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Hellboy (Ongoing Order) #6
Hellboy: The Corpse and the Iron Shoes
In Hellboy: The Corpse and the Iron Shoes, the Monaghans have a problem faeries have stolen their baby. Tam O'Clannie's problem is he wants a Christian burial, and he's already getting pretty ripe. Hellboy has more than his share of problems with border goblins, dead men, and war monsters, as he tries to make everyone happy in one night, roaming the Irish landscape looking for a Christian graveyard and finding only pagan monstrosities. In the backup "The Iron Shoes," Hellboy enters a battered medieval tower to take on a footnote from Irish folklore.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2011
4 people are currently reading
29 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 17, 2025
Short, simple but very enjoyable, and the pacing makes it easy to read in one sitting.
June 24, 2017
"Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushing glen,
We daren't go a-hunting,
For fear of little men"
-The Fairies, William Allingham
The first story in this two part volume is called The Corpse. It is a wonderful tale of the Daion Sidh. Mignola does a great job integrating the folklore of the fairie folk into this tale. Once the Daion Sidh kidnap a baby and replace it with an imp, Hellboy and the BPRD respond. Hellboy uses iron to compel the imp to tell the location of the boy. Hellboy must then complete a task for the three fey brothers. Once the task, the disposal of a talking corpse, is complete the child will be freed. The artwork here is excellent. I really enjoy Mignola's style. It is certainly unique. I also enjoy the use of folklore from around the world as an influence on his plots. I enjoyed this Fairie story.
The second part was rather disappointing. Iron Shoes is really more of a short story. In Ireland there still lives a mean goblin named Iron Shoes. It seems he has been making a meal on tourists, so Hellboy is sent to investigate. Hellboy fights and defeats Iron Shoes by taking him to a church wherein he is destroyed. This was only 9 pages long and almost seemed like an add-on story. A "Hey we did a story on the Fey, why not pad this volume with a 9 pager with ummm ohh a Goblin?". Was it a bad story? No. Was it a good story? Could have been, but ended rather shortly and abruptly.
In the main this volume is carried by the first, and only full, story-The Corpse. That is a beautifully illustrated, well written, well researched story with a great setting. I enjoyed it immensely. The uniqueness of watching Hellboy interact with the traditional folklore setting was great. The overall story was well done and entertaining. The second story, short story at best, Iron Shoes is nothing more than a few pages of Hellboy throwing down with a Goblin. Nothing really cool or original save maybe in Iron Shoes himself. But, as I said this volume is saved by the Corpse. Iron Shoes should be viewed as an extra short story.
Down the rushing glen,
We daren't go a-hunting,
For fear of little men"
-The Fairies, William Allingham
The first story in this two part volume is called The Corpse. It is a wonderful tale of the Daion Sidh. Mignola does a great job integrating the folklore of the fairie folk into this tale. Once the Daion Sidh kidnap a baby and replace it with an imp, Hellboy and the BPRD respond. Hellboy uses iron to compel the imp to tell the location of the boy. Hellboy must then complete a task for the three fey brothers. Once the task, the disposal of a talking corpse, is complete the child will be freed. The artwork here is excellent. I really enjoy Mignola's style. It is certainly unique. I also enjoy the use of folklore from around the world as an influence on his plots. I enjoyed this Fairie story.
The second part was rather disappointing. Iron Shoes is really more of a short story. In Ireland there still lives a mean goblin named Iron Shoes. It seems he has been making a meal on tourists, so Hellboy is sent to investigate. Hellboy fights and defeats Iron Shoes by taking him to a church wherein he is destroyed. This was only 9 pages long and almost seemed like an add-on story. A "Hey we did a story on the Fey, why not pad this volume with a 9 pager with ummm ohh a Goblin?". Was it a bad story? No. Was it a good story? Could have been, but ended rather shortly and abruptly.
In the main this volume is carried by the first, and only full, story-The Corpse. That is a beautifully illustrated, well written, well researched story with a great setting. I enjoyed it immensely. The uniqueness of watching Hellboy interact with the traditional folklore setting was great. The overall story was well done and entertaining. The second story, short story at best, Iron Shoes is nothing more than a few pages of Hellboy throwing down with a Goblin. Nothing really cool or original save maybe in Iron Shoes himself. But, as I said this volume is saved by the Corpse. Iron Shoes should be viewed as an extra short story.
April 16, 2022
Good stuff as always. Nuff said ;)
July 25, 2024
You two are going to have to calm down and trust me. They are a very weird little people, but they do play by certain rules. I promise to get your daughter back, be patient. They won't harm her. This is an old game, and I've got to play it their way.
Having enjoyed the 2024 free-comic-book-day one-shot, I found myself in a Hellboy mood. With Amazon offering me a free trial of Kindle Unlimited, and with the Hellboy single issues being included, it felt rude not to start from the beginning.
With the first volume complete, the series moves onto a couple of one-shot stories, which is a nice touch. This one sees Hellboy investigating a mother's claims that her baby has been replaced by a changeling. It is a rich folktale mystery to which, although done before, Hellboy adds his unique presence. Also included is a short bonus story about The Iron Shoes. 5 stars.
Having enjoyed the 2024 free-comic-book-day one-shot, I found myself in a Hellboy mood. With Amazon offering me a free trial of Kindle Unlimited, and with the Hellboy single issues being included, it felt rude not to start from the beginning.
With the first volume complete, the series moves onto a couple of one-shot stories, which is a nice touch. This one sees Hellboy investigating a mother's claims that her baby has been replaced by a changeling. It is a rich folktale mystery to which, although done before, Hellboy adds his unique presence. Also included is a short bonus story about The Iron Shoes. 5 stars.
August 9, 2023
دو داستان کوتاه خوب از هلبوی که روی سری اصلی خیلی تاثیر گذار بودند. و اونقدر هم نیاز به آشنایی با دنیایی که مایک میگنولا ساخته ندارن. اگه کوچکترین آشنایی ای با هلبوی دارین، به تعداد کم ریویوهاش تو گودریدز توجه نکنید و یه فرصت بهش بدین
October 26, 2023
Possibly the funniest Hellboy comiv
Two beautifully written and drawn stories that capture the fairy tale vibe perfectly. The Corpse, especially, is a favourite of mine for its perfectly-times comedy.
Two beautifully written and drawn stories that capture the fairy tale vibe perfectly. The Corpse, especially, is a favourite of mine for its perfectly-times comedy.
November 22, 2022
Un poco siniestro para mi gusto pero me encanta como en tan pocas páginas te desarrollan una historia bien construida.
October 26, 2024
If you’ve heard of Hellboy, you’ve probably heard of The Corpse, so all I’ll say is that it’s great, definitely Hellboy at his best.
August 15, 2020
Quick comic. Typical hellboy!
June 23, 2016
Mini serie de don Hellboy, siendo la primera de esas características que leo del personaje y que enriquece mucho el contexto del personaje y ¿Que mejor forma de hacerlo que buscando un bebe así como los los zapatos de acero de un goblin? En lo personal, poco puedo agregar sobre la serie ya que lo mejor es leerla
February 5, 2017
Because I am already fond of Alice I was glad to see her introductory story. There is fun interplay between old Irish folklore and the matter-of-fact ornery nature of Hellboy. One of my favorites.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews