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Meinhardt and Knox #1
Mr. Higgins Comes Home
Preparations begin at Castle Golga for the annual festival of the undead, as a pair of fearless vampire killers question a man hidden away in a monastery on the Baltic Sea. The mysterious Mr. Higgins wants nothing more than to avoid the scene of his wife's death, and the truth about what happened to him in that castle. However, these heroic men sworn to rid the world of the vampire scourge, inspire Higgins to venture out and to end the only suffering he really cares about--his own.
This send-up of classic vampire stories sees Mignola teaming with British artist Warwick Johnson-Cadwell (Solid State Tank Girl, No. 1 Car Spotter) for an original graphic novel as outlandish as The Amazing Screw-On Head.
This send-up of classic vampire stories sees Mignola teaming with British artist Warwick Johnson-Cadwell (Solid State Tank Girl, No. 1 Car Spotter) for an original graphic novel as outlandish as The Amazing Screw-On Head.
62 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2017
2 people are currently reading
358 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 138 reviews
October 29, 2021
A fun little one-shot about vampires, vampire hunters and werewolves, written by Mike Mignola, with some really cute and colourful artwork by Warwick Johnson Cadwell. Mostly humorous, but still touching on some serious themes. A bit similar to The Amazing Screw-on Head and Other Curious Objects both in style and in tone, so if you like that, you will probably enjoy Mr. Higgins, as well.
March 20, 2020
Something of both an ode and a sendup of old Hammer horror movies. A Van Helsing type is headed to kill a gathering of vampires while they celebrate Satan. However the Count gets word of this and forcibly invites the vampire hunter to the party. The art is busy and goofy. It reminded me of Kevin O'Neil or Simon Bisley. The art seemed the complete opposite of the tone of the story. It didn't work that great, particularly the action sequences.
January 28, 2018
Mr. Higgins Comes Home is a curious little read.
It's not touted as a Hellboy book yet features (roughly) the same art and a similar panoply of monsters. It's a somewhat dark story yet uplifted with contrarily bright colors and an equally bright disposition. It has the veneer of a children's book yet is suffused with quite un-childish things such as, Satanism, (attempted) human sacrifice, and a Sabbatic Goat to boot!
These internal contradictions are depicted with an unabashedly wiry style that wraps around each and every scene and setting of the book. Equally rounded styles (think Edd, Ed, N' Eddy, if you will) deliberately ensconce characters that range from the buffoonish to the demonic. I don't think the infernal and the immature jostle well together but evidently the author/artists did.
Just like another comic I reviewed recently Mr. Higgins is a contradiction at every level. While I (highly) welcome experiments in art, mixing the puerile and the not-so-puerile is a little odd to put it mildly.
You'll just have to make up your mind on this one.
One wavering thumb halfway up.
It's not touted as a Hellboy book yet features (roughly) the same art and a similar panoply of monsters. It's a somewhat dark story yet uplifted with contrarily bright colors and an equally bright disposition. It has the veneer of a children's book yet is suffused with quite un-childish things such as, Satanism, (attempted) human sacrifice, and a Sabbatic Goat to boot!
These internal contradictions are depicted with an unabashedly wiry style that wraps around each and every scene and setting of the book. Equally rounded styles (think Edd, Ed, N' Eddy, if you will) deliberately ensconce characters that range from the buffoonish to the demonic. I don't think the infernal and the immature jostle well together but evidently the author/artists did.
Just like another comic I reviewed recently Mr. Higgins is a contradiction at every level. While I (highly) welcome experiments in art, mixing the puerile and the not-so-puerile is a little odd to put it mildly.
You'll just have to make up your mind on this one.
One wavering thumb halfway up.
January 18, 2023
The ending had an almost comedic note to it.
November 4, 2017
While anything with the Mignola name on it is pretty much an automatic purchase, I'll admit that, from the previews, I wasn't entirely sure what to make of Mr. Higgins Comes Home, but with this slim little volume Mignola and Warwick Johnson-Cadwell have created a genuine masterpiece, and one that is required reading for any fan of Hammer's classic Gothic horror films.
While the reviews made much of the connection between Mr. Higgins Comes Home and Hammer's various Gothic chillers, I was expecting (and got) at least as much of Roman Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers, which I know to be one of Mignola's favorites. But while that film is much in evidence here, so are Hammer's various vampire pictures, especially a few of the lesser-known ones like Brides of Dracula and Kiss of the Vampire, from which Mr. Higgins' story, in particular, seems borrowed.
The wild card for me was the exaggerated art of Warwick Johnson-Cadwell, with which I was previously unfamiliar. In the previews, it took me a little off-guard, but I have to admit that, in actual practice, it is perfect for the story that Mignola and Johnson-Cadwell have chosen to tell. Especially once the guests arrive at Castle Golga, every panel is perfectly evoked to not only recall to mind the films that are being referenced but also to lend just the right tone to the story as it evolves.
Other reviewers have suggested that this volume would be more at home alongside the stories in The Amazing Screw-on Head and Other Curious Objects than in the Hellboy or Baltimore comics, and I would be inclined to agree. A perfectly told little gem to occupy that same slightly surreal shelf where Mignola so often does his most off-kilter but also best work.
While the reviews made much of the connection between Mr. Higgins Comes Home and Hammer's various Gothic chillers, I was expecting (and got) at least as much of Roman Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers, which I know to be one of Mignola's favorites. But while that film is much in evidence here, so are Hammer's various vampire pictures, especially a few of the lesser-known ones like Brides of Dracula and Kiss of the Vampire, from which Mr. Higgins' story, in particular, seems borrowed.
The wild card for me was the exaggerated art of Warwick Johnson-Cadwell, with which I was previously unfamiliar. In the previews, it took me a little off-guard, but I have to admit that, in actual practice, it is perfect for the story that Mignola and Johnson-Cadwell have chosen to tell. Especially once the guests arrive at Castle Golga, every panel is perfectly evoked to not only recall to mind the films that are being referenced but also to lend just the right tone to the story as it evolves.
Other reviewers have suggested that this volume would be more at home alongside the stories in The Amazing Screw-on Head and Other Curious Objects than in the Hellboy or Baltimore comics, and I would be inclined to agree. A perfectly told little gem to occupy that same slightly surreal shelf where Mignola so often does his most off-kilter but also best work.
November 1, 2017
This, and episode of Stranger Things 2, and some chemistry homework were what my Halloween festivities consisted of this year.
The art in this was the best part of it for me. It was really cute but still helped to convey the story in a clear manner. Not my favorite (that would be the standard Mignolaverse artwork of course), but I still liked it a lot. Similar to Nimona but Noelle Stephenson (sp?).
The humor was also really good, and though the plot was basic, it was still not bad.
A good story, and not what I was expecting from Mignola.
The art in this was the best part of it for me. It was really cute but still helped to convey the story in a clear manner. Not my favorite (that would be the standard Mignolaverse artwork of course), but I still liked it a lot. Similar to Nimona but Noelle Stephenson (sp?).
The humor was also really good, and though the plot was basic, it was still not bad.
A good story, and not what I was expecting from Mignola.
August 31, 2018
A simple tale with beautiful stylish art.
World: The world building is simple, it relies on a lot of prexisting knowledge of Vampires but it's mainly pop culture and general knowledge so nothing overly complex here. The new little pieces Mignola creates for this tale are charming because of the art which is pretty great. The art is stylish and interesting in choice for such a story but it does lend itself for a different tone.
Story: The story is simple, it's a little vampire monster tale that has one focus and one tale and it does it. The pacing is good the point of view is misleading which I enjoyed got a title so short. The end result is a very expected horror end. The art twists the tone making it more enjoyable.
Characters: Not a lot of deep characters here, this story mostly relies or basic archetypes. They serve the story but nothing makes it memorable.
A nice little tale.
Onward to the next book!
World: The world building is simple, it relies on a lot of prexisting knowledge of Vampires but it's mainly pop culture and general knowledge so nothing overly complex here. The new little pieces Mignola creates for this tale are charming because of the art which is pretty great. The art is stylish and interesting in choice for such a story but it does lend itself for a different tone.
Story: The story is simple, it's a little vampire monster tale that has one focus and one tale and it does it. The pacing is good the point of view is misleading which I enjoyed got a title so short. The end result is a very expected horror end. The art twists the tone making it more enjoyable.
Characters: Not a lot of deep characters here, this story mostly relies or basic archetypes. They serve the story but nothing makes it memorable.
A nice little tale.
Onward to the next book!
February 22, 2021
Or how to make a buck with a bag of wind...
The book is actually a gentle parody of Hammer vampire films. Not very fun and illustrated like a children’s book with garish colors it really goes nowhere.
The book is actually a gentle parody of Hammer vampire films. Not very fun and illustrated like a children’s book with garish colors it really goes nowhere.
November 12, 2017
Another book by Mike Mignola. This one is a bit more goofy than his usual work. The back page references The Amazing Screw-On Head. But that book is only similar to the extent that it's goofy as well.
The story is a fun take on the Van Helsing hunting Vampires at their castles story. It reminded me of Sfar's Dungeon series. The art is reminiscent of Lewis Trondheim's. But I think that series is much better.
The story is a fun take on the Van Helsing hunting Vampires at their castles story. It reminded me of Sfar's Dungeon series. The art is reminiscent of Lewis Trondheim's. But I think that series is much better.
Read
January 14, 2021Yet another fun story from Mignola, the book has Mignola's signature quirky and blunt sense of humor, though I find that this story was a bit goofier in nature than something like Hellboy. Much of this was influenced by the old Hammer monster movies from the 60s and 70s, and that sense of fun, as well as rugged charm is felt throughout the duration of this book.
The only real issue I had was with the art. The characters looked like pencils and the settings looked like a rehash of the mood and atmosphere that Mignola has, though without any of the idiomatic charm. It just had me pining for Mignola's art more often than not.
Overall, a fun if not flawed story.
March 9, 2018
A perfectly pleasant little Mike Mignola tale of cozy horror. A vampire hunter meets Mr Higgins, a werewolf, and convinces the man to lead them back to the castle lair of the vile vampire. But the vampire is one step ahead, extending an invite to the vampire hunter and Mr Higgins for a night of vampiric debauchery. Naturally, chaos ensues. It's all very fun, funny, and delightfully dark - typical of Mike Mignola. The ending is a tad pat, I suppose, but that's hardly a complaint when it's barely over 50 pages. You probably have a spare 15 minutes to enjoy this one.
November 2, 2017
A fun little comic that has vampires and a werewolf. Not exactly what you would expect from Mignola, but not bad
January 30, 2021
Oh this was very good
May 27, 2020
Vampire hunter J.T. Meinhardt and his partner Knox visit Mr. Higgins in hopes of receiving his aid in hunting down Count Golga, a vampire responsible for turning Mr- Higgins into a werewolf. Higgins agrees after the hunters promise to end him with a silver bullet after all is said and done. However, the plan to take down the Count goes to apes the moment Higgins leaves with the hunters, and circumstances keep changing at a rapid pace.
One might assume this is a horror comic due to the classic vampire motif, but it really isn't. There's nothing particularly macabre or eerie about this. If anything, the comic is more on the goofy side, though it has its moments of dark humor and violence. The art style - which, by the by, is really lovely and vivid and almost experimental in the context of Victorian era vampire stories - only serves to emphasize how this is more like a light comedy with horror elements to it than a serious story meant to give you the creeps.
Due to its short length, there isn't much time for building suspense or anything else, which makes this one hard to rate. It's obviously not meant to be world class comic literature, but I also can't help but feel like I still would have appreciated a little more effort in terms of story progression. I was left feeling like Mignola leaned a little too much on the archetypal. The art was SO good, though, and I feel like that alone warrants a bit of a raise to the overall amount of stars. It made me want to check up the artist and read more works drawn in their style.
One might assume this is a horror comic due to the classic vampire motif, but it really isn't. There's nothing particularly macabre or eerie about this. If anything, the comic is more on the goofy side, though it has its moments of dark humor and violence. The art style - which, by the by, is really lovely and vivid and almost experimental in the context of Victorian era vampire stories - only serves to emphasize how this is more like a light comedy with horror elements to it than a serious story meant to give you the creeps.
Due to its short length, there isn't much time for building suspense or anything else, which makes this one hard to rate. It's obviously not meant to be world class comic literature, but I also can't help but feel like I still would have appreciated a little more effort in terms of story progression. I was left feeling like Mignola leaned a little too much on the archetypal. The art was SO good, though, and I feel like that alone warrants a bit of a raise to the overall amount of stars. It made me want to check up the artist and read more works drawn in their style.
November 20, 2017
BCDER: 61
An old school horror comic with vampires and werewolves drawn in a cartoony comedy style. Pointless storyline or commentary on something bigger via existential crisis hints? I’m not sure, but it’s worth the quick read.
An old school horror comic with vampires and werewolves drawn in a cartoony comedy style. Pointless storyline or commentary on something bigger via existential crisis hints? I’m not sure, but it’s worth the quick read.
May 22, 2018
A good oneshot. Unless there is more that I don't know of. In either case, a pleasant way to pass an hour.
August 6, 2023
That was very enjoyable. I'm a massive fan of occult detectives and Meinhardt is much more archetypical of them than hellboy ever was. The art is also much more charming than I expected at first glance. This story would be absolutely perfect for any particularly gothic kids.
(Ps if you enjoyed this you should really check out Leonide it has a shamefully low number of ratings and it's great)
(Ps if you enjoyed this you should really check out Leonide it has a shamefully low number of ratings and it's great)
April 29, 2020
Two vampire hunters head to eastern Europe in hopes of cleaning out Castle Golga. A large group of vampires are gathering for Walpurgis Night; the hunters hope to get the drop on the vampires the morning after the big party. Their ace in the hole is Mr. Higgins, an old man who once visited Castle Golga by accident on his honeymoon with horrible consequences. They want Higgins to lead them to the castle's crypt. Higgins wants them to end his suffering. They strike a deal, but the plan goes awry when Countess Golga invites them to the festivities.
The story is a classic Mignola reimagining of another story. In this case, he retells a typical Hammer horror film plot. It's both fun and tragically melancholic. The art has elements of Mignola's style but is less dark and stark. The art is good but not as effective as Mignola's. The book is an enjoyable and quick read.
Recommended.
The story is a classic Mignola reimagining of another story. In this case, he retells a typical Hammer horror film plot. It's both fun and tragically melancholic. The art has elements of Mignola's style but is less dark and stark. The art is good but not as effective as Mignola's. The book is an enjoyable and quick read.
Recommended.
March 16, 2019
Because I loved the Hellboy stories, I was delighted to get my hands on this one. After I finished--it's really short--I was delighted I got it from my library because...what the heck, Mignola?
I'm no doubt in the minority and perhaps I missed some important story that comes before, but...this was just kind of...nothing. Mignola references the Fearless Vampire Killers and the Hammer films, and yes, there is a definite homage...yes, I have to admit I got a kick out of the professor and his assistant.
And still, it felt more like a sketch than a story. If it had been part of an anthology, it might have been a funny bit of froth to read amidst some of the grimmer tales. But as a stand alone? Nope.
I'm no doubt in the minority and perhaps I missed some important story that comes before, but...this was just kind of...nothing. Mignola references the Fearless Vampire Killers and the Hammer films, and yes, there is a definite homage...yes, I have to admit I got a kick out of the professor and his assistant.
And still, it felt more like a sketch than a story. If it had been part of an anthology, it might have been a funny bit of froth to read amidst some of the grimmer tales. But as a stand alone? Nope.
May 2, 2018
Mike Mignola knows how to tell an interesting tale with weird characters and crazy twists and turns, and this does not disappoint.
This story of fearless vampire hunters (it feels like that movie so much the authors even reference it) using a suicidal werewolf to attack a clan of ancient vampires who are basically worshiping Satan‘s birthday is creepy, a little tense, but mostly funny. It’s a fast, enjoyable read.
Like Hellboy (the cover totally feels like Hellboy) and the much of Mignola’s universe, the ending is quirky but leaves a little to be desired. The art is pretty fantastic with all it’s unpredictable angles, great use of shadows, and action sequences that really pop.
This story of fearless vampire hunters (it feels like that movie so much the authors even reference it) using a suicidal werewolf to attack a clan of ancient vampires who are basically worshiping Satan‘s birthday is creepy, a little tense, but mostly funny. It’s a fast, enjoyable read.
Like Hellboy (the cover totally feels like Hellboy) and the much of Mignola’s universe, the ending is quirky but leaves a little to be desired. The art is pretty fantastic with all it’s unpredictable angles, great use of shadows, and action sequences that really pop.
November 2, 2017
Fantastic and very funny, if you love Mike's other crazy book The Amazing Screw-on Head and Other Curious Objects than you'll LOVE this!
Read
December 3, 2017Review forthcoming on New York Journal of Books.
Read
August 18, 2023Not enough story, not enough explained for it to be meaningful. One of the two women in the story got fridged, bleh.
February 24, 2018
Classic Mignola one-off. Short, humorous, and violent. And there are vampires, of course.
March 10, 2018
I was skeptical of this at first because of how nobody's art holds up to Mr Mignola's own, but this was a delight. Nostalgic and creepy and funny and MIGNOLA!
August 28, 2018
This is fun, but short as hell. Get it from the library. Don't pay $10 for it. It's just too short for that. But there's vampires, werewolves, explosions, all that good shit. Just not $10 worth.
March 19, 2019
I don't know. It's not bad but it's too short to care about anything that happens, and it happens FAST.
January 16, 2020
Well, clearly not EVERYTHING that Team Mignola puts out is going to resonate with me. This one for example.
February 25, 2020
Dark, funny, and smart. A loving satire -- the best kind.
July 3, 2021
After escaping from the festival of the undead being held at the castle of the vampire lord Count Golga at the cost of leaving his wife behind, Mr. Higgins enlists the help of two professional monster hunters to unleash hell on the undead creatures that ruined his life. With Mr. Higgins serving as their guide, the vampire hunting gentleman journey to Castle Golga to crash the undead party.
A decent parody of old school hammer film horror. Channeling influences from the likes of Captain Kronos, Brides of Dracula and The Devil Rides Out. The imagery captures the gothic atmosphere, but with overly cartoonish art and rather childish storytelling. It's under 60 pages and the climax fizzles out because of its length. It spends the whole book building up to a big showdown at Castle Golga only for it to end very anticlimactically with the two lead monster hunters having no real relevance or importance in the story. It's a goofy parody that doesn't take itself too seriously, but it doesn't do a great job of capturing the charm of the original stories or telling a satisfying original story in its own right.
A decent parody of old school hammer film horror. Channeling influences from the likes of Captain Kronos, Brides of Dracula and The Devil Rides Out. The imagery captures the gothic atmosphere, but with overly cartoonish art and rather childish storytelling. It's under 60 pages and the climax fizzles out because of its length. It spends the whole book building up to a big showdown at Castle Golga only for it to end very anticlimactically with the two lead monster hunters having no real relevance or importance in the story. It's a goofy parody that doesn't take itself too seriously, but it doesn't do a great job of capturing the charm of the original stories or telling a satisfying original story in its own right.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews