doubt it happened and I just overlooked it) but when HB whips out that colt in issue 2 I'm just so bummed. I hope he gets it back though considering the adventure he is on I highly doubt he'll get it back.

Might have to stick LoJo's gun into HB's holster for the Mezco figure. haha!

[Neil Hill]

I miss the samaritan. I don't recall him losing it (though I have no doubt it happened and I just overlooked it) but when HB whips out that colt in issue 2 I'm just so bummed. I hope he gets it back though considering the adventure he is on I highly doubt he'll get it back.

Might have to stick LoJo's gun into HB's holster for the Mezco figure. haha!

Seems a little puny to you, eh? I guess I can see that. Honestly, I think it shows good story development and potential when 'staple' elements- like his gun being that big cannon- change every so often.

Knowing Mike I'm sure he has something unique up his sleeve where the Samaritan is concerned. I wouldn't count it out just yet.

[Tad]

Remember that Mike didn't create the Samaritan. Guillermo did. The Samaritan has never been in the comic. Hellboy has had a variety of guns. The early ones were all big but I believe drawn differently. The Zinco gun blew up in his hand. He's clearly lost others in fights.

[posh_undead]

Remember that Mike didn't create the Samaritan. Guillermo did. The Samaritan has never been in the comic. Hellboy has had a variety of guns. The early ones were all big but I believe drawn differently. The Zinco gun blew up in his hand. He's clearly lost others in fights.

aw, nuts. i feel sure you're right. but why do i remember the Samaritan as the gun that the Torch of Liberty gave HB in SoD? mangled memory, probably.

[posh_undead]

Well I was a bit disappointed too, but maybe for different reasons. BPRD seems to a always developing, where as issues like this one for Hellboy started giving me a "feeling" that I'm just reading the same comic every time. I know its not the same comic, but that's just the feeling it gave me.

Character X: Hellboy accept your fate
Hellboy: No
Character Y: Hellboy... it is your destiny...
Hellboy: Screw you
Character Z: Hellboy.. join with me
Hellboy: you've got the wrong guy.

Poor Hellboy... nobody knows that no means NO....know wot I mean..

i do know what you mean... by "too much action" i kinda meant "too much action that's going nowhere" and so i also agree with you that sometimes it's just HB vs. Darth Vader over and over. i hope that seeing the full series changes that impression. but shouldn't a single issue stand on its own to some extent--not just leave the reader hoping it'll all make sense soon? i dunno. could be i'm just not used to Fegredo's style + MM's storytelling.

also, i think DC might be the series where HB does start accepting who he is. maybe not the "Anung Un Rama" that Hecate et al. want him to be, but also not the ersatz human that he's tried to be up to now. eeek! waiting is hard!!!

[Petersen]

also, i think DC might be the series where HB does start accepting who he is.

I thought that was part of the theme of this book based on Mike's comments in interviews and panels, that he can't keep putting his head in the sand that eventually the supernatural gets his attention enough that he has to accept part of the identity.

Since it seems Hellboy is walking between worlds, I had figured that he would no longer be able to claim 'I'm just a guy' as he is less mortal now than before (I'm basing this on the theory that Hellboy 'died' either in thrid wish or the Island and is now more Fey than mortal)

[Poe Ghostal]

I'd just like to see Hellboy really tempted to accept what he is, for once. What about the idea that, as king of the underworld, he could change humanity's relationship toward the Faerie, or vice versa?

Alternatively, Hellboy could see what humanity does to the Fay from the Fay's perspective...perhaps see some witch or goblin being abused by a human (that is, a not-so-obviously despicable human, like Rasputin or Bromhead). Something to make him feel some real sympathy for a supernatural character.

[Kelly Tindall]

Finally got the book yesterday. Loved it, of course.

I was really surprised at the turn taken with Hecate... It seems that the fickle witches are eager to turn on her and accept Hellboy as their king, but they are just as eager to turn on HIM and banish him to the Baba Yaga.

I hope the witches realize that they have a much bigger problem with Henry Hood.

Loving the series. Part of me wishes Mike were drawing it, but it's very gratifying to see the Hellboy universe lengthening and deepening, and I don't think that can happen with Mike on art... And you have to admit that Duncan is a pretty awesome substitute.

[Neil Hill]

.

Part of me wishes Mike were drawing it, but it's very gratifying to see the Hellboy universe lengthening and deepening, and I don't think that can happen with Mike on art... And you have to admit that Duncan is a pretty awesome substitute.

Very aptly put, Kelly. Duncan isn't a second-rate poor man's Mignola by any stretch, but having Mike would always be appreciated were it to happen.

[Kelly Tindall]

I resisted buying B.P.R.D. for the longest time (right up until The Black Flame) because I wasn't sold on Ryan Sook on art, and most of the artists who worked on The Soul of Venice and Others didn't really capture the mix between ghoulish and down-to-earth... But once I read The Dead (borrowed from a friend) and saw how perfectly Guy Davis nailed the tone and brought his own voice to the book, I knew that the book had become something truly special.

If Mike is well and truly done with long-form Hellboy, then I think we're entering that awkward transitional phase where the 'Mignola style' has to be compromised with the new artist's aesthetic... But I genuinely adore Duncan's work and I think that Hellboy is in excellent hands.

It should be interesting to see how things will play out over succeeding mini-series. I'm definitely in it for the long haul.

[absenter]

This isn't a spoiler per se, but I was thinking about how this arc has progressed, the cover previews and what should happen by the end of the story and I came to a conclusion that i thought was kind of interesting: It may be that the Hecate/Ilsa-Bromhead thread of the story will remain unresolved by the end of the 6 issue arc.

For me, this is one of the more interesting plotlines that's been introduced and were this the case, I would definitely be left wanting more. What implications this holds for the remainder of Hellboy's tale is up for debate, but what do you all think?

[Poe Ghostal]

Okay, I'm making my guess: I think "she" is Morrigan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrigan).

[Neil Hill]

Okay, I'm making my guess: I think "she" is Morrigan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrigan).

That would be interesting, Poe. I wouldn't start the guessing just yet though as, according to Mike, we won't learn the identity of "she" for awhile yet. That's all I'm gonna say.

[Poe Ghostal]

That would be interesting, Poe. I wouldn't start the guessing just yet though as, according to Mike, we won't learn the identity of "she" for awhile yet. That's all I'm gonna say.
Fair enough, Mr. Mysterious, but I'm sticking by my guess for now.

[Tad]

Issue 4 -- absolutely incredible. Really stunning and the journey into the mythic stuff leaves me in awe.

[Neil Hill]

Issue 4 -- absolutely incredible. Really stunning and the journey into the mythic stuff leaves me in awe.

I agree. I mentioned to Mike that this story direction is such a departure from Hellboy stories of the past (short stories being the exception) that I was curious how fans were reacting from his point of view. He indicated that he had not heard any complaints, he was quite satisfied with how things were turning out thus far, and that he couldn't be happier with Duncan's art.

I must admit that I actually like this type of story more- the everything AND the kitchen sink approach- where so many interesting things are thrown at the reader, that sometimes it's difficult to tell which way is up and which way is down. Hellboy seems very much like Alice travelling down the proverbial rabbit hole, and the reader is very nearly breathless at issues end, trying to decipher where they've been thus far, and where in the world they may end up next.

[Asa]

Hellboy seems very much like Alice travelling down the proverbial rabbit hole, and the reader is very nearly breathless at issues end, trying to decipher where they've been thus far, and where in the world they may end up next.
contains spoilers .After reading #4 I was absolutly without words. I am deeply sadend at the fact that Vasilisa dies in this story. I don't remember reading a story from which she dies! and by koshchei no less. Awsome. I will trench the book stores in iceland when I go home next for the stories of, Vasilisa.

[Neil Hill]

contains spoilers .After reading #4 I was absolutly without words. I am deeply sadend at the fact that Vasilisa dies in this story. I don't remember reading a story from which she dies! and by koshchei no less. Awsome. I will trench the book stores in iceland when I go home next for the stories of, Vasilisa.

Yeah, I thought that scene was handled well. Upon reflection Vasilisa was merely a story vehicle to move Hellboy closer to some sort of exit from this fever dream, but her appearance was still not w/out resonance.

[Rachel Edidin]

Yeah, I thought that scene was handled well. Upon reflection Vasilisa was merely a story vehicle to move Hellboy closer to some sort of exit from this fever dream, but her appearance was still not w/out resonance.

The original folktale pretty much ends as she tells it--with the deaths of her family, followed by the requisite "and she lived happily ever after."

[Neil Hill]

The original folktale pretty much ends as she tells it--with the deaths of her family, followed by the requisite "and she lived happily ever after."

I just meant that the character of Vasilisa seems as if she was used mostly as a story vehicle who was there simply to point Hellboy in the direction of an exit from this odd 'realm' (if in fact he's not in the real world but is instead in some fantasy/dream world- possibly having fallen asleep, bumped his head and was knocked out, etc.)

I'm not sure why I'm explaining this since you probably already know this fact better than I do, Rachel, but I figure it bears explanation.

[Asa]

I just meant that the character of Vasilisa seems as if she was used mostly as a story vehicle who was there simply to point Hellboy in the direction of an exit.
If it is a dream then fine. If not, I would like Hellboy venge the death of vasalisa, through what ever means nessasary, anything goes, even if Hellboy has to return to hell (but please come back) and back again.

[Angilas-Man]

I'd like to say that I love Koshchei. When has Hellboy ever had a single humanoid nemesis that's just as tough as him to battle? In other comics it's run-of-the-mill, but in the pages of Hellboy it's so uncoventional!

[Kelly Tindall]

I must say, I haven't decided how much I am enjoying the book so far... I like the writing, but I don't love it. I like the art, but I don't love it.

First of all, there's just way too much going on for me... We've got the witches seeking their king/queen, which is more than enough for one story, and then we've got Hellboy trying to negotiate a seemingly endless series of deus ex machina folkloric characters popping up.

Between Hecate, Bromhead, the witches, Gruagach, the new witch queen, the Baba Yaga, Koschei, Vasilisa, the leshii, the wee oven man, the witchfinder zombie, the witch sister corpse, the jailer, Perun, and the zombie army, my head is starting to spin. The only thing which separates it from the weaker parts of Sword of Storms (which I'm getting a hugely similar feel from, regarding Darkness Calls) is the intensity of the situation... Gods are falling, like something out of Miyazaki, and that's ratcheting up the intensity rather a lot.

I have a hard time with Duncan's artwork right now... He's got a lot of detail in there (little specks of white) that aren't really helping the depth of the art. Some panels, such as the ones with Gruagach and his goblin buddies underground with the as-yet-unexplained jailer giant, are filled with so much that they are fooling my eye and not allowing me to follow the story.

When he lets his natural design abilities take over, such as that breaktaking zombie army scene from #3, Duncan is kicking some serious butt. But by the time I realized that the jailer giant was heavily tattooed, I was frustrated by the art.

Duncan is a great artist, but I feel that he's having trouble conveying depth in a lot of his panels.

[Todd H]

I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum Kelly. I am loving this story so far. For me it's been a lot easier to follow then many of the other HB tales. I love seeing all the different characters (how did the Grug...the pig man come back as a pig? Was it because the War Pig ate him? I'm confused on that one), the little oven man being a favorite of mine.

I can see where one could get confused with all the different characters though. There is a lot going on.

When I picked up the first issue of Darkness Calls I wasn't sold on Duncan't art but as the issues scroll by I'm getting more and more used to it and loving it.

I do have to say I'm enjoying reading everyones take on the story and art thus far. It's interesting seeing the different opinions.

[Maija]

Thanks to Comic Con I didn't actually have time to pick up my comics from the comic shop until last night. :p

I like this book. I'm enjoying this book. There are pieces that I love, like the oven gnome and Koshchei (the Russian T-1000!), Vasilisa, and the detail of the giant having to put on reading glasses, but like Kelly, I feel like every time there's a new character, the story has to stop to take on the new passenger and then slowly pick up steam again instead of running flat out. We're into the third act now [correcting myself later: I thought this was issue #5 but it's not] and just as a god has been killed off, it veers into an almost totally new mini-arc (I had to go back to the first two pages of issue #3 to find the thread of continuity). Then we return to Hellboy and the action picks up... and a new character with a significant backstory appears in a flash of light! Gnarg!

But the pieces are all so cool! I just wish they fit together more smoothly.

After I read Hellboy I read BPRD and I thought "Now this is what I'm talking about." It's issue one and there are a half dozen balls in the air, but it's the beginning of the story and I have a feeling that they're going to unravel and then twine together as the story progresses (I would hope). It's not one ball popping up after another over the course of six issues.

I can't fault Fegredo's art though. I suppose all that detail might be distracting if it was in black and white, but at no point did I have trouble following the story visually. Those last three pages are outstanding.

[Maija]

My criticism sounds harsh, but it's just that its component parts are so good that I want it to fuse together into a mass of awesomeness. Hellboy is still just one of three books that I have on my pull file.

[Kelly Tindall]

Maija, I'm surprised to find myself comparing it to Sword of Storms. Darkness Calls has the same episodic feel, and suffers from many of the same problems.

[Neil Hill]

My criticism sounds harsh, but it's just that its component parts are so good that I want it to fuse together into a mass of awesomeness. Hellboy is still just one of three books that I have on my pull file.

No need to back-track, Maija, as you make very good points. It seems to me that Mike is just having a blast playing with all of the different characters he's brought to this story, and I've never really known Mike's Hellboy stories to try too hard to explain every new character who pops in to have a few minutes on the stage. Personally that part has never worried me too much. However, you do make a good point about the story kind of going in fits and starts at times as new layers are being added.

On a side note; I enjoy the depth and richness of this story w/out having to have it all explained. Granted, you may not even be alluding to that aspect, Maija, so please forgive my tangent here. I just don't get too wrapped up in feeling that the story bogs when new characters are introduced. One gets the impression that these characters have been around for millenia, that Hellboy is being set upon THEIR tale rather than the other way around, and that they'd be doing this stuff with or without Hellboy around to interact with them. Anyway, just my two nickels...

[Maija]

I've never really known Mike's Hellboy stories to try too hard to explain every new character who pops in to have a few minutes on the stage.

Huh? Vasilisa thoroughly explained herself.

On a side note; I enjoy the depth and richness of this story w/out having to have it all explained.

Explanation is not what I want. Craft is what I want. The pieces might be fitted together a little more tightly.

If only all these Russian characters had been given a foundation earlier in the story. With hindsight it's plain: the Baba Yaga has a lot of enemies in her realm, but that hasn't been made clear. Instead it's been: Leshii doesn't like her... oh and by the way Perun isn't too fond of her either... oh and also Vasilisa. It would have taken one line to set up the fact that Baba Yaga does not have unchallenged dominion over her realm. When Hellboy was thrust into the onslaught of a spectral army certainly my initial impression was that he was on Baba Yaga's turf and that alone was serious trouble. It would have been good to know that there are many in her own realm that want to see her fall, and Hellboy's appearance has been as a spark on a powderkeg. But that wasn't emphasized and instead he's just set off little piles of black powder as he pinballs around her world.

And then meanwhile, back in England, there's this other story unfolding.

At this point I think I should just hold off with any further comment until I read the last two issues because the more I'm thinking about the story so far, the more I'm irritated by concerns that may be resolved in the last act.

BTW, I was confused in my earlier post and thought this was issue five, so pardon my criticism about a new character popping up so late in the story, but her appearance was still rather abrupt.

[Neil Hill]

Nice touche' regarding the Vasilisa example, Maija. I guess I meant that in general Mike isn't in a hurry to explain everything, and leaves much of the filling in of the backstory and details part to the readers (which we obviously do aplenty). He definitely does have those moments though where at some point in the story a large chunk of story or character is explained (Hecate in Wake the Devil for instance), and perhaps we just haven't gotten to that point in the story yet. As you said, a wait and see attitude may be best.

You do make very good points though about the various aspects of this particular story (at least right now) being like a miasmic flow of events that Hellboy is very much caught up in, but that aren't being explained perhaps as well as they could be.

[Maija]

I had a long ride on the Greyhound bus earlier today (ug, what is it with the odour that every Greyhound bus seems to have? I'm still recovering from the headache). I took the time to read all four issues again from the very beginning.

I think this series suffers from being a series. It's so dense and complex that it's like trying to listen to a symphony in two minute bursts with hours of silence in between. Reading the fourth chapter months removed from the first chapter obscures the intricate patterns and connections and makes for a disjointed and confusing reading experience.

Reading the whole thing at once does not cure all the ills--the chunk of exposition that Vasilisa has to drop into the middle of a chase scene remains problematic--but over all the story is much more unified, coherent and purposeful if read continuously from the very beginning. The two main threads are much more clear. The details that seem scattershot when read in the isolation of a single issue fit more neatly in a continuous story. However, the issue breaks still cause a stumble in the rhythm.

I wonder what this might have been like as an unserialised graphic novel, like Eric Powell's Chinatown? At least it will eventually be a TPB.

The experience kinda makes me want to wait until both 5 and 6 are out before I read either of them, just to see what it's like to read the whole thing from beginning to end at once, but I know I won't be able to hold out that long. :)

[Myron L]

All I gotta say is...Neil keeps hogging the Lett-Col and good for you, Mike "I'm no Neil Hill" Cross !!!!

lol...

LOVED this ish !!!

[Poe Ghostal]

Regarding issue #5...have we met the dude with the hat before? He seems vaguely familiar...

[bennyblanko]

the baba yaga goat-kissing scene was AMAZING.

[Eric M]

he looks very similar to Emperor Zombie from Screw-On Head.........

[InAdia]

Huh? Vasilisa thoroughly explained herself.



Explanation is not what I want. Craft is what I want. The pieces might be fitted together a little more tightly.

If only all these Russian characters had been given a foundation earlier in the story. With hindsight it's plain: the Baba Yaga has a lot of enemies in her realm, but that hasn't been made clear. Instead it's been: Leshii doesn't like her... oh and by the way Perun isn't too fond of her either... oh and also Vasilisa. It would have taken one line to set up the fact that Baba Yaga does not have unchallenged dominion over her realm. When Hellboy was thrust into the onslaught of a spectral army certainly my initial impression was that he was on Baba Yaga's turf and that alone was serious trouble. It would have been good to know that there are many in her own realm that want to see her fall, and Hellboy's appearance has been as a spark on a powderkeg. But that wasn't emphasized and instead he's just set off little piles of black powder as he pinballs around her world.

And then meanwhile, back in England, there's this other story unfolding.

At this point I think I should just hold off with any further comment until I read the last two issues because the more I'm thinking about the story so far, the more I'm irritated by concerns that may be resolved in the last act.

BTW, I was confused in my earlier post and thought this was issue five, so pardon my criticism about a new character popping up so late in the story, but her appearance was still rather abrupt.

Well, this arc is just step one in a huge storyline that Mike has planned. I am fairly certain that everything will make sense by the time it reaches an end.

[Todd H]

Ok wow. I loved this issue. I want to see more of the Gur...gu..oh for...Pig man and his little goblin buddies. Mini series please! :D

But seriously. The angels and witches pouring out. Awesome.

Anyone else find the letters section amusing? Letter from Neil...then a letter from Mike that starts oh "Well I'm no Neil"

[Asa]

Anyone else find the letters section amusing? Letter from Neil...then a letter from Mike that starts oh "Well I'm no Neil"
HeHeHe I did!!!

[Ollie]

I enjoyed this issue, but it feels like we're still in the same place that we were in at the end of the last issue. With Hellboy having to fight Koshchei again, although this time he's a lot bigger and stronger. And we still don't know what/who Grugauch (sp?) and his gang have taken from that big pit under the church.

And I don't know if this has bothered anyone else but it seems like Hellboy isn't talking as much as he used to. Whenever he has said something in this series it's just been ''Aw Crap!'' ''You gotta be kidding me!'' or '' Son of a...!''

........is it just me who thinks that? I know he's said all that stuff in the other series' as well, but I remember he used to say more..... Maybe it's just because he's on his own and he doesn't have Abe to talk to.

One last thing about this issue, I liked that skull guy that was with Baba Yaga, he was creepy! :D

[Brian Churilla]

I've been so blown away by this series. Duncan is really knocking it out of the park.

BC

http://www.brianchurilla.com/files/banners/eng_animation01.gif (http://www.brianchurilla.com)

[Todd H]

And I don't know if this has bothered anyone else but it seems like Hellboy isn't talking as much as he used to. Whenever he has said something in this series it's just been ''Aw Crap!'' ''You gotta be kidding me!'' or '' Son of a...!''

........is it just me who thinks that? I know he's said all that stuff in the other series' as well, but I remember he used to say more..... Maybe it's just because he's on his own and he doesn't have Abe to talk to.


I think it's just because he has no one to talk to. He struck up a bit of a conversation with the little spirit in the stove...but other then that he's had to go it alone. I for one am thankful Hellboy doesn't have an inner/outer monologue. We don't need HB with thought bubbles! :D

[Ninth Hispana]

About Koshchei,...I don't want to get all maudlin but ''Monty Python'' handled the black knight quite well...I think Hellboy needs to take Mr K's head,or stick a vulcan grenade down his throat.Time is of the essence in this storyline..To stop, ''She who must be obeyed''.from being released...This is a great story...all the best

[Poe Ghostal]

I think it's just because he has no one to talk to. He struck up a bit of a conversation with the little spirit in the stove...
Yeah, and then he just described what we'd already read, exactly as he did with the skeletons at the beginning of The Last Wish.

Seriously, what is he thinking or feeling right now? Does he have any thoughts on his situation at all? What does he think he's doing right now, other than being buffeted by supernatural forces while his enemies take turns trying to kill him? Hellboy has become a really passive protagonist.

[gdeo]

The story and art just seem to get better and better...i cannot wait for the next issue:D

[Hellbaby]

I like it. But now he has to stop the Koschei and the lady in the box and all the witches and the Baba Yaga in one issue!

[TRK]

Hello everyone, I've been lurking on this forum for a while now, decided to join and share my thoughts. I really like how the series is developing especially the introduction of Koschei ( that whole catching the cut-off head thing was great!) though I'm afraid that he will not last very long. (But wouldn't it be funny if he turned to the good side, joined the BPRD and formed a duo with Daimio: captain zombie & commander deathless...)

P.S. Am I the only one who thought that hellboy's head and nose was a little bit "off", I'm talking about DC#5 page three of the story upper left corner.

[Hellbaby]

P.S. Am I the only one who thought that hellboy's head and nose was a little bit "off", I'm talking about DC#5 page three of the story upper left corner.

Hmm... It does look a little different, but that is probably because Duncan Fegredo is drawing the story instead of Mike Mignola. So, a few things are going to look different.

P.S. Welcome!

[TRK]

I understand that it is going to look different but the other images look a lot more like mike's design in my opinion, by the way it's too bad that DC#6 in going to come out in 2 months, sooo long and there is nothing I can do about it. Thanks for the welcome.

[gdeo]

welcome and post often:D

[Kelly Tindall]

I never thought that Hellboy would be my least-anticipated Mignola book, but with B.P.R.D. so good right now and Lobster Johnson just around the corner... Man. Ol' hornhead is facing challenges that have nothing to do with witches.

[Neil Hill]

I really like how the series is developing especially the introduction of Koschei.

I agree that Koschei is an incredibly 'alive' villian with a tragedy and pathos all his own- underneath his great mustache twisting vileness of course. In fact, it's hard to say whether I'll be happy to see Koschei bite it for the final time at the end of Darkness Calls, or whether I might actually lament his passing. Either way, I see his ultimate demise as almost assured by series end. Perhaps (hoping) I'm wrong?

[Neil Hill]

I never thought that Hellboy would be my least-anticipated Mignola book, but with B.P.R.D. so good right now and Lobster Johnson just around the corner... Man. Ol' hornhead is facing challenges that have nothing to do with witches.

Oh no, say it isn't so! A dissenter among the ranks. :p

Honestly, I feel that the most valid complaints about the series have been leveled by Tad and Maija (with respect to other naysayers also). I tend to agree with nearly everything they've said, while also enjoying the heck out of the series for what does represent. Visually I think it's amazing that Duncan has created this unique Feg-nola style, that is neither artist while still representing both in some incredible and visually dynamic way. Duncan deserves a special award just for pulling off that feet by itself! Storywise it represents a departure from Mike's past modus operandi (The Third Wish not withstanding), but I find it refreshing, even if at times hard to pull a narrative direction out of.

I have a feeling this series is going to work much better in TPB form, where you have the complete story and flow of events worked out for you- rather than waiting for installments via sticatto presentation.

[Angilas-Man]

I have a feeling this series is going to work much better in TPB form, where you have the complete story and flow of events worked out for you- rather than waiting for installments via sticatto presentation.

Yeah, I'm enjoying the single issues, but this story is made for reading all at once.

[Poe Ghostal]

Anyone else think Hellboy's going to be down an eye by the end of this?

[Ollie]

Hellboy with an eye patch? That could be cool! He'd be all Snake Plisskeny. :D

[Ninth Hispana]

Yep,that patch job possibility struck me as well.The old saying, ''an eye for an eye'' comes to mind.If this situation does come to pass.....who will the eye serve, me or thee..An interesting, [at this point in time] hypothetical....All the best.




thetical

[TBolt]

has number 6 really been delayed a month?

[Neil Hill]

has number 6 really been delayed a month?

Where'd you hear that, TBolt? I hadn't heard that in the fan press or even via word of mouth.

[TBolt]

^^^ somebody a few posts above mine mentioned a two month wait for #6.

[ultramandingo]

Anyone else think Hellboy's going to be down an eye by the end of this?
.....not his right eye ball o doom!!!!!

[TRK]

On the dark horse site you can see that it will come out on the 31st of october;

www.darkhorse.com/comics/upcoming.php

And about the the whole Koschei dying or not dying thing, now that I have given some more thought to it I personally can't see Koschei killed by Hellboy in one episode, it would feel too hurried.

[TBolt]

^^^ Why the delay? They've been on track so far on a monthly basis.

[TRK]

I do not know. Aren't some of the board members able to acquire such information? We'll have to wait and see.

[Kelly Tindall]

I, personally, think that the Baba Yaga is going down for the count. I've anticipated that since her ghouls went to town on poor old Perun.

[Neil Hill]

I do not know. Aren't some of the board members able to acquire such information? We'll have to wait and see.

Well, in Scott's latest HB Letter Column on the DH website he mentioned an issue being "late, late, late", but I assumed he meant issue 5, which did in fact ship on time. I guess issue 6 is the one he was referring to. :confused:

[TRK]

DC nr6 IS going to be late, it's written in the hellmail bit of LOJO nr1.

c'est la vie.

[pimpernel]

Okay, I'm making my guess: I think "she" is Morrigan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrigan).

I don't think the battle scenes in the jailor's "flashback" this issue seemed very Celtic, which is what i would expect if "she" was Morrigan. They seemed later... possibly Arthurian? Maybe "she" is Morgan le Fey or Mab or Titania or someone like that?

[el seth]

Anyone else noticing a lack of Sir Edward?

[Angilas-Man]

^Edward, the King only had a one panel appearence!

[Jankenstein]

Poor squirrel ! :D

[Neil Hill]

Poor squirrel ! :D

Ah, but the pathos inherent in that small 'aside' was well worth the demise of one squirrel. In fact, dare I say it was somewhat poetic. Much like the Leprechaun at the end of The Corpse who laments the passing of his people into the next realm because no one believes in them anymore, seeing that poor squirrel bite it was symbolic of the death of purity and goodness in this 'fairy war' that seems to be taking part in Hellboy's universe currently, and in which he seems to be caught in the cross hairs.

[pimpernel]

Poor squirrel ! :D

Can't believe Mike killed off poor wee Ratatosk. :(

[Maija]

I'm ignoring this thread for now and sitting on #5 (not literally--that would put creases in it!) until #6 comes out. I want to read the whole thing from the beginning, at once.

I flipped through to look at the art though and Fegredo continues to impress.

Over 'n' out until #6...

[Juno Reactor]

EDIT: Triple post. Ignore.

[Juno Reactor]

EDIT: Triple post. Ignore.

[Juno Reactor]

EDIT: Triple post. Ignore.

[Juno Reactor]

EDIT: Ignore once more. See next post.

[Juno Reactor]

I just picked up issues #1-5, and read them all the way through, twice... And I am breathless. In my opinion, this is the densest, most epic and intricately detailed Hellboy arc since "Wake The Devil," and ambitious as WTD was, I have a feeling "Darkness Calls" will eclipse it by the time #6 rolls around. This is some amazing stuff.

I have some questions, though:

1) Who's the skeletal dude with the black cloak that's with Baba Yaga at the World Tree? I think he might be Death personified, since his very first appearance is punctuated by him saying, "Dead" (see pg. 1 of issue #5) And then there's the part where he tells the Baba Yaga she should've handed Vasalisa over to him while she still had the chance -- implying that the Baba Yaga should've killed Vasalisa when she visited her house for the fire long ago, thus "handing her over" to Death. What do you guys think?

2) What do you reckon is down in the pit? Skimming over this thread, I saw mention of Morrigan, and judging from Morrigan's Wikipedia entry, she sounds like the type. Any other ideas?

3) And finally, how do you think this is gonna end? I have a feeling Hellboy's going to lose an eye, and will henceforth be a one-eyed devil-man. I guess the chances of this happening depends on whether Mignola wants to reshape the character's appearance that much. As for Koschei, I feel very bad for all the suffering he's endured, and I'm hoping he either dies gracefully, or -- and this would be wild -- teams up with Hellboy.

Man, I can't wait for #6 and then, six months later, the trade paperback. The pacing is perfect, the art is lush, the storytelling reads like poetry, and there's creepy weirdness and cool creatures abound (lovin' the domovoi!). But... When does the next issue come out? October? November?

- JR

[TRK]

It has been a while since this topic has been commented on but I have a good reason : PREVIEW!


www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=10-364

To be honest I'm not really feeling the colors on the battling Koschei nor the background, it kinda feels like seed of destruction. Too monotone a colorsceme for my taste, the colouring looks way better at the end of KG3 which has similar colors but seems more alive.

[Jankenstein]

I see what you mean about the background colors on the fight scene pages.....that certainly is a lot of yellow.

That first page in the online preview is fantastic, though! That's a rather Mignola-esque panel flow, and I think it's my favorite page so far of the entire series.

[Rachel Edidin]

I do not know. Aren't some of the board members able to acquire such information? We'll have to wait and see.

Our fault. Mea culpa. :(

Scott talks about it a bit on the Hellboy Zone (http://www.darkhorse.com/zones/hellboy/editor.php). Basically, the series was scheduled a little too tightly, so we got further and further behind as it went along. At that point, it became a question of either having Duncan and Dave do a slapdash job, but getting the books out on time; or letting them take their time and make better books, but release them late--not really much of a choice, since there was no way in Hell we were going to let the quality slide on this series.

On the upside, we've now got a much better sense of Duncan's pacing and a very real sense of the price of our overenthusiasm, so it shouldn't happen again.

[TBolt]

^^ So is it coming out on the 7th of November like it says in the recent letters pages?

[Neil Hill]

At that point, it became a question of either having Duncan and Dave do a slapdash job, but getting the books out on time; or letting them take their time and make better books, but release them late--not really much of a choice, since there was no way in Hell we were going to let the quality slide on this series.

I'm all for taking time, as long as it doesn't get into the realm of the ridiculous- like a year between issues or something (which I doubt would ever happen).

I'm fond of the saying that making comics shouldn't about planting roses. However, it also shouldn't be about sacrificing quality for timliness. You folks have a great enough track record where a months wait won't kill us. Now if it were BPRD this was happening with....well, them's fightin' words. :p

[Asa]

Picked up the last issue. No spoilers here, I can't wait to read what everyone thinks about the ending. I think it leaves an open path to a whole lot more issues.

[Eric M]

Picked up the last issue. No spoilers here, I can't wait to read what everyone thinks about the ending. I think it leaves an open path to a whole lot more issues.

I gotta admit, I think this story could have been handled in fewer issues. I liked thge rogues gallery of characters over the course, but it just felt drawn out. Oh well, its still better than 99% of the garbage thats on the stands....

[Neil Hill]

It's late, so no preamble or long winded explanation regarding the final issue of Darkness Calls (and the crowd rejoices). I can actually sum up this series quite simply with one phrase- "Much ado about nothing."

Honestly, I love Mike's writing elsewhere- Lobster Johnson being some of Mike's best in years- and I feel that his intentions were quite pure here, but this series felt bloated, indulgent, and in the end (although gorgeous to look at with many fantastic creatures roaming about) came to naught. I didn't find myself invested, most of the time I couldn't really tell what Mike's intentions were (fun at first, but got old as the series progressed), and at the very last page I felt no more satisfaction than I would had I just had a light snack.

I went into this series hoping for the best, was invested right along until about issue 3, but after that I found myself purchasing the remaining issues more out of loyalty to the creative team and Dark Horse than any actual identification and empathy for the titular character. Please don't misunderstand, I love Hellboy and will purchase this book until the wheels fall off, but Darkness Calls, well, I gotta call it a miss for me folks.

[gdeo]

well...I LOVED it!!!It was fantastic to have a stand alone Hellboy story..it had everything we love(maybe i should say "I love") a Hellboy story that gives me HB kicking monster a**,being a smart a** when he's kick said monster's a**.a cast of baddies being just that... 'baddies' that want him dead .some say that this arc was drawn out..but then if it was shorter we'd miss out on all the terrific art by Duncan....The only thing that this arc was missing was...Mike drawing it.But Duncan did and is doing a FANTASTIC job with his take on HB.I cannot wait for the next arc by Mike and Duncan in 2008 .Heck, i can't wait for the Darkness Calls epilogue that's forthcoming.:)

[Asa]

I do have to say that, I was quite surprised but very happy, I don't really want anyone to die or go away, and Igor in hell "Oh well" We may very well see them again. I love Mikes writing.:D

[Angilas-Man]

I loved the ending. So I suppose the theory that HB has been a ghost since The Island has been disproven, since we now know Hellboy is "deathless" (not sure if that's the same thing as immortal). I just really love how Hellboy has been on the run from the Baba Yaga this entire series, and instead of defeating her per-say, he just kept on rolling with the punches untill she completely runs out of power and finds out it was hopeless anyway.

I felt a kind of lull in the middle of this series, but I feel that was due to the fact you had to wait a full month before you could see more of the fight. As a complete graphic novel this will read perfectly. I'm not a huge fanatasy fan, but Mignola's writing and the addition of Duncan's art make it work for me.


"The Wild Hunt" next summer, huh? Such an unusual title for an HB story. It's probably very straightforward as HB titles go, but the very fact that it isn't some faux-pulpy title makes it mysterious to me.

[Eric M]

I loved the ending. So I suppose the theory that HB has been a ghost since The Island has been disproven, since we now know Hellboy is "deathless" (not sure if that's the same thing as immortal). I just really love how Hellboy has been on the run from the Baba Yaga this entire series, and instead of defeating her per-say, he just kept on rolling with the punches untill she completely runs out of power and finds out it was hopeless anyway.

I felt a kind of lull in the middle of this series, but I feel that was due to the fact you had to wait a full month before you could see more of the fight. As a complete graphic novel this will read perfectly. I'm not a huge fanatasy fan, but Mignola's writing and the addition of Duncan's art make it work for me.


"The Wild Hunt" next summer, huh? Such an unusual title for an HB story. It's probably very straightforward as HB titles go, but the very fact that it isn't some faux-pulpy title makes it mysterious to me.

If Im not mistaken The Wild Hunt is the German/Northern Euopean myth of Odin (?) riding thru the night sky hunting demons. I could be way off base but I know that Franz Stuck painted an incredible piece called The Wild Hunt based on that legend.

[pimpernel]

If Im not mistaken The Wild Hunt is the German/Northern Euopean myth of Odin (?) riding thru the night sky hunting demons. I could be way off base but I know that Franz Stuck painted an incredible piece called The Wild Hunt based on that legend.

You're not mistaken. In Britain the hunt is most commonly led by Woden, but also sometimes Herne or Satan or various local characters. Woden is, amongst other things, the lord of storm winds, a characteristic which manifests in the Wild Hunt howling across the land furiously.

[ultramandingo]

"It has been variably referred to as the Wild Hunt, Woden's Hunt, the Raging Host (Germany), Herlathing (England), Mesnee d'Hellequin (Northern France), C?n Annwn (Wales) Cain's Hunt, Ghost Riders (North America), Herod's Hunt, Gabriel's Hounds, Asgardreia and even in Cornwall "the devil's dandy dogs."
( !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! )

[Gary_B]

I just read it and I thought the conclusion worked very well. I didn't see it coming, that's for sure! Now that I've followed the whole Darkness Calls arc I don't even miss Mignola's art until I find people talking about it here and in the letters column of the comic (thank you Dark Horse for holding on to this tradition). Hellboy has a phenomenal weight on his shoulders but whatever that implies, and however I imagine it, Mike Mignola always reveals what that entails in wonderful ways that I can never imagine. I was drawn to the Hellboy universe by Mignola's art but it's his ideas and his writing that make it a compelling and entertaining place to escape to.

[Myron L]

"I'll see you in Hell"...but wait, you're already there, astride a dragon, leading your armies. A glimpse at Anung Un Rama once again !!!!

The death was a nice finish and good transition to "The Wild Hunt" based on the ending.

"We need a Blood Queen !"

Awesome !

[Neil Hill]

"I'll see you in Hell"...but wait, you're already there, astride a dragon, leading your armies. A glimpse at Anung Un Rama once again !!!!

"We need a Blood Queen !"

This one seen and the portent of things to come regarding the Blood Queen were two fantastic highlights from the last issue. Otherwise, as I said before, I felt the series lacked something.

[BKole]

Sweet Monkey Jebus, that was another cool Series.

My two favourite images are Babe Yaga Making funky lip-love with a Goat (That crazy biddy knows how to party, Russian Style. If only they had THAT in Daywatch!) and Hellboy on his little Demon Horsey in Hell. That was friggin' awesome beyond Words.

Duncan Fregrado is a master of comics. I've loved his artwork since i first spyed my tiny vole like peepers on it in the Fill in issue of X-Statix he did, since then whenever i see it i get a feeling of glee. In a way, i am much happier that Fregrado did it than Bermenjo, as was intially announced. The guy is a great guy, i had the pleasure of witnessing his existance at the Bristol comicbook convention (I woulda joined the line to get something signed, but my money had dried up and my mates girlfriend wanted to get something to eat. Women!)

Bloody great series, cannot WAIT for more!

[el seth]

Anyone else have a verbal reaction when Baba Yaga reached for that acorn? I know I did.

[BKole]

Yup.

I was like "No Freakin' Way"

(Also, Randomly Acorns always give me a chuckle now. One of my RP sessions had my crazy ass character making love to a Giant Acorn to create another Yggdrasil. Hilarity.)

[Jawa]

Now that it's all wrapped up, here's my thoughts on DARKNESS CALLS, overall: I will admit, somewhere in the middle of the series, I started to lose interest in the story itself. I dunno, it just seemed to lose some steam. I don't know if I want to say it could have all been condensed into lesser issues, because there was a lot of stuff that definitely deserved to be in there. Like someone else pointed out, we'd have been cheated out of the gorgeous art of Duncan Fregredo (who, by the way, definitely was the right choice to draw this series if Mike wasn't going to do it himself). Still, I was having a hard time staying totally interested half way through, but this final issue tied things together nicely, gave us a relatively cool ending and a neat little peek into the future. Truth be told, DARKNESS CALLS wasn't as great as the current BPRD and LOBSTER JOHNSON miniseries have been, but it still kicks butt and I'm looking forward to THE WILD HUNT next year :)

If I could make one suggestion, though, to those who are in a position to take these things into consideration: story recaps at the beginning of the every issue would be nice. Just something short written on the inside of the front cover. This goes for not just HELLBOY, but for BPRD and anything else HB-related. With every new issue of DARKNESS CALLS, I found myself having to go back and look at the previous issues just to remember exactly what was going on. It might be easier for those who don't read a lot of other comics, I dunno. Myself, I read at least ten titles a week LOL Anyways, just a thought I hope will be taken into consideration.

[InAdia]

So I take it that the wild hunt is the next Hellboy story arc?

[BKole]

Aye, Seems that way.

For some reason it conjures ideas of a Mignolian (Thats a new word) Fox hunt, only theres no foxes, and its Hellboy, and it's not toffs on horses slaying innocent animals, it's crazed middle-class demon imps with a queen draped in a cape of blood.

But, hey, im crazy in the brainpan.

[heckblazer]

For some reason it conjures ideas of a Mignolian (Thats a new word) Fox hunt, only theres no foxes, and its Hellboy, and it's not toffs on horses slaying innocent animals, it's crazed middle-class demon imps with a queen draped in a cape of blood.

But, hey, im crazy in the brainpan.

I myself tend to think of a cursed decapitated nobleman who uses a pack of wolves that are the ghosts of viking berserkers to hunt mermaids. :)

From what I've seen so far it looks like the Wild Hunt will have a storyline that parallels the HBII movie. Which would certainly be good crossmarketing sense.

[heckblazer]

For some reason it conjures ideas of a Mignolian (Thats a new word) Fox hunt, only theres no foxes, and its Hellboy, and it's not toffs on horses slaying innocent animals, it's crazed middle-class demon imps with a queen draped in a cape of blood.

But, hey, im crazy in the brainpan.

I myself tend to think of a cursed decapitated nobleman who uses a pack of wolves that are the ghosts of viking berserkers to hunt mermaids. :)

From what I've seen so far it looks like the Wild Hunt will have a storyline that parallels the HBII movie. Which would certainly be good crossmarketing sense.

[heckblazer]

For some reason it conjures ideas of a Mignolian (Thats a new word) Fox hunt, only theres no foxes, and its Hellboy, and it's not toffs on horses slaying innocent animals, it's crazed middle-class demon imps with a queen draped in a cape of blood.

But, hey, im crazy in the brainpan.

I myself tend to think of a cursed decapitated nobleman who uses a pack of wolves that are the ghosts of viking berserkers to hunt mermaids. :)

From what I've seen so far it looks like the Wild Hunt will have a storyline that parallels the HBII movie. Which would certainly be good crossmarketing sense.

[Maija]

I said it earlier, but now that I've finished the series I will say it again: I wonder what this epic tale might have been like if it had been given the space that it deserved as a long-form graphic novel. The amount of detail and hectic pace left no breathing room in which to build dramatic tension and develop characters. Just as I was becoming invested in a character or subplot it was gone and another character or subplot had sprung up in its place.

There are many characters and stories that I wish had been given more attention: Hellboy's time with Harry (damn but I wish that Hellboy had come back in time for dinner), Henry Hood, the Leshii and Perun's conflict with the Baba Yaga, Vasilisa's story (told graphically instead of in exposition), the backstory of the little guy who ends up killing Dagda (did he even have a name?), and finally how Igor came to be a bloated worm at the end (I had to skip all the way back to where "we last left Igor Bromhead" to put it together that he ate the moon because he called it down... but such a monumental act was dramatically understated).

Crap, as I re-read that last paragraph it bums me out to think of what could have been. It was like watching a movie that has been edited down because the studio wants it under two hours. If only we could have Director's Cut trade paper backs with the deleted scenes added back in.

There were elements that I really enjoyed but I wasn't allowed the time to savour those elements and at the end the entire thing didn't come together as a satisfying whole. However, I'm keen to see what happens in the next arc with the Blood Queen. Hopefully with some of Hellboy's loose ends taken care of in this arc the next arc will be a bit more streamlined.

[Maija]

We've already had one Hellboy variation on the Wild Hunt story (King Vold), but there are numerous versions. I hope the next one is this one (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chasse-galerie). Hee hee. :)

[posh_undead]

the backstory of the little guy who ends up killing Dagda (did he even have a name?)

i think the little guy was just along for Gruagach's ride, and couldn't believe that he believed in Gruagach's vengeance enough to kill his own king. the Daagdae (the spellings are various) is the king of the Daoine Sidh, who are basically Irish fairies.

and he's DEAD!!! how is he dead??? i jarred a little when Baba Yaga reached for Rasputin (still trapped in his vegetable prison), but i fully shouted "OH MY GOD" when the Daagdae was killed. i didn't know he could be killed! as a budding folklorist--who kinda believes in this stuff--i'm still reeling.

like others, i stayed off the boards til i finished the whole story, largely bc i suspected my continuity etc. concerns would be answered by having the whole thing in front of me. and they were. it does flow better when read all at once, i think.

here's a question: i've noticed that the various "seats of otherworldliness" in HB look similar in that there's a tree on a little hill surrounded by otherworldly beings--the sidh where Daagdae, Sir Edward, the goblin man, etc sit, the tree full of lit skulls where Baba Yaga and that Death-lookin' dude sit, Mohlomi's camp. are they all meant to be versions of the same thing? a sort of international Yggdrasil? pretty sneaky, sis.

and speaking of continuity, just when i think LJ is going to be nothing more than a fun noir-fest, up pops the Watcher and the flamma reconnditus! i need to make a list. and go mourn the Daagdae some more...

[Maija]

i think the little guy was just along for Gruagach's ride, and couldn't believe that he believed in Gruagach's vengeance enough to kill his own king.
That's the problem. Instead of being impacted by the death of Dagda I'm distracted with puzzlement about who the hell is this little dude that just killed him. I had to flip back a number of pages to associate him with Gruagach's gang. "Oh him. Right. Where were we? Oh yeah the King of the Faeries was just killed... " But by then the impact was long gone.

It wasn't the only time I had to stop reading and flip back a number of pages to reconnect the current detail with something that had taken place some time before. That's the recurring problem with this series. Monumental events are distracted from by little details that were never given enough substance to stand on their own.

[posh_undead]

That's the problem. Instead of being impacted by the death of Dagda I'm distracted with puzzlement about who the hell is this little dude that just killed him. I had to flip back a number of pages to associate him with Gruagach's gang. "Oh him. Right. Where were we? Oh yeah the King of the Faeries was just killed... " But by then the impact was long gone.

eh, you're not wrong. i had this problem with the series overall too--and a bit with this scene in particular. lotta flipping back and "oh, yeah"-ing. which i do with any Mignola comic for fun and personal edification, but i'd rather not have to do it.

maybe these are new artist kinks getting worked out? maybe it will be smoother for The Wild Hunt?

[pimpernel]

...i didn't know he could be killed!

Well Hecate and Perun are both deities, and both were killed, so it isn't without precedent in Hellboy.

[heckblazer]

i think the little guy was just along for Gruagach's ride, and couldn't believe that he believed in Gruagach's vengeance enough to kill his own king.

Isn't he the changeling from "The Corpse" who first sicc'ed Gruagach on Hellboy? I'll have to dig up my copy and check.

[Jr. Wormwood]

Truly sad about Dagda...

I had the same "problem" with this story. While some say they feel it was drawn out and could have been told in fewer issues, I feel the opposite. A lot of information and characters made this a bit claustrophobic for me. Can't please everybody all of the time, and I'm really not even complaining. Just an observation.

And am I the only one who thinks the skeleton person hanging out with the Baba Yaga is a woman?

Can't wait for The Wild Hunt!

[Erwin Heinek]

On the page where The Baba Yaga is told that Hellboy is one of the Deathless she has an empty word balloon. Is it meant to be empty or is there a bit of dialogue missing?

So this army that Bromhead sees Hellboy leading? Hell's invading force or Humanity's defense?

[Rachel Edidin]

On the page where The Baba Yaga is told that Hellboy is one of the Deathless she has an empty word balloon. Is it meant to be empty or is there a bit of dialogue missing?


It's meant to be empty.

[Asa]

So this army that Bromhead sees Hellboy leading? Hell's invading force or Humanity's defense?
I was wondering the same thing. Humanity's Defense. HHMMMmmmm.
Now there an Idea.

[Lewis Rice]

DDAAAGGGDDDAAAA!!!!!

Nooo! One of my favourite characters! Dead! Well...Actually the little goblin who hangs with him...BUT STILL....Oooo curse you Mignola in an awesome way!

I would love to see reappearances of Koshcei, i thought he was awesome.

[Timaximus]

The Blood Queen in the box: Is it The Black Goddess?

[Hellbaby]

So this army that Bromhead sees Hellboy leading? Hell's invading force or Humanity's defense?

I think it could be either. They say he's not ready to lead it yet, which would lead one to believe that they're talking about him not wanting to be a demon. (Based on previous stories when he basically tells Rasputin, etc. to suck it.) Also supporting the belief of him leading Hell would be his horns and HB on a dragon.

But at the same time, HB is still wrestling with the question of whether or not he CAN be human and go against his demon background. So the reason for his unreadiness to lead humanity would be his uncertainty of his role.

And as for the people he is leading, I thought they kind of looked like armored knights with visors on.

[Neil Hill]

I always assumed that the army Hellboy was to lead would be an army of hell's soldiers against some form of heavenly throng of angels (in whatever form that may be). That being said, I've never known Mike to be that overt and or biblical in linking a final battle between heaven and hell. Nor have I known his writing to ever veer towards the expected outcome of his audience. Rather, I would see Mike going in a completely unexpected direction with it.

[Maija]

Since Hellboy is the master of his own destiny I think the vision of him leading an army is just that: a vision. It is what could be, but I doubt we'll see it come to that, just as we won't see Hellboy dead with someone else in possession of the Right Hand of Doom.

At least, not for a while.

I hope Koschei comes back too. Though I would have liked to have seen several characters get more fleshed out I'm glad he got equal time. What a fantastic villain. The conflict between him and the Baba Yaga cannot be finished. I think I wanted to see him get his soul back from the Baba Yaga more than I wanted to see Hellboy escape.

It would be interesting to see him interacting with Rasputin. Would he try to ally himself with him? Would he fear him? Would he try to manipulate him to his own ends?

[pimpernel]

Gah! I don't live near a comic shop, so i have to order online. Long story short i haven't been able to read this issue, or the last issues of BPRD and LJ. The wait is killing me slowly. :(

[BKole]

I really want to see Goat Love.

Baba Yaga and the Goat made a lovely couple, don't you think? Some Messy kissing, but that sort of stuff happens when you're in love/lust.

[Kelly Tindall]

I'm honestly shocked that the Baba Yaga survived... Although her wasting all her power on the unkillable Hellboy was a just dessert.

Is anybody else surprised that Hellboy is apparently immortal now? I knew it was a big deal for him to basically say 'nope' when he was killed by Urgo-Hem, but I had no idea it had made him indestructible. I guess that death means different things to different creatures.

Moreso since the wounds HB took from Koschei did not seem mortal, at least not to someone as tough as HB.

[Hellbaby]

It would be interesting to see him interacting with Rasputin. Would he try to ally himself with him? Would he fear him? Would he try to manipulate him to his own ends?

I'd say Rasputin would try to manipulate him. He tried to unleash Ogdru-Jahad thingies, which didn't scare him in the least, so I don't see why he would be scared of Koshchei.

And of course Koshchei would blindly join up with Rasputin, seeing as how he now seems to have a grudge against Hellboy ("I'll strike... But this last blow... I strike for myself."), and he wants to get revenge. Why he wants to kill Hellboy, I don't really know. I would say he is just mad that Hellboy could beat him in a straight-up fight.

[BKole]

Unless the "Illl strike....but this last blow...I strike for myself." Was the "I want to die, please kill me" moment. Could be? Probably your version more, but hey.

Anyone else notice that Tad's Avatar is looking very close to the killer of Dagda and Tad isn't around...Hmmm. Conspiracy....

[Hellbaby]

Unless the "Illl strike....but this last blow...I strike for myself." Was the "I want to die, please kill me" moment. Could be? Probably your version more, but hey.

Ooh, I never though of it that way.

Language is a twisted thing.

[pimpernel]

Finally managed to read this, and i have mixed feelings. I liked the characters and the story, and i loved the art, but i think the pacing was off.

It seemed like too much time was devoted to the action, and too little was devoted to important plot elements. In fact i think the story would have been better served if Mike had just concentrated on the Russian stuff, and kept the other stuff for a future story.

I also found it really odd and unsatisfying that the Blood Queen was not revealed. It seemed to me like that would have been the perfect way to end the story. As it is the end felt rushed and oddly flat.

I liked it, but this is the first Hellboy story i've read that felt underdeveloped, which is odd because all the ingredients are there, plus Mike is on fire with his various other books.

Having said that i love where the series is going, and i can't wait to see where Hellboy goes from this point.