Is Hellboy really Lucifer?

[Juno9]

Does anyone know if Hellboy is really Lucifer, or connected to him in some way. The background events revealed on "The Island" make me think so. The account of the heavenly spirits descending to earth is similar to elements of the story of Lucifer's fall from heaven. The subsequent creation of the Ogdru Jahad makes Hellboy the creator, at least in part, of the apocalyptic "beasts". One further clue would be that aura/crown the he lost to Astaroth, I believe, and which crown will grant him command of the armies of hell once regained.

Lastly, in a Hellboy novel I read recently, written by Christopher Golden (I can't remember the title just now), Hellboy meets some archangels which have been summoned down from heaven to destroy a hellish dimension created by the demon Moloch. The archangels look different to everyone who sees them, but upon encountering the archangels, to Hellboy they look like more handsome versions of himself. Since I read this novel I have wondered what it could mean that Hellboy apparently self-identified with these angelic beings in a way that the other characters who witnessed these beings did not. What could be his connection to angels?

Maybe I am just going crazy from reading too much. Or maybe Hellboy is the ultimate hero/anti-hero/villain in comics today? Any thoughts?

:confused:

[Tad]

"Lucifer" means different things to different cultures. If you're asking if Hellboy was the leader of the angels who were cast out of Heaven by God, then I'd say no. Mike Mignola has said that Hellboy is only a little more than halfway through his story, so I guess just about anything could happen but for now what we know of his backstory is markedly different than the traditional Lucifer.

It's easy to drop Hellboy into the traditional role of devil or demon but there is a big science fiction side to his destiny. If he decided to accept the role of Beast of the Apocalypse, his "masters" would not be released from Hell but from some sort of crystal prisons adrift in space, watched over by aliens. Maybe the aliens are sorcerers, maybe "Hell" is not a spiritual realm but another dimension. Despite "The Island" there are more questions in the stories than answers.

Back to your question, I think Lucifer is generally seen as someone who knows what's going on, up until Hellboy's death on the island, HB was completely clueless and in denial of who he is or who he might become.

[Donald]

Spoilers if you hadn't read the Island...




No one knows for certain, but I'd say no as well. The beings in The Island are analogous to angles, but none of them were Hellboy. One got it's hand cut off and that became the Right Hand of Doom, but the RHoD had a separate history for while, being on the statue in Hyperboria as so on.

The Chained Coffin gives a mostly trustworthy history of HB parent's and nothing is mentioned of him being Lucifer.

Also, a lot of infernal beings have been giving HB, well, hell for not living up to his destiny, and even in Hell, you don't bitch out the boss.

[Juno9]

I don't know. Hellboy himself is the very image of the western satan (the hooves, the horns, the red skin, the tail). The image of the devil and the name of Lucifer are recognizable in all christian nations, and form part of the mythic and religious body of reference that Hellboy's story is made from. The problem is that so little is known about hellboy himself. His origins are deliberately murky. I read the story of his birthplace in that abandoned church. The story itself was a vision revealed to him, possibly, by a demon--a demon which looks directly at him during the vision. For me, this makes the revelation suspect. Possibly the vision represents whatever the demon wants hellboy to believe.

The revelations in "The Island" were revelations about HB and his origins, origins which are tied to the RhoD. I don't believe that Hellboy went through that whole ordeal on "The Island" just to find out the origin of the RhoD, and that it has nothing to do with him, and has a completely separate genesis from himself. I think the story has to be larger and more cogent than that. Admittedly, the story of Hellboy and the RhoD has still to be fleshed out somewhat. If Hellboy himself is not Lucifer, possibly looking for redemption through a process of rebirth, then there could be some other connection to Lucifer. Maybe he is the devil's son. But that is what is so cool about this story. It keeps you guessing.

[Kelly Tindall]

I suppose it's feasible that the Right Hand of Doom was originally the Right Hand of Lucifer.

[DannyBoy7783]

I suppose it's feasible that the Right Hand of Doom was originally the Right Hand of Lucifer.

I'm not up on my Bible stories but wasn't Lucifer portrayed as a "beautiful man" when in "human" form? I don't imagine a big stone hand being too attractive :p

[Kelly Tindall]

But Donald points out that the Hand spent time as part of a statue in Hyperborea! It also could have spent time as Makoma's hammer, too.

Food for thought.

[Juno9]

Good point Kelly. The hand has gone through various forms or "hosts" since it was severed from its original owner. But where do these hosts come from? Do they come from the hand? Are they the hand? The RhoD is the hand of an angelic being, and so it could conceivably develop its own identity.

[Nick W]

I've always looked at Hellboy truly as the the Antichrist, but not as literally described in the Bible. He is the tails to Christ's heads. But whereas JC chose to fulfill his Father's mission for him, Hellboy has chosen to exercise free will, travel his own path (not the Jesus didn't do the same) & forsake his father.

I'd elaborate more, but I'm tired and want to finish the Terminator. Summer Glau is yummy...

[Superbeast]

Good point Kelly. The hand has gone through various forms or "hosts" since it was severed from its original owner. But where do these hosts come from? Do they come from the hand? Are they the hand? The RhoD is the hand of an angelic being, and so it could conceivably develop its own identity.

Theory: Lucifer was favoured by God until he questioned him. It's argued that Gabriel then sat to the right side of the Father as his force on Earth, aside from the Trinity. Could it be after being severed from Lucifer, who was cast out, resentful of his loss, both literal and metaphorical (which is why he appeared as a limbless serpent to corrupt mankind's direction until the severed limb was expunged from Heaven, in the hopes that whatever it bonded with would seek redemption for Lucifer's sins and redeem Hell's lost souls in the same way Jesus) as God's literal right hand as his own limb has bonded to a close human/outcast incarnation and in turn sought to redeem Earth's lost souls rather than damn them like it's previous owner, Hellboy's guantlet is as close to the Hand of God as tangibly possible?

[Tad]

I don't know. Hellboy himself is the very image of the western satan (the hooves, the horns, the red skin, the tail). The image of the devil and the name of Lucifer are recognizable in all christian nations, and form part of the mythic and religious body of reference that Hellboy's story is made from.

You can't go by appearance because there have been plenty of other horned demons shown. Plus, when Ualac absorbed Hellboy's power, he grew longer horns. Was he absorbing Lucifer? Doesn't make sense to me. The RHoD is a great concept and obviously is not part of traditional depictions of Lucifer. Plus the devil has many names in many Christian countries. I think there's a stronger argument in saying that Hellboy's father is Lucifer than Hellboy himself. Otherwise Mike would be saying that everything he's written about Hellboy's origin was a red herring and not what he really meant.


That only happens in Spider-man.

[hellboyone]

It should be noted that the popular story of Lucifer as a fallen angel who fought God and lost is NOT in the literal Christian bible. The story was derived by Christian scholars from the text of the bible but bible purists don't subscribe to the story.

It would be interesting if Hellboy were Lucifer (or Satan or Beelzebub, etc.), but not very creative and I would be enormously disappointed if this were the case. Plus I would think that Lucifer would appear on Earth fully realized and not as a kid.

[Asa]

After reading this thread considerably, I get the feeling(I could be wrong) that the answer you seek can be found in the religion of Asatru, which is still practiced today, but not by many, and can be found in the old Icelandic scriptures. However they are still in old norse text and not many people can read old norse except for Icelanders. Yes, There is a resemblance with my name, and yes My name is past down to me from family. I don't no anything else to say. My perspective on The Hellboy universe is a little different, Most likely because of that viking era and old norse combined. I Think your speculating is out of the Mignola universe though. I am still new to the Mignola Universe, As the Wisened goblin say's There is a stronger argument in the fact that lucifer could be his Father, As followers of Lucifer would have been considered his children. In the Mignola world He has free will and chooses not that path. We will find out one day.
One more thing. If lucifer had a son then his son would be considered the Devil (satan) not lucifer(father) it was common that era for fathers to name there son after themselves, I wouldn't think in that case that hellboy is his (lucifer) son, But the son of the satan(lucifer).

[Juno9]

I think that part of what makes Hellboy such a great read is his search for identity and origins. It is one of the things that brings me back. The theme of identity comes up in some form or other with all the BPRD characters. Without Prof. Bruttenholm around anymore as a benevolent and caring father figure, the way is open for HB to search out origins that maybe he wasn't that interested in before, when the Prof. was alive. How long can he call himself "Hellboy"? He is no one's "boy" anymore, not with the professor gone. When does Hellboy become a man? Hellman--the demon of mayonnaise? :D

I think these questions do figure in the stories and will continue to be important issues for a long time.

[DannyBoy7783]

The fact that Broom is dead does not void his role as Hellboy's father. Did Ben Kenobi stop being Luke's mentor after he died on the Death Star?

Broom will always be Hellboy's father. And I doubt that Hellboy would change his name. Even if he has left his old life behind it is still all he has ever known and the name suits him. He certainly wouldn't go by Anung un Rama. And some run of the mill name like Matt or Peter just wouldn't cut it ;)

"Matt - Beast of the Apocalypse" haha!

[hellboyone]

The fact that Broom is dead does not void his role as Hellboy's father. Did Ben Kenobi stop being Luke's mentor after he died on the Death Star?


Yeah, well...Broom doesn't magically appear in front of Hellboy every time he's in trouble. Then again, Hellboy isn't a whiny kid.

[DannyBoy7783]

Well, true...but Hellboy still has a father even if the guy is dead :)

Poor Yoda, stuck in that swamp with Luke for the duration of his training. It must have been unbearable. Shoulda just force choked him and gone and made some root tea or something.

[hellboyone]

I think Yoda is Lucifer. Discuss.

[Maija]

I think Yoda is Lucifer. Discuss.
He does have pointy ears and he speaks backwards.

[Nick W]

I have nothing to back this up, but I've always thought that William Holden would've had really bad foot odor. Thoughts?

[Tad]

Yeah, well...Broom doesn't magically appear in front of Hellboy every time he's in trouble. Then again, Hellboy isn't a whiny kid.

You just wait until he finds himself in need of power converters. Bring earplugs.


Holden played the handsome, well groomed man. No way his feet smelled.

[Ken O]

I thought everyone knew that Tad was Lucifer.

[Juno Reactor]

Here's how I understand it:

At the beginning of time, Lucifer was the one Watcher whose right hand created the Ogdru Jahad. Since that Watcher was struck down by the other Watchers, Lucifer is DEAD (see The Island).

Now Lucifer's legacy lives on in the Right Hand of Doom. The hand has the power to command the greater forces of darkness, but for all intents and purposes, Lucifer proper is DEAD.

Skip forward to the age of men. People still allude to the Devil (singular) in their myths and folklore, but in actuality this is mankind's mistaken identification of a plurality of evils (Astaroth and company in Hell) as one.

I think that Hellboy is destined to become the NEXT Satan. The forces of darkness keep pushing and pulling him to use his powers for one foul deed or another. The dark ones clearly look to Hellboy as a leader they've been lacking for some time. But Hellboy is choosing to go AGAINST his destiny.

So while it's true that Mignola likes to stay (relatively) faithful to real-world mythology, I think he's taken the liberty of tweaking things so that Lucifer no longer plays a role in the Hellboy mythos.

Although Hellboy's unnamed father is suspect...

[hellboyone]

Holden played the handsome, well groomed man. No way his feet smelled.

He'd sleep with any crazy old actress who'll give him gifts though. Yeesh..