Hellboy Omnibus, Volume 4: Hellboy in Hell

Hellboy Omnibus

by Mike Mignola

The Hellboy saga concludes, with the most ambitious chapter, Hellboy in Hell, collected in its entirety--all written and drawn by Mike Mignola.

On the heels of Hellboy Omnibus Volume 3: The Wild Hunt, Hellboy is cast into Hell, where familiar faces reveal secrets of his origins, and previously unknown family members come forward. Hellboy forever alters the face of Hell, giving new significance to his role of Beast of the Apocalypse.

While featuring big answers and one of the most momentous choices Hellboy's ever made, Hellboy in Hell also offers a return to the simplest and best Hellboy stories, as Hellboy roams a unique world only Mignola could present, filled with strange and magical encounters rich with the power of folklore and myth.

The four volume Hellboy Omnibus series along with the two volumes of The Complete Short Stories collect all of Mignola's award-winning Hellboy stories in chronological order for a definitive reading experience.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Fantasy, Fiction, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

286 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2018

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

[Baba · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really, I should be happy that this series did so little for me, I'd avoided it for over a decade as I felt that it would have nothing to offer and have been proven right on reading it. SO enough about me, why should, why do, other people love this series. I felt that it's mixture European deities and demons and multiple interpretations of Hell all coexisting would have a lot of appeal. The crux of the story if Hellboy's refusal to accept the legacy of his birth and most of time not even engage with it, but now consigned to Hell, what will he do? 2 out of 12 from me.

2022 read

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is something of an epilogue for Hellboy. He's saved the world, yet again, dying for it actually. Now he's in hell wandering around wondering where everyone's at. It seems hell's command structure has pretty much fell apart and most have died. The series gets very somber and introspective and more than a little odd from other depictions of hell. Hellboy surprisingly ends not with a bang, but a whimper. I can't help but feel a little disappointed by the ending. The one excellent thing is Mignola returns on art for the first time in years.

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.

Thanks to Dark Horse Books’ recent reprinting of the Hellboy franchise with four omnibuses to cover the complete original Hellboy series as well as two omnibuses to gather the quintessential short stories that give vital insight on the world, fans are now able to fully embrace in their chronological greatness the whole saga that has turned Mike Mignola into a comic book legend all the while making Hellboy one of the most iconic comic book character to have graced the medium. With Hellboy Omnibus Volume 3: The Wild Hunt, Mike Mignola not only proved why his franchise is not a simple over-hyped creation that doesn’t contain the material or power to convey great storytelling, he showed us that his stories had a bigger plan to it all. However, as that volume concluded the series, many questions were still left for readers to ponder on and that is where Mike Mignola marks his return as the writer and artist of Hellboy and gives everyone the final chapter with the Hellboy in Hell series, a two-volume saga through hell now collected in Hellboy Omnibus Volume 4: Hellboy in Hell.

As Hellboy does the most honourable and courageous act that he has ever had to do in The Storm and the Fury, he is now brought down to hell where he is to experience one of the weirdest, uncanniest and most eye-opening adventure yet that will give him the ultimate send-off. In this hell, things are far from what the mind could ever have imagined and brings out more of the insane and tributary lore that graces this universe. As his life-drained self chills around the odd corners of hell, he is guided by mysterious figures that seek to enlighten more of his origin story as well as his unknown family, but also convey a eerie aura that screams mischief. More mysteries are unraveled at the same time as more questions arise, but the action keeps on coming as Hellboy continues to do what he does best: find himself innocently brought into the hands of danger and beat the hell out of everything that wishes him harm.

What Mike Mignola achieves in Hellboy in Hell is what only a creator could have ever been able to deliver and that’s a perfect ending for a character who has seen it all while always looking to avoid what destiny has always wanted for him. In this story, Hellboy unfortunately doesn’t have the freedom to avoid his faith as he has always sought too and is now stared straight in the face by it as it demands a decision to what he wishes to do with his life from now on. In fact, the story brings him to an ultimatum that he would never have envisioned himself embracing, but it is how he is convinced into doing what he knew deep down he would always have to do that makes this volume so epic. The introduction of new characters as well as the appearances of old ones to tie up loose ends also adds to the full legendary impact that our Big Red will have by the time you read the very last panel.

The story however also continues to deliver all the magical elements that are signature to his character and world, from his personality to the action sequences. Hellboy’s innocence in a world filled with horrors and his desire to always be a helping hand—see what I did there?—is hilarious yet also epic at the same time. Even more beautiful is how Mike Mignola’s classic artwork style is brought back into this final story for fans to relish on his shadow-heavy, abstract and creepy designs. It’s not easy to indulge, as always, but it still remains somewhat nostalgic and beautiful to see the artwork for one last time, especially thanks to colourist Dave Stewart. This last ride through hell is simply everything you’d expect from Mike Mignola and Hellboy. By the end of it, you just know that a re-read will only be much more rewarding now that you can finally comprehend what the full picture was truly all about.

Hellboy Omnibus Volume 4: Hellboy in Hell is the ultimate adieu for a character filled with a desire for freedom yet stuck in the suffocating chains of destiny.

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so the story of Hellboy ends - well sort of as even though Mike Mignola has pretty much decided that is it - since when is that always the case in comic books. Plus all the other guest appearances he can make in the other series. Not to mention we are about to get the film franchise re-boot in the near future.

However this is the last of the collected work books. which I must admit I have loved- okay I will put my hand up and admit that any long running comic book series confuses the hell out of me (no pun intended) in that I never know where the stories relate cross and even contradict each other) so I end up not trying at all. Sorry Marvel and DC it just makes my head spin,

However here we have the definitive collection in one neat series. And its great -even when there are references to other stories they annotate them at the bottom of the page its brilliant - at least for a complete novice like me.

Anyway this book pretty much picks up where the last one finished and takes the tale to its conclusion. Yes Hellboy was destined for amazing and terrible things but I do not think anyone (okay apart from the writers) saw it was going to happen in this manner.

Anyway this may not be the best version of the book (after all there are the library editions which although are expensive are amazing) but for a rather neurotic collector like me they are perfect. So if you want to read them all this is a great place to both start and finish.

[Siona Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always felt that this was not as good as The Storm and The Fury. By no means is this arc bad, it just is a bit lackluster when compared to the previous arc.

[Peter Derk · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a kid, my mom looked at a Hellboy comic I had, and she was like, "Oh, so is this some kind of goal for you now?" I guess maybe I was getting into metal or something at the time? She was pretty unamused, and I don't think my narrative-accurate description of Hellboy's arrival on Earth and his rejection of his demonic destiny convinced her much. If Hellboy was real, I guess my mom would've thrown old vegetables and bottles at him or something. She would've been one of the many ungrateful people he saved from ghosts and vampires and shit. Oh, well. Someone's gotta be the mob.

[Pafurion · Rating 5 out of 5]

:(((((((((((((((((((((

[RG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sendoff for Hellboy. You either love it or hate it

[Zebulynn Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish it was longer.

[cloverina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
To be honest, I'm a pretty impressionable person. I'm sure the opinion I have of a comic going in impacts my opinion of it greatly. For example, Watchmen is a very beloved comic, and if I didn't know that going in it might have been a regular 4 star. I wonder if I only gave Dark Knight Returns a 3.5 because of its fame, since the first time I read it I despised it, and still felt a little iffy the second time around.

Not this time though. Hellboy in Hell has plenty of good reviews, but a surprising amount of bad ones, especially from people who I follow. I expected to feel the same way but I don't think I can give this a lower rating. I kind of loved this.

I understand why someone would be dissapointed. Especially a Hellboy fan. So many people have dedicated years to closely following Mignola's series, and expected a proper and equally action-packed sendoff to such a beloved character. Yet it ends with probably the biggest whimper in comics history... And I'm okay with it.

Something about it all just felt right. Many times when I try to write a review for a comic I can't express the feeling very well, and this is one of those situations, because there's some sort of subtle beauty to it all.

The whole series sort of looks over and wraps up Hellboy's life on earth. He confronts old friends, fights old enemies, and meets new acquaintances as he explores what must be the most unique adaptation of hell I've seen in any media. Mignola's mind is a blessing, I swear. Everything he writes is heavily based off of other literature and still turns out original, excellent, and recognizable.

After pretty much just walking around and doin' stuff (This is pretty much all of Hellboy in Hell. But I swear! Read it, it's so good.) for a while, Hellboy's story ends. Pretty abruptly, might I add. What I find most important about the ending was the very last part. Hellboy walks into a room to see 3 different glowing, floating, three-dimensional shapes. A sphere, a pyramid, and a cube. The glow consumes him as a quote from when Hellboy began fill the page.

"Kill it! It's a demon come from hell to destroy us all!"

"No."

"Like a little boy..."

"Hellboy."

And Hellboy's story ends.

This is the type of thing I'd normally expect to have a "WTF did I just read? Is he serious?" reaction to, but it was oddly comforting somehow. Is that strange? Maybe. But it feels like that was the intended emotional effect.

As I wrote this it all hit me why it was so beautiful. After the actual story ends, there is two short stories. One was a puppet show in hell that Mignola was going to include earlier on but didn't get the chance to. The other was the first appearance of "the shapes." In an unrelated story told to him by his then 7-year-old daughter.

In the story a magician impresses a monkey by throwing shapes into the air and making them disappear. However, as he tells his best friend the snake, he has used powers beyond his limit. One day the shapes will return and he will die. Knowing this, they live those final years to their fullest. Each day the happiest of their lives. Until, finally, the magician is taken. And even so he dies content and joyful because he knows how the snake loves him.

Hellboy is the magician. The snake is... EVERYONE, really. Everyone Hellboy's loved. All the people Hellboy's cared for, Liz, Abe, Alice, Bruttenholm. The days before he died were some of his happiest, since they were spent with Alice and thinking about going back to the BPRD to be with his friends again. Even in death he found solace in the many people he had. The snake could even be the reader, in a way. And it's finally time for Hellboy to go, but it's not sad. This is right. This is what should have happened. And now it's time for him to go.

The snake could even be the reader. Loving and appreciative of all the series has given in its many years, and those times were so happy, and now it's the end. But it's right. He couldn't have stayed forever. But isn't it poetic for him to go out like this? A love letter to all the time spent with the character and the quiet, bittersweet end to all that's happened thus far.

I really could be adding so much unnecessary detail to this during my late-night crazed nerd rant and I would never know. This is really one of those "whatever you want it to mean" kind of endings. And I like what I see in it. I love what Hellboy has given me. I've had my ups and downs with this series, but I love it. I love Hellboy.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this book was a nice afterwards to the previous book, but it definitly didn’t feel like an ending!

This was Hellboy’s journey in hell and it was good to see lots of things that have been mentioned in passing fully here, not as strong as the main Hellboy story I thought but still enjoyed this a lot.

Overall I’ve only read the 4 Hellboy Omnibus’s and I knew there was more to the universe like B.P.R.D. but thought I’d just get the main story. After reading all of these though I’m definitely going to check out the other books as this whole series has been something very special!

[Patrick Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this beautiful piece of work and the series it represents!

We are back to Mignola as artist, and back to smaller stories and quiet pools of darkness in hell, which I think is here Hellboy has always shone.

The series ends on a dying fall. The story of a guy who fought fate eventually succumbing to it. A bold move and deliberate rejection of the epic style? Possibly but it also feels like Mignola got sucked into doing well paid concept art for various movies and lost interest somewhat in his main comic, also there seems to be a BPRD story set after this in some format where Hellboy and Hekate combine forces to remake the world? Which seems like an actual epic end to the epic elements of the story, but its not in the main book.. MIXED FEELINGS.

[T.J. Tranchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another piece of gold.

[Paz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Finished my re-read of Hellboy so much quicker than I thought. I'm gonna miss it. I so want to read more of this world, I'm not ready to say goodbye.

The very last issue might be the best one of the whole run. [Spoilers] Hellboy fulfilling his own destiny and at the same time staying true to himself and finding rest at the end, what a journey.

[Mattthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed Hellboy. My best friend has been telling me to check it out for years. It's been a really great ride. That being said, I didn't like this as good as the first three books. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but, in my opinion, not as good as the previous ones. I still have volume 2 of the short stories to read and then the other books not from the main series. Looking forward to those as I'm not ready to say goodbye to Hellboy yet.
Recommend.

[Christopher Rush · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could be wrong, but I suspect the people who claim to love this are fooling themselves.

[Leah Fennell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel very sad, and a little bit hollow. Mr Mignola you’re killing me!! Please let him be happy, I just want him to be happy! He’s too kind to have an ending so bleak. I have fallen in love with this big red dummy and my heart breaks for him.

I know there are more Hellboy stories, prequels, sequels and everything in between but as his main arc? This is one of the saddest stories I’ve ever read. Testament to Mike Mignola for crafting a character so alive and so deeply endearing, and for giving him the ending he wanted. Artistically very brave to give a character so beloved such a quiet, melancholy end.

It was however not the ending I wanted for him. Given my choice the last frame would have been a big BPRD group hug, and the words ‘and they all lived happily ever after’ but I suppose that’s why I’m not the writer.

I will be reading every other scrap of Hellboy/ BPRD content, though it will likely take me years. If I don’t get to see Hellboy smile again I will come to your house Mignola, and you will be introduced my right hand of doom pal 🤜💥

[OmniBen · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 4.7I5/5
And so we come to the final instalment in what has been one of the most amazing reading experiences of my life. And though this is the end of the main series proper, there really isn't the sense of loss one would expect during these times of reflection upon completing something so momentous and meaningful. It could be that I have thousands and thousands of pages of the extended universe to read, so it doesn't feel like the ending that it is. Who knows? I'm not sad, I'm happy. Very, very happy.
Either way, one might have forgiven Hellboy in Hell for simply being 'good'. A competent and commendable final instalment to a n amazing series. But hell no, said Hellboy in Hell, you and your meagre expectations can go and suck eggs, and proceeds to whip out one of the most monolithically outstanding stories to ever grace a comic book page.
Mike Mignola is the master of minimalism. His simple drawings, his effortlessly uncomplicated storytelling. It all comes together in such a sublime way as to pretty much bitch slap the rest of the comics industry into submission. Having his art over the final ten issues of this book was exactly as it should have been. A mention here for Dave Stewart, who I believe was on colours. What Mignola is to art and writing, Stewart is to colours.
I really don't know how you could have topped this. Quite frankly, if Sydney Sweeney grew another boob, Total Recall style, it still wouldn't be as good as this. High praise indeed. 4.75/5


OmniBen.

[isabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very anticlimactic but otherwise satisfied. I would still like to know what happened on earth after Hellboy died but...eh.

[Max's Comic Reviews and Lists · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell Vision
It’s weird. When I bought this omnibus I was expecting my wrist to start cramping cause of the sheer weight but nope. This is basically a long trade. ANYWAY. Since I just finished reading the main Hellboy series, and this saga, I am finished. Until the short story volumes. And I gotta say this is a pretty ambitious idea Mignola had. Extend the story by taking your audience on a journey through Hell. And I really enjoyed it. After the review I will do a top 10 Main Hellboy stories.

This version of hell is amazing. To Mignola Hell isn’t a pit of fire where you burn forever and ever. It’s actually a very dark, somber, and hopeless world. Creative is an overused word but it so perfectly sums up Mignola’s version of Hell. The character of Hellboy is seemingly an uncrackable stone wall strapped and screwed with metal plating that has been dunked in gorilla glue and cement. By that I mean he is remarkably strong willed and absolutely invincible. Damn! Nothing can hurt this guy emotionally or physically. I chose the word “guy” for a specific reason besides the fact that guy is a very commonly used word. The whole point the book hammers into your brain is that Hellboy is just a man. One of the characters even says it. Hellboy is so far gone from what he was supposed to be. And I just love that. I’ve said it before, but the whole concept for Hellboy’s character is just ABSOLUTELY GENIUS. Anung Un Rama the great destroyer doesn’t want to be the great destroyer. He just wants to smoke cigars, kick demon ass, and hang out with his friends. Tell me that’s not genius.

What this arc essentially does for the series is of course wrap it up, but wrap up everything. Old enemies and friends are brought back to say their finals words. And characters that have always had unclear identities are revealed. The birth of Hellboy is also shown here and it's frickin amazingly done. On a similar subject Hellboy also meets some of his family. So that was definitely a highlight of the book. But before any of the wrapping up happens Hellboy goes through many very entertaining little adventures through the vast land of hell. Chapter 2 and Chapter 5 had the most kick-ass plots and awesome details. For example in chapter 2 there is a demon called the Fisher of souls. When you read that part of the book TRY and tell me it’s not intriguing and cool as shit. 2 other stories are Homaged to in this book as well. Macbeth and The Christmas Carol.

The book of course drags on at a point near the end. There is even a quote that just spoke to me as I was trying to get through the last chapter. “All that talking really I’d lost interest.” That’s an actual quote said by a demon in this story. I’m sorry but chapter 10 is kinda boring until the last few pages.

Mignola’s art has always been very easy on the eyes and here it is mostly the same. But here I think it may be too easy on the eyes. A LOT of more detail could have been added in SO MANY pages. I’m now seeing though some of the problems I had excused in my other reviews for the Hellboy series. I still like his style but not as much as I did earlier in the series.

In the end of the end, I had a great time reading this trade. I mean Omnibus. Sorry terrible mistake. This deepens the character of Hellboy even more and presents an absolutely awesome and beautiful version of hell. I have a few nitpicks like I always do but in terms of a send off, this does the trick. In terms of the series, it was a journey. A bad-ass journey at that. Hellboy is a fantastic character with so many fantastic elements and stories to his name it’s mind splitting to think of the amount of creative effort that went into all of it. I didn’t love everything of course, but if you are looking for one of the most addicting and entertaining series to read. Um ya. Pick up Hellboy
Letter Grade: (B+)
Main Hellboy Series Letter Grade: (A-)

Top 10 Main Hellboy Stories
10. The Chained Coffin
9. Darkness Calls
8. Hellboy in Hell
7. Wake the Devil
6. The Box of Evil
5. The Wolves of Saint August
4. The Conqueror Worm
3. The Third Wish
2. Almost Colossus
1. The Wild Hunt

[Anthony Immergluck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished all six Hellboy omnibuses, which, you know, take as you will. This isn't a series for everyone - it's weird and silly and rough around the edges - but I loved it as a kid and I love it now.

I think a big part of the appeal for me is the underlying tenderness, always playfully at odds with the campy plotlines. Despite the elevator pitch (half-demon punches monsters), the focus is often on Hellboy's emotional and moral struggles. His appearance and profession aside, he's sweet, sad, and humble, and he's motivated primarily by the sense of community he feels when he helps someone with their spooky monster problem. One of my favorite little details is that, when Hellboy is called into someone's home to learn about his next mission, he'll often be offered a little treat. Tea, cookies, coffee, cake, etc. And he'll accept. And during his briefing about the haunting, he'll be munching away or his host will pour another cup of tea, and a little word bubble will appear as Hellboy mumbles, "thank you." It's that kind of thing that sets this wacky world apart for me.

That, and the art, which breaks all the rules of comics art and absolutely soars on its own currents. Deliberately vague, obscured, and shadowy, but vividly expressionistic, the visuals are all about shape, color, motion, and feeling. You often have to peer in dark corridors to understand what's being depicted, but that's a feature rather than a bug. It's a strange, moody atmosphere that reveals its secrets carefully and challenges the reader to use their imagination.

The stories in this final volume were written long after the last, and together, they make up a fascinating epilogue, despite the fact that it might not be totally "essential" to the overall plot. In Hell, Hellboy is guided through various trials that force him to reflect on his time on earth, his family, and his true nature. This collection is way more somber and violent than the other five, which I suppose is appropriate. The last time Hellboy went on an abstract dream quest, it didn't land for me. But that storyline was full of info-dumping. This one is much more emotionally grounded, referencing Dante and "A Christmas Carol" throughout. I liked it a lot. It doesn't provide the catharsis of a more traditional denouement, but that's not what it's going for.

Anyhoo, I also read books for grown-ups, without any witches or vampires or monsters made of animated human fat. And trust me, they are a mixed bag.

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series: Hellboy in Hell #1-2
Rating: 4 stars - It was really good

Hellboy has been cast into Hell, where he meets some familiar faces who continue to reveal new secrets about his origins. Hellboy has forever changed Hell and it will never be the same.

This was a sad and yet powerful ending to Hellboy’s story. He went out with a bang saving the world and now he is in Hell finding new truths about his history. We see how much the residents of Hell fear his return but Hellboy finally uses this time to find some peace. Yes, he still has a few battles, but nothing like his time on earth. He still makes huge changes to the realm of Hell, even while trying to stay out of the war.

This ending is not the powerful all out battle I was expecting, we don’t get to see Hellboy let loose as a demon, instead it was a somber and quiet ending. Don’t get me wrong I still really loved how Mignola ended his story, but it was surprising. Maybe now Hellboy can finally have some peace.

You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.

[Adam Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poetic end for Hellboy, and one that's worthy of him. Mignola's art is as striking as ever, and Hellboy's journey through hell is sad, funny, mysterious, all the things you've come to expect. I read afterwards about the Hellboy in Hell series and what Mignola originally intended to do as an ongoing series and the shift that caused him to bring it to a close -- a few elements of this volume make a lot more sense in that light. Ultimately, there are parts of the plot here that feel a bit disconnected from the rest, which is really its only *minor* drawback. But they're all as charming as ever, and I'm looking forward to reading through Hellboy's saga many more times.

[Matt Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome send off for a series that for me is one of the best going. Manages to tie in so many elements of his past with its classic addition of both historic lore and literature. Is absolutely true to both the character and Mignolas work in the the Hellboy Universe. A truly rewarding read for any fan filled with sentiment that left me wishing I’d never read any of it just so I could read it all over again for the first time.

[Viktorian Flint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinque stelle piene piene.
Sembra che questa non sia una conclusione qualunque, quanto più un testamento.
Le storie di Hellboy all'inferno sono un'attenta allegoria della sua vita, avventura per avventura.
Addio agli amici, ai migliori tra gli antagonisti, alla famiglia e perfino alle mogli.
In questa ultima raccolta di albi l'unicità di Mignola raggiunge vette altissime. Il suo stile non riconosce confini e ciò rende i suoi disegni accompagnatori perfetti per le sue narrazioni. Pare che come scrittore sia una spanna superiore e le piccole citazioni alla letteratura che tanto ama gli danno la spinta necessaria per creare qualcosa che non ha eguali.
All'apparenza può sembrare una storia classica e in effetti è così, nel senso letterale del termine. Mettiamo caso che "Hellboy" sia stato scritto mille anni fa. Cantami di un eroe mostruoso figlio di una donna umana e una figura soprannaturale. Non ricorda niente?
Costantemente a metà per tutta la sua vita, costretto a combattere i suoi simili fino a farsi leader di una rivoluzione che non voleva cominciare e di cui il suo guscio è stato fautore.
Sembra che la regola del gioco sia restare a metà; sperimentare la grandezza delle proprie sembianze e poi fare un passo indietro per rifiutare l'ombra del proprio padre.
Un eroe tragico, insomma, ma pienamente moderno. Si avverte l'eco della letteratura di genere, ma attenzione, ogni singola sfumatura del genere. Non solo horror, non solo magia, non solo occulto ma anche poesia metafisica, grande letteratura ottocentesca, folklore, mitologia, rispetto nei confronti della tradizione e sovvertimento delle regole che creano un protagonista.
In queste pagine è forse una delle rare volte in cui Hellboy non è testimone della storia degli altri, ma ne è partecipe.
La ciclicitá è il vero inferno. Si riesce mai a smettere di vivere come si ha sempre fatto? Si ha la forza di essere altro? O di accettare ciò che gli altri vorrebbero per noi?
L'inferno è un'idea senza tempo, un'isola in mezzo al niente ma che si raggiunge senza sforzo.
Eppure in questa oscura oscura idea a volte c'è ancora amore o fede o speranza. Lo si vede nelle eteree tavole in cui Alice fa la sua apparizione che come sempre porta quel poco di conforto che serve alla creatura che ama.

Un giorno anche di questo mago rimarranno solo le forme che magicamente ha fatto apparire. E noi gli doneremo il nostro cuore.

[David]

The beginning goes one way and the ending goes another way. Apparently, Mignola entirely shifted ideas on this book midstream and it does show that. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this one. So, I'm going to think on it a bit. Mignola does all the art so that is bliss.

As for this series of books, I do love having the complete Hellboy in six paperback omnibuses. About the new mapping of the reprint, I'm not sure about it. I think I preferred the original mapping. I do admit I really liked having all the "short stories" collected in two handy volumes. Removing the short stories lessens the charm of the publication mapping.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fitting conclusion. Mignola’s world building is by far some of the best out there. His depiction of hell is rich and mysterious and the use of color to depict Hellboy, the shades of gray and black, really made me feel for the character.

[Winter Yocom]

Everything came together!

[SOUP CHAMP · Rating 5 out of 5]

bye bye helloy boy. i'm sorry that you're dead but i hope you are enjoying hell

[Alexandra Freire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinante

Amé este libro. Toda la temática del infierno, sus criaturas, lo profano, la belleza del horror. Una historia genialmente creada
. Exquisita y super fluida de leer. 5/5 estrellas

P. D Las ilustraciones de Mignola son bellísimas