Hellboy canon

[KingAwesome]

Hi,

I am just wondering could give me a list of all of the Hellboy/BPRD stories that are canon. I'm not sure about some of this stuff. and want to make sure what is canon and what isn't

thanks

[mattmanw54301]

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Huh?

Hi,

I am just wondering could give me a list of all of the Hellboy/BPRD stories that are canon. I'm not sure about some of this stuff. and want to make sure what is canon and what isn't

thanks

As far as I know, and I may be wrong, the following is a list of canonical stories:
the main comics, of course, listed here:
http://www.hellboy.com/_rev1/4_storylist-comics.html


plus the following novels:

The Lost Army
The Dragon Pool
The Bones of Giants

Now, what is NOT considered canon is:

the remaining novels
the 'Odd Jobs' series
the 'Weird Tales' comics

[AbeSapien99]

Hmmm, I like how only Christopher Golden's novels are considered canon... I suppose he worked closely with Mike, and I guess the other authors didn't. Still...

[mattmanw54301]

Hmmm, I like how only Christopher Golden's novels are considered canon... I suppose he worked closely with Mike, and I guess the other authors didn't. Still...

I agree. Although his novels aren't the best of the line, his still get to be official. They are even in the Hellboy Companion!!!! Oh well.

[Asa]

Hmmm, I like how only Christopher Golden's novels are considered canon... I suppose he worked closely with Mike, and I guess the other authors didn't. Still...

I would say it is more than that, not just the rule or laws that regulate mike"s creation but that also Mythology. I beleive the stories that Christopher Golden used, also come from other rules that govern "Mythological" stories. Which would make them more canon.

[Kees_L]

Maybe the best or easiest followable way is saying it the other way around:
Not canon is the titles launched in which creative minds other than mr. Mike can have their go with Hellboy-related material. Like Hellboy Jr, the 'Job' books, Weird Tales and (somehow less specificly so) the paperback novels. The illustrated novels (HB: BoG & HB: tLA) are outside of these. Apparently, since the Dragon Pool is mentioned in the Companion, it might be considered canon as well.
Of course, 'not canon' won't necessarily mean less good or anything.

[AbeSapien99]

I dunno. Bones of Giants was pretty good, but I didn't really like Dragon Pool or Lost Army -- imo, Unnatural Selection, The God Machine, On Earth As It Is In Hell, and Emerald Hell were better. They were unique, instead of relying on classic Myths, which I personally prefer. I don't think they should have been excluded for not sticking with 'real world myths', although I do understand that there can't be THOUSANDS of omnipotent beings attempting to control or destroy earth in the same timeline, all conveniently timing their plans so that Hellboy can deal with them individually. :tongue:

[Kees_L]

I dunno.

Well, I look at it this way:
the whole canon-thing will be for the purpose of appointing what is 'pure Hellboy' or in other words 'pure Mignola'. Being outside of canon doesn't mean being 'less good'. (And Hellboy = creator-owned, instead of corporation-owned)
Before the two Hellboy Jr comics were published, all Hellboy titles existing then were canon (if I am correct). And like the Odd Jobs tpb's, they came into existence because a lot of artists and writers wanted to take a fun stab at Hellboy characters, which mr. Mike apparently found a flattering and cool thing to have be made (if I am correct). I believe something like that is stated in the Odd Jobs foreword.
I'm guessing Weird Tales serves the same purpose: allowing other artists a go other than via pin-up only. As might the novels: maybe (respected, well-published) novelists send manuscripts to Scott Allie hoping for their darlings to becoming true 'Hellboy diaries'?

And I may have read (like in the foreword) that 'the Lost Army' was a Mignolean idea lying around, which lent itself perfectly for doing a joint novel with acquaintance mr. Golden. Which, perhaps in it feeling fun, resulted in another, 'more joint' effort: 'the Bones of Giants' (which I love). I hope I'm correct in my assumptions - as that's mostly what this post is....

[AbeSapien99]

I'm pretty sure Golden and Mignola worked together pretty closely on all his HB novels. He was even the compiler for the Odd Jobs (if I'm not mistaken). So I can see why his is considered canonical, I was just saying that I personally preferred the other 'non-canonical' novels.

[Kees_L]

I'm pretty sure Golden and Mignola worked together pretty closely on all his HB novels. He was even the compiler for the Odd Jobs (if I'm not mistaken). So I can see why his is considered canonical, I was just saying that I personally preferred the other 'non-canonical' novels.

Understood. And any preferring is of course perfectly acceptable.

It's just that some past (and perhaps future) readers on the canon-topic, seem to be thinking of the 'canon bit' as if it were a seal of approval. To which I would argue that canon means to say 'part of Hellboy-reality, for continuity's sake'.

As a completist fan I follow all the titles. And from that perspective I can say for myself there is not one bad or even disappointing comic or book among all Hellboy-related titles.
But if I had been starting out, I'm certain I would like to complete only the 'real Mignola-stuff' first and work from there. So I could understand it if a starting fan - if so inclined - would prefer to move around non-canonical stuff at first.
Pheww, sorry for the babbling anyone and I hope I stepped on no toes :tongue:.