First Impressions: Hellboy In Hell # 1

HELLBOY IN HELL #1
Written by Mike Mignola
Art by Mike Mignola & Dave Stewart
Dark Horse Comics 


FLIPPING THROUGH:

     We get a recap of what happened and how Hellboy died: (yes, he's dead) and find that someone wants to bring him back to life. Hellboy, in the meantime, ends up fighting on the edge just outside Hell as he is soon chased. And he travels along, fighting bugs and a person who wants to kill ... destroy him, Hellboy ends up being put right in the middle of a Christmas Carol. Yep. I am not kidding. Scrooge and Jim Marley make appearances.

   And we get a cliffhanger dealing with a certain spirit.


ART:

     Mignola's pencils and inks are truly at their best here. Hellboy in all his glory just outside Hell. The heavy inks and the sharp pencils really give us an idea of how passionate Mignola is about giving this story. The darker tones used by Stewart during this issue really help bring readers into another world. This area is not bright. It's not happy.  So all the darker tones help really set the mood and tone for the story. Kudos to Mignola and Stewart for their art work.

WRITING:

    This issue was an interesting jump on point. We are following the main character after he died. He's outside of Hell right now. Which begs the question as to when will he be in Hell. Yet, we don't know when that will happen. Hellboy, as a character, seems to be going through this as business as usual. And it does ring true to his character ... he's dead and he's taking it awfully well.

    The mysteries around Sir Edward and Eligos were intriguing. It definitely pulls in the reader to want to know more. Though there is something that confused me.The puppet show of a Christmas Carol. I still only kind of understand why that was used but still makes me scratch my head as to was to why that was used.  Was it solely for the spirit? In which case, I find the irony in it but a bit forced, in my opinion. And I will give Mignola credit for having limited dialogue within the book. It was a fast read but felt like a complete issue.


OVERALL IMPRESSION:

    Hellboy in Hell was a good first issue but not a great first issue. We know the background of the character through a synopsis. The situation is interesting and there are mysteries.Is this plot going to proceed Dante's Inferno like? Not sure. But the use of a Christmas Carol seemed odd and Hellboy is outside of Hell  right now. So, the title feels a little misleading but there are things that make me look forward to the next issue. Artistically, it was awesome.


I give Hellboy in Hell #1  a 3.5 out of 5.