hellboy noob - where to start?

[zilla31]

trying to get into hellboy - where's a good book to start? they aren't currently making new issues right?

[Gaz]

Start at the start,I'd say. "Seed of Destruction" is the first book in the series.

[petriacce]

Hey zilla31,

I have a link to the published Hellboy material in my signature below. I would start with the published trade paperbacks and go from there. A new two-part series titled "The Island" is scheduled to debut this month and next.

Enjoy and be sure to stop by Hellboy Forum here on CBR and let us all know what you think.

[zilla31]

ok i guess i'll start at the very beginning! unless you guys can convince me that the title matured over time and i should just pick up somewhere in the middle (or more recent)?

thanks huge though... ps your sig link is mad helpful too.

[petriacce]

I wouldn't recommend starting in the middle. The stories weren't published in chronological order but they were published in a fashion that builds suspense and leaves you with questions at the end of each story. Reading them in the order in which they were published tells the best story.

The title has matured over time as far as the art getting better and I suppose Mike Mignola becoming somewhat more comfortable with the writing, but it's not like the beginning was bad or anything.

Not sure if this'll mean anything to you or not but the trades have recently been reissued with a numbering system on the spine. (1-5 so far).

Do stop by the forum. Tons of great people there.

[zilla31]

i will thanks. i'm new to CBR and have been posting all over the place. i've been out of comics for 10 years (no idea why) and just started getting back "in". bought a ton of books this month to see what's good/i like these days...

[Mr. Croup]

Personally, I'd recommend the Hellboy RPG sourcebook for GURPS, published by Steve Jackson Games. It gives an overview of the world of Hellboy, and if you like rpg's, its that too. I can also recommend the Science Fiction Book Club, as you can order the first trade through them for a decent price. As always, start at the beginning.

[Rob H]

I'd say, start at the beginning. There's a small amount to catch up with but there's really no rush. The great thing about Hellboy is that it's quite easy to catch up.

"The Island" is coming up and if you wanna grab that, I'd say pick up "The Third Wish" first. You might get a little confused otherwise.

Welcome mate. Drop by the Hellboy forum when you get the chance.

[kid cthulhu]

"The Island" is coming up and if you wanna grab that, I'd say pick up "The Third Wish" first. You might get a little confused otherwise.

Actually, you'll probably be confused anyway... :p

[SpecialAgentPunk]

I'd skip The Island right now. I'm a hellboy noob too; I picked up TPBs 1 & 2, and also the Island, and I was sort of lost when I read The Island. I would just pick up all the TPBs first. The TPB's are excellent, and I love the introductions for them.

btw, after reading the first two TPB's, I went into a five minute zone thinking that no other comic would be truly as good as hellboy. It was weird; I thought I had read the best comic series in the world...

[kid cthulhu]

That's because you had! :D
NOTHING compares in my mind, and I've been reading comics for 25 years.

The Island is confusing the hell out of all of us, not just the "noobs".

[zilla31]

i just got and read the 3rd trade (chained coffin and other stories) and wow is all i can say. i enjoyed this one tremendously - i'd have to say way better even than wake the devil. almost every short in this trade was great.

[tk421atpost]

i just got and read the 3rd trade (chained coffin and other stories) and wow is all i can say. i enjoyed this one tremendously - i'd have to say way better even than wake the devil. almost every short in this trade was great.

While it's all been good, I have to agree that the short stories tend to be better than the longer arcs.

[zilla31]

i mean seriously - not to gush too much - but i was really floored by this trade. i mean after reading vol. 2 i knew hellboy was good, and that i wanted to read more of it, but now i think it's GREAT.

[petriacce]

The Island is confusing the hell out of all of us, not just the "noobs".Really?...

[ultramandingo]

cant wait for the hellboy/ corben team up! hoo ha!