BPRD Symbol

[HBR]

Hi there,

I was looking through the Art of Hellboy book with my son at the weekend and happened to notice the BPRD symbol prominently displayed on Hellboy's coat.

Having just re-read Wild Hunt issues #6 and #7 it suddently occurred to me - I wonder if that symbol represents the sword in the floating stone we saw in issue #6? Just wondered what you all thought...

If it was that I also wondered what it might say about Hellboy and the BPRD crossing paths again - it would be great to see some of the character interaction.

Cheers :smile:

[piperian396]

I don't think they've mentioned it in the comics, maybe it was mentioned in the companion. I haven't read it so I wouldn't know. Hopefully they'll explain it in the next issue of 1947.

[Noct]

I love the BPRD symbol. :biggrin: I can't wait to find out what it means, but at the same time I'm so fond of it that I kind of don't want to know. I love the mystery of it. I at least hope they bide some more time with it. :tongue:

[gdeo]

here y'all
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=92004&highlight=augustine

[Kees_L]

Hi there,

I was looking through the Art of Hellboy book with my son at the weekend and happened to notice the BPRD symbol prominently displayed on Hellboy's coat.

Having just re-read Wild Hunt issues #6 and #7 it suddently occurred to me - I wonder if that symbol represents the sword in the floating stone we saw in issue #6? Just wondered what you all thought...

If it was that I also wondered what it might say about Hellboy and the BPRD crossing paths again - it would be great to see some of the character interaction.

Cheers :smile:

Hi and welcome HBR. I myself haven't seen Hellboy: the Wild Hunt beyond issue #1 and 2 yet. It is not unlikely that issue #6 would contain a 'play or hint' at the logo of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. A logo consisting of a sword in hand and a triangular shape, inside a big circle. I take the sword to stand for 'defense' and the triangle to stand for 'paranormal', as usually the Greek letter Delta (a triangle, which actually stands for 'cosmic birth') is associated with such (spiritual) stuff.
To make this explanation just the least bit spectacular: maybe the hand and sword are remarkably bigger than the triangular shape, because the Defense by the Bureau would be sort of pivotal or nothing easy. It might mean defense to enable accurate research, defense against paranormal activity, both as defense òf the paranormal.... Making the sword ambiguously looming like a Damocles one.

And yeah, the interaction between the Bureau and Hellboy has been toyed with - more rather rarely than occasionally - like for instance in Hellboy: the Darkness Calls - the story preceding the Wild Hunt. And indeed it will be a treat when we get to see them reunited again. I'm guessing there will be hugs involved - and possibly rum :smile:.

[Kees_L]

here y'all
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=92004&highlight=augustine

How would the BPRD logo stand for St. Augustine?

He's on the cover of Hellboy: the Conqueror Worm tpb, right?
I know Saint Augustine was born a pagan 'though as an adult converted for becoming an influential (early) Christian Bishop, preaching that people have the autonomic ability to 'choose to be good', even without any Divine intervention. He said God gave man free will so that he could make use of it (preferably for better than for worse). Which seems a bit like Hellboy choosing his own destiny?
He also introduced Christianity to Holy War as a just and righteous concept.
Maybe that's why he'd be associated with the sword?
Allegorically I know St. George (with sword) both as the angelwinged St. Michael (with spear) to be depicted as beast-slayers.
But maybe with St. Augustine it will be his teachings, why (like on the Hellboy cover) he gets to be looking displeased onto a beast or dragon which is jerking playfully at his robes - because old Augie sees evil, or sin and unfaithfulness as 'disobediant flesh' which should be fought (flesh disobediant from the spirit)? However he knows of these beasts as he was once himself a pagan so he doesn't slay them, but offers them looks of displeasement like going: "tssk tssk, now now, enough already..."
Like he'd use his convictions or knowledge to defend, with leaving any slaying as more of a last resort?

EDIT (correcting myself):
The saint from Hellboy: the Conqueror Worm is actually Saint Leonard (which is explained in the comics), a Frankish nobleman, baptised as an adult, whose prayers helped deliver the heir to the King's throne, for which he was rewarded with as much land as he could ride through on donkey-back. In his old age he became a hermit.
Legend has it that St. Leonard slew the last dragon in England - where a forest got named after him. And where St. Leonard's blood was spilled from injure lillies grew and grow to this day. It was said that after this slaying, St. Leonard requested snakes be banished and nightingales to remain silent.

[Kelly Tindall]

I think it's supposed to reference the sword that St. George used to slay the dragon. No evidence to back it up, I just recall Mike Mignola talking about it quite a few years ago.

[Kees_L]

Well maybe one of us should ask mr. Mike about it, should we get to meet him?

I will try to next year, 'though since I will be wanting to know much about a lot - and well, since I am me - such a talk might get to be hardly easy I fear :biggrin:...

[hellboyone]

Hellboy's a big Man-O-War fan so he steered the design of the symbol.

http://images.uulyrics.com/cover/m/manowar/album-the-triumph-of-steel.jpg