Baltimore, Vol. 4: Chapel of Bones

Baltimore

by Mike Mignola, Ben Stenbeck (Illustrator), Dave Stewart (Illustrator)

The world's greatest monster hunter wages war against a plague of vampires intent on resurrecting a demonic god, an evil witch in league with a clan of undead, and his mortal nemesis, leading to a final showdown in London! Written by award-winning, bestselling writers Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Fantasy, Vampires, Fiction, Paranormal

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2014

About the author

Mike 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.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume wraps up most of the long running threads going back to volume 1. We find out about the mysterious woman burning vampires in ovens from volume 1 in the first half of the book. the second half of the book is a final confrontation between Lord Baltimore and Haigus. It also sets up the back half of the run as the Red King is introduced and Baltimore's compatriots begin to come together.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series definitely takes me to that classic horror mood that I enjoy. To me, classic horror is the best horror there is. The modern-style stuff doesn't do it for me. I think Mignola and I have a meeting of minds on that. It's evident in his work. Baltimore is a man on a mission, and nothing will divert him from it. There are revelations about Baltimore and this story takes us full circle as it revisits a crucial scene from Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire. Again, it's an opportunity to see Baltimore through the eyes of others, and to try to understand his motivations. These books are very dark, but very fascinating. The artwork is excellent, even with the limited color palette.

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great volume, but the final showdown with Haigus was less epic than expected and left me wanting to read the novel for good.

[Wing Kee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow we finally get a larger world view and the rules.

World: The art is solid, it sets the tone well and give the book a very nice creepy and sad vibe. The world building is solid this time around, I've been saying readers need a clear hierarchy of the monsters and also the rules and we finally get some concrete answers in that regard and now the world is more vast and we'll put together.

Story: The story was interesting and moved the world forward a great deal. We get the payoff of Baltimore and his quest and also a new status quo or the series which I like. The pacing and the writing is solid and it's a fun read. There are some slight plodding but that's about it.

Characters: Baltimore gets more depth and I really enjoyed that. I like where they went with him and the small changes to him this time around making him more relatable. He is tragic but he's a bit of an ass before and this slight tweak is welcome. The rest of the cast are alright, but don't stay long enough to be anything of note.

It was an okay read with a much better defined world.

Onward to the next book!

[Baal Of · Rating 5 out of 5]

A closing off of one arc, and the start of another, and this series continues to impress me. I didn't predict the events around Duvik, and I look forward to what kind of havoc he will be wreaking in the future. This is my kind of horror.

[Octavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una maravilla. Ninguna de esta saga de novelas gráficas decepciona.

[Tazio Bettin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story of lord Baltimore. It had the vibe, genuineness and freshness of the first Hellboy books, the protagonist was interesting enough and his adventures kept me hooked. I even came to like the artwork, which does a good enough job of capturing the atmosphere of Mignola's pages, though it never gets even remotely close to the impact Mignola's art conjures. Yet it works, and I even doubt that I'd want pages with more impact than this, which is kind of difficult to explain, but they are definitely part of the charm of these books. Maybe their simplicity are simply part of that freshness I mentioned. Anyways, I'm quite satisfied with this read.

[Camilo Guerra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Por 3 volumenes vimos la pesadilla de Lord Henry Baltimore, su caza imparable tras Haigus a través de Europa,cruzándose contra abominaciones del infierno , sangre, vampiros, plaga...una cacería terrible, y en este volumen se reúnen para terminar con todo y...pasa muy rápido, sin la épica necesaria o requerida , prometiendo que la tarea nos edetendra, que el maestro de Haigus aun esta vivo y esperando ,renacido por la voragine de sangre traida por el hombre. Y no mas, pero seguimos fieles al lado de Baltimore.

[Vladimír · Rating 5 out of 5]

Štvrtá kniha je rozdelená na dva príbehy. Kým prvý sa spočiatku tvári ako štandardná story Lorda Baltimora, veľmi intenzívne sa tu pripravuje pôda pre Chapel of Bones. A je to práve druhá polovica knihy, ktorú z doteraz prečítaného považujem za jednoznačne najtemnejšiu časť tejto série. Sledujeme tu výraznú premenu hlavného hrdinu. Inak sa na neho bude pozerať čitateľ a sám hrdina začne brať veci trochu inak, dalo by sa povedať že globálne. Znamená to pre neho nový začiatok a rovnako aj pre čitateľa. Nepamätám si kedy naposledy som mal tak veľkú chuť si prečítať pokračovanie.

[Ευθυμία Δεσποτάκη · Rating 4 out of 5]

Θυμήθηκα ποιον μου θυμίζει ο Μπάλτιμορ. Τον Μαρκ Στρονγκ!

[Zardoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

We finally get some resolution with Baltimore’s pursuit of his nemesis, but darker forces come to light.
The series is getting better. Nice fun horror for Halloween!

[Justin Labelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tidy conclusion to the initial arc.
This is a well crafted comic with an emphasis on what may lurk in the shadows.
If you like Hellboy, you'll enjoy this.

[Zedsdead · Rating 4 out of 5]

The grand finale. Baltimore convenes some gentlemen friends to witness his final showdown with Haigus.

As much as I love the setting, the central conflict, and some of the artistic concepts (the Red King is amazing), this isn't a five star experience for me due to the woodenness of the exposition dumps and some clumsy bits of contrivance.

[Orrin Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems sort of an odd choice to have wrapped the Baltimore storyline around to the point where the novel ends so, well, suddenly, but it pays off decently well. For all that this volume does, in fact, retread the events of the novel, it doesn't feel as much like a retread even as the first volume did, somehow. And coming full circle but leaving the story open to continue frees up the narrative from the "Baltimore chasing Haigus here and there" structure that the series has had so far.

And, while I was just kind of pooh-poohing retreads, I have to say that I would have loved to have seen Ben Stenbeck's take on images from the stories of Childress, Rose, and Aischros, even just a frame or two from each.

[Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baltimore goes head to head with a priest, a train, and his nemesis in two related but separate story. Lots of action, some disturbing images of the future, some nihilism, and one of the most self-impressed introductions I've ever read (it's more like a college thesis attempt than an introduction to the story). But that doesn't detract from the stories, which are interesting if not quite up to the standards of the previous volume. The demon train is an interesting concept and makes for a much more interesting story than the primary plot, as Baltimore faces down the inquisitor Duvic. The second story, as Baltimore faces his real antagonist in a battle for his friends. It doesn't offer a huge amount of closure, but it makes for an interesting, active tale.

[Gabriel Wallis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really enjoy reading these Baltimore graphic novels. Good storyline, great art. Definitely looking forward to reading the next in the series.

[Matt Maielli · Rating 4 out of 5]

the returns on this series just keep growing, with several payoffs in this closing arc, rad

[Mike Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entry consisting of several stories, as opposed to one interrupted narrative, but still enjoyable for that. As I've read the original novel, the titular story - which is also the longest of the two contained within - was merely a retelling in comic as opposed to novel form, hence this for me was not as enjoyable as others in the series do far have been.
The retelling of the final scene in the book was almost identical in both, but did have some extra features in this version. We get to see Baltimore entering the city, and obviously with more illustrations, more is given to us plainly rather than having to rely on imagination. Perhaps because I read the book first, I actually enjoyed seeing things in my mind's eye (as opposed to on the page) more, and found this to be less engaging. This may have been because I knew what was coming, but possibly also because through a novel, so much more can be said, giving more character to their environs and the three friends themselves. I definitely felt more connection to them than I think anyone just reading this comic would, having only known them for a handful of panels before the climactic final scene. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but sometimes you don't need a thousand words to paint perfect pictures in readers' heads.
The other story closed off the other running threads of the first four entries in the series, of the train that was mentioned way back in the first volume (I think) and heavily hinted would be back, and the Inquisitor. I much preferred this one - maybe only because it was new, but I honestly think it was a stronger tale. I say closed off, but I can definitely see at least some elements of both returning in the next four-volume arc, and I'd be happy to see this. They've definitely been left open on purpose.
The art, again, is great, with plenty of visceral drawings that don't shy away from the brutality of this world. I'm liking it more and more with each comic that I read in the series, and the dark, sombre tones suit the mood of the series perfectly.
I liked that we learned more about the Red King in this, and I'm looking forward to the inevitable confrontation at the end of the series between Baltimore and him, or at least his high priests. I can't wait.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is very satisfying, since it brings some conclusion to the events of the previous three volumes. The first half is The Infernal Train which brings back one of the most fascinating characters, Judge Duvic of the New Inquisition.

While this volume wraps up a lot of plot threads, it leads the way forward with the Red King, a very nefarious force lurking in the background previously.

I didn't realize until the forward that there had been an earlier novel, Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire by Mike Mignola. I am curious how a novel written by him would differ from how he writes comics...

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both tying off the series' main threads and deepening its mythology, the stories contained within this volume could be seen as the end of "part one" of the Baltimore saga and the springboard for something very different. I can't wait to find out what happens next. Will Lord Baltimore keep fighting on alone, or will he accept that his fate is tied up with those of his greatest comrades? What does it mean for him to find out that his curse has not lifted and his quest is ultimately for something other than vengeance? There's a way that Chapel of Bones could feel almost anticlimactic, but it never does, because everything here sets the stage for something else, something bigger, something terrible.

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5

I had been one the fence with Baltimore but this volume opens up the world to bigger possibilities. Mignola continues to intrigue me with his dark and gothic storytelling. I honestly feel like a person who attempts to leave the mafia, before they pull you back in. Mignola does this all the time and now I'm eager for the next volumes. Well played Mr Mignola. Baltimore revealed some interesting cards here and I want to see them played out.

Why the 5?

Strong concluding first arc. I won't be lying to say I feared this would lead nowhere. In the end it delivers a vastly improved direction. The Baltimore character has grown on me and what could've been a one dimensional monster hunting revenge plot, we get something different.

[Bill Coffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Baltimore story thus far all comes together as Lord Baltimore, the Inquisition, a mysterious woman with a weird furnace-train and the Vampire Haigus all come together in a climax that is thrilling and satisfying and shows us just how hollow Baltimore himself has become. He knows better than anyone that once his mission of vengeance is complete, what more purpose is there for him to live? Those answers will come, but they will not be what Baltimore expects. This is probably the high point of the Baltimore saga, and one kind of wishes it ended after this installment. There is still plenty of good stuff afterward, but this first act of the saga is definitely the best part of it.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden continue their amazing story of revenge and misery. Lord Baltimore is getting closer to exacting revenge on his mortal enemy and is realizing that it might not be the end. Ben Stenbeck continues to do a fantastic Mignola impression. The art is perfect for the story. I love that they've been able to make this world grow and stay creepy. I think this story could have been slowed down and elongated. That's my only complaint. Overall, great read.

[Etain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually quite enjoyed the infernal train, it wasn't super substantial but fun enough.
Chapel of bones however was disappointing it just didn't have any of the punch that it did in the novel (as well as the characters not looking how I imagined them.) It also just sort of serves to set up the second half of the series instead of giving an ending to Baltimore despite the novel already achieving that.
Hopefully the next omnibus can make up for it.

[Kate Dostálová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord Baltimore stále hledá upíra Haiga, aby se pomstil za smrt svých blízkých. Ale na chvíli mění své plány a vydá se do Budapešti, kde se má setkat s inkvizitorem Duvićem. Bude to jejich finální setkání? Do Budapešti mezitím přijíždí zvláštní vlak, který je Baltimorovi povědomí. V celém městě se najednou vyrojí obživlí mrtví a Baltimor se s nimi musí vypořádat.

[Tim O'neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't come together for me as well as previöus volumes, and from what I remember, I found the same events more captivating in the novel. interested to see where it'll go next, now that it's passed that benchmark.

[Václav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth book of lord Baltimore's adventures is very good. Intense, atmospheric, dark with few epic fight and more than usual plot twists. Going back to continue side-stories presented many issues before is fun and it makes the world somehow more coherent.

[Tim Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great ending to one part of this series and the beginning of the next. This is well done and holds the reader's attention throughout the pages. Looking forward to see what happens next in the life of Lord Baltimore.

[Michael Rudzki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord Henry Baltimore's quest for vengeance reaches its conclusion in Chapel of Bones, but will he survive?

Prepare yourself for an epic battle, as the threads woven throughout the prior stories all find themselves tangled together here.

[The Geeky Viking · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry in the Lord Baltimore Saga. This one brings us to the end of the events in the original novel. Good writing and excellent artwork. Plot threads from the previous volumes are wrapped up here and ground is laid for the coming battle with the Red King.