Darkness Calls #3 talk-back (Spoilers!)

**Neil Hill** · 06-28-2007, 07:26 AM

I didn't see an existing thread already began for this topic, so here I am...creating one.

I loved this issue!! I just have to get this out of the way and say that I'm finally starting to accept Duncan on his own merits, rather than expecting him to be this perfect Mignola/Fegredo style synthesis. Let's face it, Duncan isn't Mike and try as he might, he's really his own guy- this issue showcasing why that's an incredibly good thing. Duncan very obviously poored his artistic heart and soul into every page and panel this issue, and I really was crest fallen when I reached the last page- bravo to you, Duncan!!

The writing is also 'finding itself' more here, with the first revelations of an actual plot beginning to emerge. The first two issues seemed like major setup, but no story arc was revealing itself. To be honest at first it seemed like more of same from The Island- Hellboy wandering aimlessly until some major plot point sucks him into its embrace. This issue seemed more cohesive and 'important' in a way.

Anyway, less of my rambling and more of your thoughts!

**Maija** · 06-28-2007, 07:30 AM

You've already captured much of what I was going to say, Neil. I was concerned about the looseness of the first two issues, but now there is a solid confrontation emerging that is more than just Hellboy vs. anyone needing to use him as a tool for their own world-dominating ends. It's nice to meet some new folkloric characters too. Odd folklore has always been one of my favourite things about Hellboy.

I liked Fegredo's art a lot in this one. The clash with the army of the dead was quite something (and I loved Hellboy sneaking out between their legs and scampering away).

**Neil Hill** · 06-28-2007, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by Maija

Odd folklore has always been one of my favourite things about Hellboy.

I completely agree. Speaking of which, it was nice to see the 'weird' folklore bits and pieces make a reappearance en force this issue. We've seen plenty of witches and just odd creatures over the last few series, but this issue specifically made a concerted effort to dig into the dusty tomes of world mythology again. I know this sounds strange to say, given the fact that world mythologies are basically made up realities, but having these characters show up in a Hellboy book somehow grounds it more for me.

**Tad** · 06-28-2007, 09:28 AM

What I didn't like is kind of a taster's choice thing. I think this issue really captured a fairy tale feel where the protagonist goes on a weird journey with an assortment of weird adversaries and experiences but Hellboy is mostly being acted upon. I think that much of the story's intent is to show Hellboy in over his head as he tumbles through Russian folklore but I long for the moment he digs his feet in and makes some choices that upset the plans of Baba Yaga and the rest. Maybe that's coming.

So I needed to get that out of the way to show that it is not a mindless love I hold for Hellboy.

Overall, I thought this issue was AMAZING. It really had an epic feel to it. The GIANT wolves coming out of the forest to save him, the white wolf leading him to camp, the subtle colors as the Leshi grows as it seems to stride across the three panels, the subtle use of off whites in the image of the White wolf telling him to wake up -- all fantastic. Then at the bottom of that wake up page, a chuckle of "RUN" echoing the panic of everyone who has overslept and face dire consequences because of it. The detail of the Russian castle and the introduction of the immortal Koschei dripped with atmosphere. And I loved the little guy in the stove and Hellboy finally having someone to talk to about the incredible stuff he's just gone through. It just felt huge and Baba Yaga's actions at the end added to this epic - the gods are killing each other! This ramps up the story in a big way.

I also liked the little detail of Perun drawing jagged lines in the snow, his way of calling down the lightning. The contrast of thunderous result to the reveal of the tiny ritual was very nice.

The only artistic misstep for me was another tiny thing: the clouds at the bottom of Baba Yaga's mortar when she's flying over the mountains. For me they hurt the illusion of distance between her and the peaks. It sort of looked like the clounds were trailing over the peaks. Like I said, tiny thing.

Color! Really nice. There are more subtle variations within a panel but I think the detail of Duncan's artwork calls for more. It's a tricky call because to much variation will break up the panel too much. Overall, still well into the beautiful column and I doubt that most of the pages could've been done any better. Magnificent issue.

**Neil Hill** · 06-28-2007, 11:55 AM

I really enjoyed reading your insights, Tad, and agree with all of them.

Honestly, I'm somewhat shocked that more fans haven't chimed in yet to offer their opinions. Usually by this time we're already on to a page 2!Hopefully this isn't a sign that less Hellboard members are reading Hellboy? Parish the thought, Neil. :o

**Poe Ghostal** · 06-28-2007, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Tad

What I didn't like is kind of a taster's choice thing. [...] I long for the moment he digs his feet in and makes some choices that upset the plans of Baba Yaga and the rest. Maybe that's coming.

Hear hear.

**Gary_B** · 06-28-2007, 01:42 PM

We're half way through this story now and things are building to pretty grand levels. I wonder how Hellboy is going to deal with Baba Yaga at the end of this story. She is too much trouble. So's Gruagach for that matter.

**Matt Strackbein** · 06-28-2007, 06:20 PM

Non-stop action, full of twists and turns! Darkness Calls issue #3 is a beautiful combination of images and words, more so then the first two issues.

Though Mignola and company may have built lulls in the action, there's still a very quick pace in this series that, without losing momentum, continues to deliver an extremely dense story. I’m used to Mignola using the recap method. This time around it seems we are being treated as enlightened readers. I appreciate that from creators.

**Juno Reactor** · 06-28-2007, 06:36 PM

I'm looking forward to reading all of Darkness Calls in one shot when it's collected in a TPB someday, presumably next year. I'll have "The Troll Witch and Others" to tide me over, and I'm thinking about trying the BPRD books as well, having just recently begun to warm up to Guy Davis with the "Pan's Labyrinth" DVD comics.

I'm looking forward to it. I trust DC does not disappoint!

- JR

**gdeo** · 06-28-2007, 10:21 PM

I really cannot add anything to what everyone has already said...I'm loving Duncan's art.I remember Mike telling me that he was blown away by Duncan's art in issue 4...i cannot wait.I think it comes out the week after the SDCC..maybe those attending may get it early like last year, when Dark Horse had The Island a week early:D

**Brisco** · 06-29-2007, 12:14 AM

Good point, Neil, about the series really coalescing with this issue. And WHAT AN ISSUE IT IS!!! Everyone's covered a lot of my feelings about it already, but for me this is the best issue of Hellboy since the end of Conqueror Worm. Makoma comes second. Really weird that neither of them are drawn by Mignola! Awesome as his art was in The Island, perhaps stepping away from those chores enables him to get more into the writing, and craft a more compelling story?

Whatever the case, this issue's firing on all cylindars, art and writing. Stuff's finally happening--big stuff, weird stuff, everything I want! And Duncan really is coming into his own with the art. I LOVE the panel where Hellboy faces the skeleton army on the whole left half of the page. I can't see Mignola himself having drawn that huge, busy, Where's Waldo kind of scene, but Duncan nails it. (Suddenly it's coming back to me that Mike may have actually mentioned that very thing in an interview? That he wouldn't get detailed on a skeleton army but Duncan does? Or am I crazy?) I loved the Star Wars moment when HB has to flee the army too.

Has anyone ever seen the Russian or Scandanavian fantasy movies The Day the Earth Froze and Jack Frost? They did them both on Mystery Science Theatre. Needless to say, neither was top notch filmmaking, but they had this total gonzo insanity to them in the way the presented the folk tales they were based on--the same ones, I suspect, that Mignola's basing this on. One of them had the Baba Yaga fighting with a Leshi-type guy. I kept thinking of those while reading this.

Speaking of Baba Yaga, she's SCARY in this one! That panel of her flying actually freaked me out. Great, great issue. And Dave Stewart just gets more awesome all the time.

Brisco