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Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism: A Novella
From the creator of Hellboy, Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden is an illustrated novella that brings Twilight Zone originality to the written page
In the aftermath of a critical World War II battle, Father Gaetano is assigned as the sole priest at the Church of San Domenico in the small, seaside Sicilian village of Tringale. The previous pastor has died and there is a shortage of clergy at the moment, so until another can be spared, the young priest must say all of the masses himself.
Mass is not Father Gaetano's only responsibility, however. The war has created many orphans, and thus the San Domenico rectory has been converted into an orphanage which is also his domain. The children are a joy to him, but they have lost so much, and many have begun to question their faith and their God, and his attempts to teach them catechism are in vain . . . until he finds an old puppet theatre and an ornate box of puppets in the basement. Handcrafted by the building's former caretaker, now absent, the puppets seem the perfect tool to get the children to pay attention to their lessons. But after dark the puppets emerge from that ornate box, without their strings. While the children have been questioning their faith, the puppets believe Father Gaetano's Bible stories completely. But there is such a thing as too much faith. And the children's lives will never be the same again.
In the aftermath of a critical World War II battle, Father Gaetano is assigned as the sole priest at the Church of San Domenico in the small, seaside Sicilian village of Tringale. The previous pastor has died and there is a shortage of clergy at the moment, so until another can be spared, the young priest must say all of the masses himself.
Mass is not Father Gaetano's only responsibility, however. The war has created many orphans, and thus the San Domenico rectory has been converted into an orphanage which is also his domain. The children are a joy to him, but they have lost so much, and many have begun to question their faith and their God, and his attempts to teach them catechism are in vain . . . until he finds an old puppet theatre and an ornate box of puppets in the basement. Handcrafted by the building's former caretaker, now absent, the puppets seem the perfect tool to get the children to pay attention to their lessons. But after dark the puppets emerge from that ornate box, without their strings. While the children have been questioning their faith, the puppets believe Father Gaetano's Bible stories completely. But there is such a thing as too much faith. And the children's lives will never be the same again.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2012
17 people are currently reading
921 people want to read
About the author
Mike Mignola
1,865 books2,527 followersMike Mignola was born September 16, 1960 in Berkeley, California and grew up in nearby Oakland. His fascination with ghosts and monsters began at an early age (he doesn't remember why) and reading Dracula at age 13 introduced him to Victorian literature and folklore from which he has never recovered.
In 1982, hoping to find a way to draw monsters for a living, he moved to New York City and began working for Marvel Comics, first as a (very terrible) inker and then as an artist on comics like Rocket Raccoon, Alpha Flight and The Hulk. By the late 80s he had begun to develop his signature style (thin lines, clunky shapes and lots of black) and moved onto higher profile commercial projects like Cosmic Odyssey (1988) and Gotham by Gaslight (1989) for DC Comics, and the not-so-commercial Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (1990) for Marvel. In 1992, he drew the comic book adaptation of the film Bram Stoker's Dracula for Topps Comics.
In 1993, Mike moved to Dark Horse comics and created Hellboy, a half-demon occult detective who may or may not be the Beast of the Apocalypse. While the first story line (Seed of Destruction, 1994) was co-written by John Byrne, Mike has continued writing the series himself. There are, at this moment, 13 Hellboy graphic novel collections (with more on the way), several spin-off titles (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien and Witchfinder), three anthologies of prose stories, several novels, two animated films and two live-action films staring Ron Perlman. Hellboy has earned numerous comic industry awards and is published in a great many countries.
Mike also created the award-winning comic book The Amazing Screw-on Head and has co-written two novels (Baltimore, or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire and Joe Golem and the Drowning City) with best-selling author Christopher Golden.
Mike worked (very briefly) with Francis Ford Coppola on his film Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), was a production designer on the Disney film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and was visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro on Blade II (2002), Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). He lives somewhere in Southern California with his wife, daughter, a lot of books and a cat.
In 1982, hoping to find a way to draw monsters for a living, he moved to New York City and began working for Marvel Comics, first as a (very terrible) inker and then as an artist on comics like Rocket Raccoon, Alpha Flight and The Hulk. By the late 80s he had begun to develop his signature style (thin lines, clunky shapes and lots of black) and moved onto higher profile commercial projects like Cosmic Odyssey (1988) and Gotham by Gaslight (1989) for DC Comics, and the not-so-commercial Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (1990) for Marvel. In 1992, he drew the comic book adaptation of the film Bram Stoker's Dracula for Topps Comics.
In 1993, Mike moved to Dark Horse comics and created Hellboy, a half-demon occult detective who may or may not be the Beast of the Apocalypse. While the first story line (Seed of Destruction, 1994) was co-written by John Byrne, Mike has continued writing the series himself. There are, at this moment, 13 Hellboy graphic novel collections (with more on the way), several spin-off titles (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien and Witchfinder), three anthologies of prose stories, several novels, two animated films and two live-action films staring Ron Perlman. Hellboy has earned numerous comic industry awards and is published in a great many countries.
Mike also created the award-winning comic book The Amazing Screw-on Head and has co-written two novels (Baltimore, or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire and Joe Golem and the Drowning City) with best-selling author Christopher Golden.
Mike worked (very briefly) with Francis Ford Coppola on his film Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), was a production designer on the Disney film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and was visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro on Blade II (2002), Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). He lives somewhere in Southern California with his wife, daughter, a lot of books and a cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
December 31, 2012
It would not be a “spoiler” to suggest that anyone who has ever watched a Night Gallery or Twilight Zone episode with a ventriloquist is going to know what will happen in Father Gaetano’s Puppet Catechism. If one has never seen movies about malevolent dolls named “Chuckie” or even considered what might have happened if Pinocchio had longed to work for Murder, Inc. rather than being a “real boy,” there would still be enough foreshadowing in this fascinating novella to let you know what was going to happen.
Yet, in spite of the portending feeling of potential disaster one feels while reading this little book from the creator of Hellboy and B.P.R.D. (an acronym for Bureau of Paranormal Research and Development) in collaboration with the author of The Boys Are Back in Town, this is a marvelous story. The action takes place in a rectory turned into an orphanage on the island of Sicily. It is late in World War II and the orphans have actually been orphaned by Allied bombing preparatory to Ike’s “second invasion” in Italy. The story involves a young, compassionate priest who finds a puppet theater and begins to transform the puppets into characters from Bible stories in order to teach catechism to the orphans.
Being victims of tragedy, the orphans aren’t satisfied with platitudes about God’s goodness and God’s grace. They ask probing questions about theodicy, the problem of evil. They are bothered by those who lost their lives in Noah’s flood and don’t wholly grasp the padre’s insistence upon “free will” over determinism. They are horrified by the transformation of “Punch” into Lucifer and the priest’s account of War in Heaven and fallen angels. They wonder how they could be protected from such a fall if the angels couldn’t be. Yet, the priest’s words help some of the children.
In fact, after the puppet show on the war in heaven, a nine year old explains to the others: “Like with the angels, God gave them Heaven. He just wanted them to take care of it. Maybe we’ll have Heaven when we die, but right now, He gave us the world, and He wants us to take care of it. Isn’t that just another way of saying, ‘be good’?” (p. 125) Yet, other children felt like the idea of free will was constrained by ideas of punishment and reward (p. 124). One can readily see how the victims of warfare would sense this theological problem more acutely than modern individuals.
Even though the book has a transparent plot and covers serious theological questions, Mignola and Golden do a marvelous job of creating characters which are not uni-dimensional. The priest is chaste, but clearly has desire for one of the nuns. The priest is confident, but sometimes displays very natural confidence issues. I liked this one conversational exchange before the first puppet catechism.
“Sister Teresa frowned. ‘To perform for children? Why should you be nervous?’”
“’In such moments, we are reminded that we are still only children ourselves, in our hearts,’ Father Gaetano said.” (p. 66)
Finally, even though I knew what was coming, the climactic event was well-conceived, fascinating, and had a redemptive element in it. Indeed, I believe the epilogue dealing with one of the puppets is an important statement about redemption and shines a light on the meaning of the entire book. Even when Mignola touches the classic tropes of horror, there is a fascinating element of hope and redemption underneath the trappings of evil. I’ve always enjoyed his graphic novels, but this is the first time I’ve read a pure story by him (and his collaborator). It was definitely a joy to discover.
Yet, in spite of the portending feeling of potential disaster one feels while reading this little book from the creator of Hellboy and B.P.R.D. (an acronym for Bureau of Paranormal Research and Development) in collaboration with the author of The Boys Are Back in Town, this is a marvelous story. The action takes place in a rectory turned into an orphanage on the island of Sicily. It is late in World War II and the orphans have actually been orphaned by Allied bombing preparatory to Ike’s “second invasion” in Italy. The story involves a young, compassionate priest who finds a puppet theater and begins to transform the puppets into characters from Bible stories in order to teach catechism to the orphans.
Being victims of tragedy, the orphans aren’t satisfied with platitudes about God’s goodness and God’s grace. They ask probing questions about theodicy, the problem of evil. They are bothered by those who lost their lives in Noah’s flood and don’t wholly grasp the padre’s insistence upon “free will” over determinism. They are horrified by the transformation of “Punch” into Lucifer and the priest’s account of War in Heaven and fallen angels. They wonder how they could be protected from such a fall if the angels couldn’t be. Yet, the priest’s words help some of the children.
In fact, after the puppet show on the war in heaven, a nine year old explains to the others: “Like with the angels, God gave them Heaven. He just wanted them to take care of it. Maybe we’ll have Heaven when we die, but right now, He gave us the world, and He wants us to take care of it. Isn’t that just another way of saying, ‘be good’?” (p. 125) Yet, other children felt like the idea of free will was constrained by ideas of punishment and reward (p. 124). One can readily see how the victims of warfare would sense this theological problem more acutely than modern individuals.
Even though the book has a transparent plot and covers serious theological questions, Mignola and Golden do a marvelous job of creating characters which are not uni-dimensional. The priest is chaste, but clearly has desire for one of the nuns. The priest is confident, but sometimes displays very natural confidence issues. I liked this one conversational exchange before the first puppet catechism.
“Sister Teresa frowned. ‘To perform for children? Why should you be nervous?’”
“’In such moments, we are reminded that we are still only children ourselves, in our hearts,’ Father Gaetano said.” (p. 66)
Finally, even though I knew what was coming, the climactic event was well-conceived, fascinating, and had a redemptive element in it. Indeed, I believe the epilogue dealing with one of the puppets is an important statement about redemption and shines a light on the meaning of the entire book. Even when Mignola touches the classic tropes of horror, there is a fascinating element of hope and redemption underneath the trappings of evil. I’ve always enjoyed his graphic novels, but this is the first time I’ve read a pure story by him (and his collaborator). It was definitely a joy to discover.
November 12, 2012
Originally posted at FanLit. http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
There is just no way I can resist reading a novella called Father Gaetano’s Puppet Catechism, especially when it’s written by the guy who created Hellboy. As I expected, I was rewarded with just over 4 hours of constant audio entertainment.
The young priest Father Gaetano has just been assigned to a church in Sicily that has taken in children who were orphaned during World War II. The nuns love the children and are doing the best they can, but they are happy to have Father Gaetano’s help with the teaching. In the aftermath of war, most of the children have lost their families and they’re dealing with the most difficult of all theological questions: How can God let bad things happen to good people? Father Gaetano admires the children for not being willing to settle for such platitudes as “God still loves you” or “it’s all in God’s plan” and he looks forward to teaching such inquisitive minds. But how can he teach these precious children the deep truths of God in a way they can understand?
When he finds a box of beautifully-crafted puppets and a puppet theater in the basement, Father Gaetano decides to use these tools to teach his lessons. He and one of the boys work hard to paint and dress the puppets for their roles. The puppets are a big hit with most of the kids, though there’s one boy who is afraid of them. It turns out that he has a reason to be; the puppets come alive at night. They sneak into one of the boys’ rooms and play out the roles that Father Gaetano gave them during the day. The priest and the nuns, of course, don’t realize what’s going on… Not until Father Gaetano, in his quest to make the children understand why bad things happen, decides to teach the children about the origin of sin. For this lesson, therefore, he creates a Lucifer puppet… Uh-oh….
I thoroughly enjoyed Father Gaetano’s Puppet Catechism. It’s well-written and exciting, the characters are developed quickly and sufficiently, the story manages to be both sweet and delightfully creepy. I particularly appreciated the beautiful portrayal of the nuns’ and the priest’s self-sacrificial love for orphans — this is what real Christianity is supposed to look like. I loved how Father Gaetano didn’t dismiss, but rather respected, the children’s questions. I loved the way the story abruptly switched tone and became suddenly very dark. I won’t tell you what happens, but it was a great ending!
I listened to Brilliance Audio’s version read by Nick Podehl. Podehl has a great voice, but his pacing isn’t perfect. He has a way of drawing out or emphasizing words in a slightly unnatural way, but this is more noticeable than distracting. I sped up the playback slightly and didn’t notice it after a while. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the audio version, but you should also know that the print version of Father Gaetano’s Puppet Catechism has a few black and white illustrations by Mike Mignola.
There is just no way I can resist reading a novella called Father Gaetano’s Puppet Catechism, especially when it’s written by the guy who created Hellboy. As I expected, I was rewarded with just over 4 hours of constant audio entertainment.
The young priest Father Gaetano has just been assigned to a church in Sicily that has taken in children who were orphaned during World War II. The nuns love the children and are doing the best they can, but they are happy to have Father Gaetano’s help with the teaching. In the aftermath of war, most of the children have lost their families and they’re dealing with the most difficult of all theological questions: How can God let bad things happen to good people? Father Gaetano admires the children for not being willing to settle for such platitudes as “God still loves you” or “it’s all in God’s plan” and he looks forward to teaching such inquisitive minds. But how can he teach these precious children the deep truths of God in a way they can understand?
When he finds a box of beautifully-crafted puppets and a puppet theater in the basement, Father Gaetano decides to use these tools to teach his lessons. He and one of the boys work hard to paint and dress the puppets for their roles. The puppets are a big hit with most of the kids, though there’s one boy who is afraid of them. It turns out that he has a reason to be; the puppets come alive at night. They sneak into one of the boys’ rooms and play out the roles that Father Gaetano gave them during the day. The priest and the nuns, of course, don’t realize what’s going on… Not until Father Gaetano, in his quest to make the children understand why bad things happen, decides to teach the children about the origin of sin. For this lesson, therefore, he creates a Lucifer puppet… Uh-oh….
I thoroughly enjoyed Father Gaetano’s Puppet Catechism. It’s well-written and exciting, the characters are developed quickly and sufficiently, the story manages to be both sweet and delightfully creepy. I particularly appreciated the beautiful portrayal of the nuns’ and the priest’s self-sacrificial love for orphans — this is what real Christianity is supposed to look like. I loved how Father Gaetano didn’t dismiss, but rather respected, the children’s questions. I loved the way the story abruptly switched tone and became suddenly very dark. I won’t tell you what happens, but it was a great ending!
I listened to Brilliance Audio’s version read by Nick Podehl. Podehl has a great voice, but his pacing isn’t perfect. He has a way of drawing out or emphasizing words in a slightly unnatural way, but this is more noticeable than distracting. I sped up the playback slightly and didn’t notice it after a while. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the audio version, but you should also know that the print version of Father Gaetano’s Puppet Catechism has a few black and white illustrations by Mike Mignola.
November 17, 2012
I love novellas, and this one is beautifully presented. A nice size, attractive hardcover, and with illustrations by Mignola. And it's a good, simple, straightforward tale of the quiet supernatural, which I love. And it's about puppets, which I love. (Pretty much all of Mignola's illustrations are just pictures of spooky puppets, a fact about which you will not find me complaining.) The length made for a very pleasant read, very slow burning, which I sort of liked, but in the end I think there was too much buildup, too many threads brought into play, for the amount of payoff we ended up getting, maybe. I did really like the abruptness of where things were left, though, and the way that you didn't really get to see how this affected a lot of the characters, and didn't get any resolution to some of the plot threads.
January 19, 2018
More of a thriller than horror. Nothing really happened until almost the end of the book. An okay read.
January 19, 2025
I downloaded the review copy and entered into it cautiously because... PUPPETS! There are few things that scare the beejesus out of me but puppets, especially marionettes, are creepy as fuck and make my skin crawl something fierce so tucking them into a horror novel... oh lordy! But I really like Bad Hand Books so I took the plunge.
And I'm glad I did because I really, really enjoyed it!
Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism starts off slow and atmospheric. It's set in a church rectory in a small town in Sicily that's been ravaged by war. A group of orphaned children were taken in by the nuns of the church and then suffered the unexpected loss of their priest. So in comes Father Gaetano. A young man of the cloth who agrees to take on the temporary work of teaching the children the Catechism. Many of their hearts have been hardened by the brutal loss of their parents at such a young age and they actively challenge the young priest, questioning God and his allowance of such horrible events. Gaetano realized he has his work cut out for him but it's while he befriends the shy nine year old Sabastiano that he learns of an abandoned puppet theatre in the basement of the rectory. The puppets, he hopes, will help him teach his bible lessons and reconnect to the children to God in a fun and interactive way.
But the puppets... well... they have other ideas.
I'm sure you can guess where things go from here. A heavy wooden box long hidden in the basement. Stuffed full of handcrafted creepy ass dolls. Just waiting for someone to come along and release them? It's all fun and games until the sun goes down and the strings come loose.
It's a quick, engrossing read that's really well written. It's dark and chilling and sure, there's a lot of set up and exploration into the church and the nuns and Father Gaetano before the good stuff really starts to kick in but there's enough build up and tension working its way through the storyline that I was ok with the whole thing. Oh, and... I'm only just now learning that the author is the dude behind Hellboy. Which, ok, yes, I admit I must live under a rock because I had no clue. But honestly, Hellboy is a bit outside of my usual tastes and if I had known of the connection prior to, I might not have been as open to reading this, so there's that, too!
Go on, dive in, and get your freaky marionette horror on!
And I'm glad I did because I really, really enjoyed it!
Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism starts off slow and atmospheric. It's set in a church rectory in a small town in Sicily that's been ravaged by war. A group of orphaned children were taken in by the nuns of the church and then suffered the unexpected loss of their priest. So in comes Father Gaetano. A young man of the cloth who agrees to take on the temporary work of teaching the children the Catechism. Many of their hearts have been hardened by the brutal loss of their parents at such a young age and they actively challenge the young priest, questioning God and his allowance of such horrible events. Gaetano realized he has his work cut out for him but it's while he befriends the shy nine year old Sabastiano that he learns of an abandoned puppet theatre in the basement of the rectory. The puppets, he hopes, will help him teach his bible lessons and reconnect to the children to God in a fun and interactive way.
But the puppets... well... they have other ideas.
I'm sure you can guess where things go from here. A heavy wooden box long hidden in the basement. Stuffed full of handcrafted creepy ass dolls. Just waiting for someone to come along and release them? It's all fun and games until the sun goes down and the strings come loose.
It's a quick, engrossing read that's really well written. It's dark and chilling and sure, there's a lot of set up and exploration into the church and the nuns and Father Gaetano before the good stuff really starts to kick in but there's enough build up and tension working its way through the storyline that I was ok with the whole thing. Oh, and... I'm only just now learning that the author is the dude behind Hellboy. Which, ok, yes, I admit I must live under a rock because I had no clue. But honestly, Hellboy is a bit outside of my usual tastes and if I had known of the connection prior to, I might not have been as open to reading this, so there's that, too!
Go on, dive in, and get your freaky marionette horror on!
April 7, 2023
3.75 out of 5 stars
A young priest is assigned to an orphanage in a small town in Sicily during World War II. What starts off as an innocent activity of teaching catechism using puppets to children who recently lost their family in the war takes a sinister turn.
+
Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism is a novella that's more of a commentary on faith, religion, and loss set against the backdrop of war. It does have horror elements but, with it being slow burn, the action won't be until the end.
It's not for readers who are expecting a scare. But it's perfect for those who like their horror to symbolize themes and perspectives that would otherwise be a complicated to explain (think: works of Mike Flanagan).
I personally liked the symbolism and the commentary of this book and how it's presented. I thought the "epilogue" was also a nice touch and a good way to end things. The illustrations were great, but I had somewhat of high expectations since this is from someone who also made Hellboy comics. Most of it felt like they were randomly strewn throughout the book and didn't really add anything or emphasize the parts of the story where they were placed.
"Enrico's not the son of God. Neither am I. We don't have some special destiny. What we've lost isn't some sacrifice that's going to save the world. Our parents, and Enrico's little sister... they're dead. What did the world gain from that? Nothing. And that's God's plan?
A young priest is assigned to an orphanage in a small town in Sicily during World War II. What starts off as an innocent activity of teaching catechism using puppets to children who recently lost their family in the war takes a sinister turn.
+
Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism is a novella that's more of a commentary on faith, religion, and loss set against the backdrop of war. It does have horror elements but, with it being slow burn, the action won't be until the end.
It's not for readers who are expecting a scare. But it's perfect for those who like their horror to symbolize themes and perspectives that would otherwise be a complicated to explain (think: works of Mike Flanagan).
I personally liked the symbolism and the commentary of this book and how it's presented. I thought the "epilogue" was also a nice touch and a good way to end things. The illustrations were great, but I had somewhat of high expectations since this is from someone who also made Hellboy comics. Most of it felt like they were randomly strewn throughout the book and didn't really add anything or emphasize the parts of the story where they were placed.
October 2, 2024
This was a fun little tale about a priest in a small seaside village who volunteers in an orphanage. He finds some strange looking puppets in the basement and uses them to teach his bible stories. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG HERE???
March 24, 2025
So an orphanage and puppets? What could go wrong, right? This was a super atmospheric novella that’s centered around folklore horror. I really enjoyed the moderate pacing with this one and the attention to building tension within the story.
March 2, 2013
I mostly picked this up for the title and the cover. The artwork has the same angular creepiness as the Hellboy comics (as you'd expect from Mike Mignola), and, well, how can you not want to know the story behind Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism?
The plot's not bad, but the characters never quite grabbed me. I should feel for the children orphaned by WWII, the young priest struggling under the weight of his responsibilities, the veteran nun looking after her charges...and when hints of puppets moving on their own start dropping, I should feel more creeped out. But the treatment isn't quite subtle enough. Too much telling, not enough showing.
The themes of religious faith, free will, and the relationship between creator and creature would have been like candy to me in my teens. But the authors lay these on a little too thick. It's a shame, because the storyline would take care of this on its own. The novella probably could have been a short story, and more effective.
The plot's not bad, but the characters never quite grabbed me. I should feel for the children orphaned by WWII, the young priest struggling under the weight of his responsibilities, the veteran nun looking after her charges...and when hints of puppets moving on their own start dropping, I should feel more creeped out. But the treatment isn't quite subtle enough. Too much telling, not enough showing.
The themes of religious faith, free will, and the relationship between creator and creature would have been like candy to me in my teens. But the authors lay these on a little too thick. It's a shame, because the storyline would take care of this on its own. The novella probably could have been a short story, and more effective.
October 3, 2012
Loved it. Won on a Goodreads giveaway and very delightfully surprised at how enjoyable it was. I'm guessing most people would know the authors right away as the ones who did Hellboy and other popular comics but since I've never been a fan of that genre, I went in without any preconceptions. You know from the beginning (especially if you've read the back cover) what the basic story is, and there's really no surprises to it: a priest, some nuns, some orphans, and a box of puppets - only so many directions to go from there. The pleasure was in the telling. Very well written and the characters are actual and believable three-dimensional figures with color and life given to them that really fills out the story, and the same goes for the puppets. The story itself is not terribly frightening but enough tension builds to still keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. A very good pre-Halloween read.
February 8, 2025
I was provided with a digital ARC of this re-released edition by publisher Bad Hand Books, in exchange for my honest review. All views and opinions are my own.
-
Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism is by no means my first foray into the work of either Golden or Mignola. I'll go so far as to say that it's not necessary to be familiar with the work that Christopher Golden;Mike Mignola have done together in Mignola's HellBoy Universe, but it certainly doesn't hurt. I do feel that a familiarity with these creators allows the reader to perceive nuance and details in this novella that a first to reader may miss. Therein lies the cool thing about enjoying a writers, or illustrators, body of work. You can return to something and come away with a richer experience.
The Stark interplay of light and shadow in Puppet Catechism exists beyond the harsh realities of postwar Sicily. Days become night, and the knife edge balance between retaining a sense of wonder and belief in the world and life, and succumbing to a maturity and dogma that denies the heart and the warmth of spirit, is ever at play. There's a beautiful, yet Tragic ambiguity woven throughout this tale. Where does the human capacity to love, to wonder meet the fantastic? At what point does the light go out? From does that part of us take command that sees the fantastic, the joyful and decide "this must be broken, it's not correct?
This is a tale that you quickly en-wrap you, have you following along behind a cavalcade of puppets. Your heart will swell, while a tear of sadness is wiped from your eyes.
-
Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism is by no means my first foray into the work of either Golden or Mignola. I'll go so far as to say that it's not necessary to be familiar with the work that Christopher Golden;Mike Mignola have done together in Mignola's HellBoy Universe, but it certainly doesn't hurt. I do feel that a familiarity with these creators allows the reader to perceive nuance and details in this novella that a first to reader may miss. Therein lies the cool thing about enjoying a writers, or illustrators, body of work. You can return to something and come away with a richer experience.
The Stark interplay of light and shadow in Puppet Catechism exists beyond the harsh realities of postwar Sicily. Days become night, and the knife edge balance between retaining a sense of wonder and belief in the world and life, and succumbing to a maturity and dogma that denies the heart and the warmth of spirit, is ever at play. There's a beautiful, yet Tragic ambiguity woven throughout this tale. Where does the human capacity to love, to wonder meet the fantastic? At what point does the light go out? From does that part of us take command that sees the fantastic, the joyful and decide "this must be broken, it's not correct?
This is a tale that you quickly en-wrap you, have you following along behind a cavalcade of puppets. Your heart will swell, while a tear of sadness is wiped from your eyes.
June 30, 2021
This is an enjoyable and breezy tale that is, at heart, about the toll of war on a nation and its children, couched in a religious discussion of free will and responsibility, and topped off with some creepy puppet action. Golden and Mignola do a good job setting up the characters, particularly Father Gaetano as the new priest at a Catholic orphanage full of children who've lost their families to the war, a man who never doubts his service to God but who is also subject to some very human feelings of frustration, irritability, and desire. There is a sly rebuttal to the idea of free will built into the story, as even when the puppets lose their strings they are still rigidly beholden to what they were made to be, but that may be over-interpreting the authors' intent. Ultimately, FATHER GAETANO'S PUPPET CATECHISM is a story more full of wonder and awe than horror or nihilism. Mignola's illustrations throughout are charming. The book's short length works to its advantage as well, keeping things moving at a good pace while never sacrificing character for plot. A fun, quick read.
November 11, 2024
Fairly predictable plotting
I think I spent more time learning about Catholic orphanages than I did being scared of the puppets
I think I spent more time learning about Catholic orphanages than I did being scared of the puppets
July 11, 2016
World War II Sicily is home to much hardship. The church of San Domenico has just lost its priest so young Father Gaetano is assigned. The parish rectory has been converted to an orphanage that is supported by nuns from the next-door convent. The children (a mixture of boys and girls) are taught by the nuns but catechism class falls to Father Gaetano. He has trouble connecting to the children until he discovers a puppet theater with plenty of puppets. A former caretaker left them behind. Most children are delighted to see them again, especially Sebastiano, who keeps the clown Pagliaccio as his favorite. He talks to the puppet at night when his roommates are asleep. The puppet talks back, but naturally only when children are around. While the clown is benign, the other puppets take to their roles a bit too literally. Father Gaetano transforms the puppets into biblical characters. Noah worries about the ark, David and Goliath fight. Things take a disastrous and macabre turn when Father Gaetano changes a puppet into Lucifer, who takes his role too seriously.
The "puppets come alive" trope in horror has been done many times before. Even though it is familiar, the authors do a good job building tension and crafting a great finale to the story. I enjoyed that part very much.
On the other hand, the theology is distractingly sketchy. The authors get some details wrong, like the scene where Father Gaetano is surprised by one of the puppets and takes the Lord's name in vain. Then he feels humiliated "at his breaking the Third Commandment." [p. 91] While different denominations in the Judeo-Christian tradition divide up Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 differently, in the Catholic tradition, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain" is the second commandment, not the third. The nuns are called "Domenicans," which at first I thought was a made up order, though perhaps they are named after the Orphanage of San Domenico or the authors just don't know how to spell Dominicans. Father and the children have many discussions about free will but they are all superficial and unsatisfying. Worse yet, the discussions are barely connected to the puppet horror story, a missed opportunity.
Mignola's occasional drawings (mostly of the puppets) are fun and do give a boost to the puppet horror theme. The ultimate fate of the characters (both human and mannequin) is exciting and satisfying. Some judicious editing and rewriting could have made this a great, rather than an average, book.
The "puppets come alive" trope in horror has been done many times before. Even though it is familiar, the authors do a good job building tension and crafting a great finale to the story. I enjoyed that part very much.
On the other hand, the theology is distractingly sketchy. The authors get some details wrong, like the scene where Father Gaetano is surprised by one of the puppets and takes the Lord's name in vain. Then he feels humiliated "at his breaking the Third Commandment." [p. 91] While different denominations in the Judeo-Christian tradition divide up Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 differently, in the Catholic tradition, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain" is the second commandment, not the third. The nuns are called "Domenicans," which at first I thought was a made up order, though perhaps they are named after the Orphanage of San Domenico or the authors just don't know how to spell Dominicans. Father and the children have many discussions about free will but they are all superficial and unsatisfying. Worse yet, the discussions are barely connected to the puppet horror story, a missed opportunity.
Mignola's occasional drawings (mostly of the puppets) are fun and do give a boost to the puppet horror theme. The ultimate fate of the characters (both human and mannequin) is exciting and satisfying. Some judicious editing and rewriting could have made this a great, rather than an average, book.
February 21, 2013
This review is of the audiobook edition, and was posted originally at SFFaudio (http://www.sffaudio.com):
When this audio novella came in for review, it took a few days to make the connection: Mike Mignola is the creator of Hellboy! I'm a fan of the Hellboy movies (directed by Guillermo del Toro), but haven't picked up any of the comics. If anyone has a recommendation for a particular volume I'd like to give it a go.
Mignola and Christopher Golden, the writing team that produced some Hellboy novels, wrote this. The Amazon description calls it "an illustrated novella". I haven't spotted a copy of this at a bookstore, but I'd like to so I can see the art. Mignola, in an interview with Geek's Guide to the Galaxy gives Christopher Golden full credit for the writing, so I suspect that this audiobook contains little of Mignola's input.
The story did have a Hellboy (or even a Pan's Labyrinth) feel to it. Dark, a bit sad, with something spiritually sinister about. It's about an Italian orphanage in World War II, shortly after the Allies' victory. Father Gaetano, recently assigned there, and a group of nuns struggle to connect with the grieving children. One of the kids finds puppets and a puppet stage in the basement, and Fr. Gaetano decides to put it to use. The kids become more interested as he, with their help, paints the puppets as Old Testament characters, then performs stories with them.
And then, the problem - the puppets come to life at night, and they take on the persona of the Bible characters they have been decorated to portray. Not knowing this, Father Gaetano plods along with his plans, and he wants to tell the story of Lucifer's fall.
This wasn't a bad novella, but it wasn't stellar either. An interesting idea, and there are some great scenes, but even at novella length it feels a bit padded out. Still, it's worth a listen, in my opinion. Or a look if you can find the hardcopy. Nick Podehl is a terrific narrator.
When this audio novella came in for review, it took a few days to make the connection: Mike Mignola is the creator of Hellboy! I'm a fan of the Hellboy movies (directed by Guillermo del Toro), but haven't picked up any of the comics. If anyone has a recommendation for a particular volume I'd like to give it a go.
Mignola and Christopher Golden, the writing team that produced some Hellboy novels, wrote this. The Amazon description calls it "an illustrated novella". I haven't spotted a copy of this at a bookstore, but I'd like to so I can see the art. Mignola, in an interview with Geek's Guide to the Galaxy gives Christopher Golden full credit for the writing, so I suspect that this audiobook contains little of Mignola's input.
The story did have a Hellboy (or even a Pan's Labyrinth) feel to it. Dark, a bit sad, with something spiritually sinister about. It's about an Italian orphanage in World War II, shortly after the Allies' victory. Father Gaetano, recently assigned there, and a group of nuns struggle to connect with the grieving children. One of the kids finds puppets and a puppet stage in the basement, and Fr. Gaetano decides to put it to use. The kids become more interested as he, with their help, paints the puppets as Old Testament characters, then performs stories with them.
And then, the problem - the puppets come to life at night, and they take on the persona of the Bible characters they have been decorated to portray. Not knowing this, Father Gaetano plods along with his plans, and he wants to tell the story of Lucifer's fall.
This wasn't a bad novella, but it wasn't stellar either. An interesting idea, and there are some great scenes, but even at novella length it feels a bit padded out. Still, it's worth a listen, in my opinion. Or a look if you can find the hardcopy. Nick Podehl is a terrific narrator.
October 5, 2012
Thanks to Goodreads First Reads and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism: A Novella.
Set in Sicily ravaged by World War II, Father Gaetano takes over the Church of San Domenico's rectory/orphanage. While he leads mass and tends to his parishioners, Father Gaetano takes most pride in teaching the children the Bible and the value of God in their lives. As most of the children have lost loved ones in the war, this turns out to be a difficult task. Father Gaetano stumbles upon a puppet theater left by a previous caretaker, and comes up with a way of engaging the children through the Bible stories of David and Goliath, Noah and the flood, and more. When the puppets begin to take on a life of their own, Father Gaetano finds he has more than he bargained for.
The book was engaging, easy to follow, and well-written. The story unfolded beautifully. While there were only a few directions this book could go with its subject matter, there were still some surprises along the way. The character development was superb. We learn of Father Gaetano's struggle with his own faith, nine-year-old Sebastiano's innocence and imagination, as well as Father Gaetano's and Sister Teresa's flirtations with desire. The characters' stories and description gave them reality and depth that a real person would have.
Set in Sicily ravaged by World War II, Father Gaetano takes over the Church of San Domenico's rectory/orphanage. While he leads mass and tends to his parishioners, Father Gaetano takes most pride in teaching the children the Bible and the value of God in their lives. As most of the children have lost loved ones in the war, this turns out to be a difficult task. Father Gaetano stumbles upon a puppet theater left by a previous caretaker, and comes up with a way of engaging the children through the Bible stories of David and Goliath, Noah and the flood, and more. When the puppets begin to take on a life of their own, Father Gaetano finds he has more than he bargained for.
The book was engaging, easy to follow, and well-written. The story unfolded beautifully. While there were only a few directions this book could go with its subject matter, there were still some surprises along the way. The character development was superb. We learn of Father Gaetano's struggle with his own faith, nine-year-old Sebastiano's innocence and imagination, as well as Father Gaetano's and Sister Teresa's flirtations with desire. The characters' stories and description gave them reality and depth that a real person would have.
May 15, 2013
this book is only 163 pages long - and it didn't really start til like page 100. There is a good, simple, creepy short story here that either, 1) an editor didn't condense or 2) an editor loved the story and wanted it extended to a novella. Either way - it was a mistake. I almost stopped reading this book and gave up several times. I should have. Very disappointing. Boring for most, and then when not - too little too late.
June 16, 2015
This short novel is a good examination of faith and religion in the face of catastrophic loss due to war; the supernatural element is rather obvious, and serves as something of a literary metaphor for the religious structure. The illustrations are nice but aren't as big of a part here as they have been in other Mignola/Golden collaborations. It's a quietly sad story, with both the puppet and human characters nobly persevering against temptation, loss, and fear.
November 10, 2012
I like Mike Mignola's comic books, but this was just bad. Dull, over-explanatory prose; dialog that no one, in Sicily or elsewhere, would ever speak; and a simplistic story which, if it had been reduced to 20 pages, would still have been overlong (Are we like puppets in the hands of God? Gosh, I don't know Goliath!), made this a slog, even though it only took a few hours to read.
December 26, 2015
This is a charming novella that deals with pain and loss of faith in the aftermath of war, as well as doll horror. It is written with an economy of detail and a simplicity that makes it appropriate for a variety of ages, but isn't lacking depth.
I can't help thinking it would make a good film.
I can't help thinking it would make a good film.
January 4, 2013
Toy Story meets Twilight Zone... Absolutely fantastic.
Really snappy novella, loved it
Really snappy novella, loved it
September 24, 2019
Thoughtful, creepy, and lots of fun.
September 3, 2023
This was fabulous in every way, though the plot seems a bit derivative. This was a comforating read and can definitely pass as a modern-day fairytale. 3.5 stars.
March 16, 2022
A lovely little novella I would separate into two parts.
The first a story of a war ravenged village. Of children who have lost their God being taught of religion by a man questioning his. It's a moving story that draws you in and despite so many characters and so few pages little human moments between everyone brings you deep into their stories. Even if the story stopped there it would have been a wonderful heartfelt story written with gorgeous language about finding hope in the darkness of the world amongst community and how despite what the world takes there is always love to be found.
The second part however is also deeply moving but more action packed. It quietly happens in the background starting off as whispers before escalating exponentially. It's a story that represents a theme I greatly believe in and I'm glad to see it utilized so well. Religion can be a wonderful source of comfort for many. It can be kindness and love and hope. However God is what we make of it and can be very cruel and evil force towards other humans. It is what we create of it.
The pictures in the stories are lovely and the sharp lines and bold shading are very fitting for the story. However the they're often very repetitive and only losely fit what's happening on the page. They add very little to the story and feel kind of pointless most of time.
Regardless it is a lovely story that kept me glued to the page. I enjoyed every chapter and it uses its space wisely. I definatly recommend this book as it's impactful despite being a light read.
The first a story of a war ravenged village. Of children who have lost their God being taught of religion by a man questioning his. It's a moving story that draws you in and despite so many characters and so few pages little human moments between everyone brings you deep into their stories. Even if the story stopped there it would have been a wonderful heartfelt story written with gorgeous language about finding hope in the darkness of the world amongst community and how despite what the world takes there is always love to be found.
The second part however is also deeply moving but more action packed. It quietly happens in the background starting off as whispers before escalating exponentially. It's a story that represents a theme I greatly believe in and I'm glad to see it utilized so well. Religion can be a wonderful source of comfort for many. It can be kindness and love and hope. However God is what we make of it and can be very cruel and evil force towards other humans. It is what we create of it.
The pictures in the stories are lovely and the sharp lines and bold shading are very fitting for the story. However the they're often very repetitive and only losely fit what's happening on the page. They add very little to the story and feel kind of pointless most of time.
Regardless it is a lovely story that kept me glued to the page. I enjoyed every chapter and it uses its space wisely. I definatly recommend this book as it's impactful despite being a light read.
November 23, 2024
What would Father Gaetano do
If he was here right now,
He'd make a plan
And he'd follow through,
That's what Father Gaetano'd do.
When Father Gaetano arrived to the church,
In San Domenico,
He went to work to fix things up
Regardless of allies, friend or foe.
When Father Gaetano taught the kids,
Orphans of the war,
He wasn’t expected haunted puppets,
Along with so much more.
So what would Father Gaetano do
If he were here today?
I'm sure he'd save a soul or two,
That's what Father Gaetano'd do.
He found about Pagliaccio,
The puppet friend of Sebastiano.
The father and Nuns
Knew something there was wrong
While teaching the New Testament too
'Cause that's what Father Gaetano'd do.
Yeah I can’t write a whole song, but there are a few verse for you…
Anyway, Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism: A Novella by Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola is part civilian World War II story…part children’s horror…and part evil puppet thing (maybe).
I look at it as the Devil’s Backbone meets Puppet Master…with a little Exorcist and Child’s play thrown in…
Set shortly after the allied invasion of Sicily during World War II, it follows the priest, nuns, and orphans residing in a local church…along with the puppets that may or may not be supernatural in some way….
Fortunately this is a standalone Golden/Mignola collaboration so it’s not tied to their Hellboy, Baltimore, or other expanded MYTHOS…
If he was here right now,
He'd make a plan
And he'd follow through,
That's what Father Gaetano'd do.
When Father Gaetano arrived to the church,
In San Domenico,
He went to work to fix things up
Regardless of allies, friend or foe.
When Father Gaetano taught the kids,
Orphans of the war,
He wasn’t expected haunted puppets,
Along with so much more.
So what would Father Gaetano do
If he were here today?
I'm sure he'd save a soul or two,
That's what Father Gaetano'd do.
He found about Pagliaccio,
The puppet friend of Sebastiano.
The father and Nuns
Knew something there was wrong
While teaching the New Testament too
'Cause that's what Father Gaetano'd do.
Yeah I can’t write a whole song, but there are a few verse for you…
Anyway, Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism: A Novella by Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola is part civilian World War II story…part children’s horror…and part evil puppet thing (maybe).
I look at it as the Devil’s Backbone meets Puppet Master…with a little Exorcist and Child’s play thrown in…
Set shortly after the allied invasion of Sicily during World War II, it follows the priest, nuns, and orphans residing in a local church…along with the puppets that may or may not be supernatural in some way….
Fortunately this is a standalone Golden/Mignola collaboration so it’s not tied to their Hellboy, Baltimore, or other expanded MYTHOS…
December 28, 2021
Power to the Puppets
Great tightknit story by Mignola and Golden, clocking in at 176 pages. Set around WW2, young Father Gaetano is assigned to the church of San Domenico, directing the nuns and seeing to the needs of the war orphaned children living there.
Tough gig. The orphans have lost their parents and question the existence of God and if god exists, why allow their parents’ death. Turns out, theological questions are the least of Father Gaetano’s problems to worry about.
When a box of puppets is discovered, the Father sets out to interpret Biblical stories using the puppets. He enlists one of the orphans, quiet Sebastiano, who already has his clown puppet/security blanket Pagliaccio, to help.
The puppet show is a success. But there’s a downside. The puppets perform their own theater at night. Not so good.
I was/am a huge Mignola fan. I read this around the Christmas holiday and really enjoyed it. You get b/w thumbnail illustrations by Mignola throughout the novella. I would have loved a Hellboy cameo but you don’t get everything you wish for.
The novella probably could have been expanded but this length works. Great ending. Recommended especially for Mignola fans.
Great tightknit story by Mignola and Golden, clocking in at 176 pages. Set around WW2, young Father Gaetano is assigned to the church of San Domenico, directing the nuns and seeing to the needs of the war orphaned children living there.
Tough gig. The orphans have lost their parents and question the existence of God and if god exists, why allow their parents’ death. Turns out, theological questions are the least of Father Gaetano’s problems to worry about.
When a box of puppets is discovered, the Father sets out to interpret Biblical stories using the puppets. He enlists one of the orphans, quiet Sebastiano, who already has his clown puppet/security blanket Pagliaccio, to help.
The puppet show is a success. But there’s a downside. The puppets perform their own theater at night. Not so good.
I was/am a huge Mignola fan. I read this around the Christmas holiday and really enjoyed it. You get b/w thumbnail illustrations by Mignola throughout the novella. I would have loved a Hellboy cameo but you don’t get everything you wish for.
The novella probably could have been expanded but this length works. Great ending. Recommended especially for Mignola fans.
December 17, 2014
I chose
84, Charing Cross Road
to fit in my purse, but I finished it in just over two subway rides...which left me up a creak the next day, when I once again had to leave behind my briefcase. I'd already read
The Little Prince
, which meant I was running out of short, small books. Rather than commit to a 300-page trade paperback, I reached for this one.
What a delightfully creepy little story!
There were a few things that chafed, though.
1. Requisite priest/nun romance on the side of an imperfect priest which must be cooled by the nun. Not that priests would never be tempted, but it's a dirt common sin. Give me a story with a priest who battles with his compulsive lying or something.
2. Whacking out Christianity at the knees. I mean, I get that questioning is an integral part of most stories involving religion, but there didn't seem to be much effort to portray faith in a positive light...which is, quite honestly, the opposite of a complex situation. (For example, .)
3. After saying that he's "starting at the beginning", the first story that Father Gaetano presents is David and Goliath...then Noah...then the extrabiblical Paradise Lost . Um, what?
4. Father Gaetano's lost teaching moment. Completely spoilery, so read on at your own risk.
5. No one thinks to do the obvious: .
I always end up over-critiquing the books that I enjoy, but it's in large part because I only write a lot about books that connected to me. Yes, there are a couple cases where it's been because I was actively angry about something/s ( The Art of Racing in the Rain ), but this most certainly was not one of those cases. I enjoyed the creepy book and thoroughly agree with Comic Book Resources's assessment that it "would make a great gift for Neil Gaiman's All Hallow's Read."
Quote Roundup
7 - "They're angry at God, but they can't punish Him for it. Sometimes they punish me and some of the other kids instead."
No points for originality, but it's an important point to make early on in a kid's book. It could be pretty mind-blowing depending on the reader's age.
39 - The devil might be mankind's greatest enemy, but Father Gaetano firmly believed that the second greatest nemesis faced by any priest must be Monday.
This made me laugh. Seems like Mondays are always tough, even when you're looking forward to them.
66 - "Read? Not at all. But I am committed to a course of action."
I feel like this is often how I live my life. I gave up waiting to be ready back in high school when I realized that I usually wasn't ready until too late.
98 - "God made so much rain fall that everyone drowned. How is that love?"
Father Gaetano nodded, making sure to keep his expression serious, as the question warranted, though he had a smile in his heart. They were thinking. It was the best gift he could have asked for.
For all my beefs with the way this story handles religion, I did really like this. Not all religious leaders, even in conservative institutions like the Catholic Church, are no-questions blind-faith-only kind of people, and I was glad to see this represented.
( like whoa)
What a delightfully creepy little story!
There were a few things that chafed, though.
1. Requisite priest/nun romance on the side of an imperfect priest which must be cooled by the nun. Not that priests would never be tempted, but it's a dirt common sin. Give me a story with a priest who battles with his compulsive lying or something.
2. Whacking out Christianity at the knees. I mean, I get that questioning is an integral part of most stories involving religion, but there didn't seem to be much effort to portray faith in a positive light...which is, quite honestly, the opposite of a complex situation. (For example, .)
3. After saying that he's "starting at the beginning", the first story that Father Gaetano presents is David and Goliath...then Noah...then the extrabiblical Paradise Lost . Um, what?
4. Father Gaetano's lost teaching moment. Completely spoilery, so read on at your own risk.
5. No one thinks to do the obvious: .
I always end up over-critiquing the books that I enjoy, but it's in large part because I only write a lot about books that connected to me. Yes, there are a couple cases where it's been because I was actively angry about something/s ( The Art of Racing in the Rain ), but this most certainly was not one of those cases. I enjoyed the creepy book and thoroughly agree with Comic Book Resources's assessment that it "would make a great gift for Neil Gaiman's All Hallow's Read."
Quote Roundup
7 - "They're angry at God, but they can't punish Him for it. Sometimes they punish me and some of the other kids instead."
No points for originality, but it's an important point to make early on in a kid's book. It could be pretty mind-blowing depending on the reader's age.
39 - The devil might be mankind's greatest enemy, but Father Gaetano firmly believed that the second greatest nemesis faced by any priest must be Monday.
This made me laugh. Seems like Mondays are always tough, even when you're looking forward to them.
66 - "Read? Not at all. But I am committed to a course of action."
I feel like this is often how I live my life. I gave up waiting to be ready back in high school when I realized that I usually wasn't ready until too late.
98 - "God made so much rain fall that everyone drowned. How is that love?"
Father Gaetano nodded, making sure to keep his expression serious, as the question warranted, though he had a smile in his heart. They were thinking. It was the best gift he could have asked for.
For all my beefs with the way this story handles religion, I did really like this. Not all religious leaders, even in conservative institutions like the Catholic Church, are no-questions blind-faith-only kind of people, and I was glad to see this represented.
( like whoa)
February 10, 2025
I was pleasantly surprised by this little novella; I picked it up impulsively after reflecting on a recent, somewhat disappointing longer read and wanting something a little different and quick as a palette cleanser. I wasn't expecting a tightly written story that would sometimes make me think of Guillermo del Toro's film The Devil's Backbone, though they don't share that much more in their storylines than the devastating impact of war and orphans...It doesn't really matter. I enjoyed reading it, and thought that Mignola and Golden treated the characters very compassionately...at least the human ones. I have to ruminate more on the subject of free will that's brought up quite often throughout and see how I feel about the treatment of the puppets. Would have loved to have had just a little more insight in the epilogue--not of the phenomenon itself, totally fine with that being left ambiguous--but its toll on some of the characters we've gotten to know throughout the story. Much can be extrapolated from what's given, but I simply wouldn't have minded knowing just a bit more.
July 12, 2017
I have dolls. None of them are sweet or cuddly. Nearly all of them are sinister or downright scary so this book was certainly my cup of tea. I think puppets are especially terrifying in that they are meant to move but they do so in a jerky, not quite normal way no matter how good the person manipulating them. Father Gaetano is a young priest sent to a convent that is harboring orphans at the end of WWII. The children are difficult and so finding a trunk of puppets seems like a godsend that will help him reach these troubled kids. Well, that doesn't work out as well as he planned because these puppets have a life of their own and it's more steeped in hellfire than catechism. Father Gaetano has some issues of his own that relate to a pretty nun so it all goes bad rather quickly. The illustrations are wonderful and creepy, making this little book a treasure as far as novellas go. I read it in one sitting and like many great stories, I was left wanting a little more.
February 13, 2023
I picked up this book as a withdrawn library copy a few years back because, well, Mike Mignola, but then proceeded to not read it. Finally found the motivation because I'm trying to technically meet some reading goals and novellas and graphic novels are a great way to read lots of separate works in a short period of time.
Anyway, this is a decent little story with well written characters and an interesting bit of supernatural difficulty. But it also wasn't anything really special; maybe that is mostly my perspective since it is really concerned about Christian perspectives on things, and I could hardly care less about it. Still, it was not a bad story. I just wish it had a bit stronger of a conclusion; seems like one of the low-level oddities Hellboy might have investigated decades later and a nod to that would have made the story feel a bit bigger and more meaningful to me.
Anyway, this is a decent little story with well written characters and an interesting bit of supernatural difficulty. But it also wasn't anything really special; maybe that is mostly my perspective since it is really concerned about Christian perspectives on things, and I could hardly care less about it. Still, it was not a bad story. I just wish it had a bit stronger of a conclusion; seems like one of the low-level oddities Hellboy might have investigated decades later and a nod to that would have made the story feel a bit bigger and more meaningful to me.
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