Hellboy Wild Hunt #2 (OF 8)
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Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Duncan Fegredo & Guy Davis
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Cover Artist: Mike Mignola
Publisher: DARK HORSE COMICS
Price: $2.99
I'm trying to figure out what it is that I like about Hellboy. What is it about this completely unrealistic, fictional demon figure that makes him so endearing to me? I certainly know almost nothing of the dark arts, nor what it's like to be nearly indestructible. I would hardly ever wear boots and shorts at the same time, and my hands are generally of equal size with one another. The right one, in particular, has nary a speck of doom or other nascent apocalypse. Yet despite whatever weird place Hellboy goes, he's still just a guy. He's a guy who has no patience for all the bullshit that comes with swirling weirdness that comes from being him. That, I relate to. If you've spent any time around me at all, you'll know I don't have any patience for extraneous things that get in your way. To relate it to comics, I'm not one of those fans who obsess over everything. I don't particularly care if the trade dress is uniform, and I don't understand readers who get really worked up about something that happens in a Marvel comic book. I just sigh, and try to move on with my day. At least that is what I see in Hellboy, and it's why I like him. Of course, the difference between he and I is that he can just start hitting the annoying thing until it stops being annoying. I find that solution to be a bit untenable for the contemporary world. But would that I could.
What I think, and many agree, is that the Hellboy titles got a little weird. He's been at the bottom of the ocean for a while, and wandering around somewhere, for what seems like a long time. The first issue of The Wild Hunt was enjoyable, if for no other reason that it seemed Hellboy was back in "our" world, England in fact, dealing with strange people and the mystical stuff they get themselves mixed up in. The strange thing about a good Hellboy story is that when he's in the middle of a bunch of humans, he is still the one you relate to. Some old, aristocratic men dressed up in tuxedos and deer heads, and went off giant killing. Of course, as this is a comic book, on the last page, they reveal that they think Hellboy is also a giant, and they put a spear through him, bringing us to the start of this issue with Hellboy uttering, "UUUAAAAAAAA" as a glowing spear had been put through his torso. A black panel follows and he finds himself in what is apparently the cave from the end of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He pops back into his body, finds the giants have thrashed his assailants, and is urged to escape by a little bird, by way of a magic flower that gives him invisiblilty. He decides to take the direct route, and proceeds to fight giants. This all takes 9 pages.
Following that first part, we're brought elsewhere for two more stories, all of which seeming to tie into the overall story. In fact, one of the stories includes a callback to Iron Shoes, a short Hellboy story from way back. You don't need to know it, but if you do, it's a nice bit of continuity (but not in that annoying way). It occurred to me, going through the issue that I was really getting my money's worth for the 3 bucks. That, and this doesn't feel all that different from reading Sandman. Stories are told, and pieces are revealed which seem to have nothing to do with the other thing, until they do, of course. It's a ton of story, but reads so quickly and smoothly that you're fooled into thinking there's less there. That's how elegant Mignola has become with his storytelling. The fact that there are 6 more issues in The Wild Hunt has me very excited for the story, which has barely even started.
While it might seem like a negative that Mignola does only the cover, I can't be too unhappy about it, because Duncan Fegredo is really doing exemplary work. Its' not the same as Mignola, nor should it be, but the intangible qualities of the art make it work seemlessly with the Mignola drawn material in the overall picture. The work is also stunning of its own right. From the abandoned mysterious cave, to the fights with the giants, these pages are brimming with excellence. You can run your eyes over the pages and find wonderful things happening in all the panels. Plus, the storytelling is so good that you can actually follow Hellboy's body as it gets flung about from panel to panel, intermingled with giant, monstrous beasts.
Then, on top of that, Mignola brings in Guy Davis takes over for the last third to tell the tale of an unkillable soldier. Again, while it's a different artistic take than Mignola or Fegredo, it all works as part of a whole, no doubt heavily assisted by Dave Stewart's colors, which are literally always perfect.
Is this a good jumping on point? I have no idea. But really, I don't remember many of the details of all the Hellboy lore which came before, so I bet if you started with issue #1, you'd get through it just fine. It's what Hellboy would do. Just point him in a direction and he'll make the best of it. But instead of punching, you've just got to start reading and enjoying yourself.
Josh Flanagan
Hellboy doesn't have time for your crap.
josh@ifanboy.com
What did the iFanboy community think?
236
pulls
Avg Rating: 4.3
Comments
Well, I have only watched the Hellboy movies and read the Chapel of Moloch one-shot before this mini, but I haven't had any trouble figuring it out and enjoying this a lot.
And the review was so well written. Good one, Josh.
Posted by Alexferrer on 01/07/09 at 06:46 PM
excellent EXCELLENT choice, josh
Posted by edward on 01/07/09 at 06:50 PM
Loving Wild Hunt. Loving it. Great review, Josh.
Mignola famously based the character of Hellboy on his father as well as himself. It's what he'd do or say in those situations. Mignola always comes across as very no-nonsense. I think that's the trick to balancing out all of this lore and fantasy. Just a blue collar take on some very blue moon events.
Posted by PaulMontgomery on 01/07/09 at 06:50 PM
I believe this issue was referencing 'The Corpse' since the pig guy is the elf from that particular story.
Either way this was a very good issue. If it wasnt for Detective Comics rocking it I would've made this my pick. I just loved it in this issue that we got an origin for the elf/pig monster from 'The Corpse'. That's what made me think 'Damn, Mignola is a pretty good writer'.
Posted by TheNextChampion on 01/07/09 at 07:08 PM
This was a really good review. I've been meaning to start reading Hellboy for a long time, as I loved both movies and the art always intrigued me. I think it's time i finally started getting those hardcovers. Time to go update my Amazon wishlidt!
Posted by JohnVFerrigno on 01/07/09 at 07:10 PM
you know, even the onomatopoeia font is fantastic in this book
i'm sure every panel is the book is designed with a pop-art Lichtenstein quality
it's art, baby!
Posted by edward on 01/07/09 at 07:12 PM
Looks like it may be time for me to jump back onto single issues for Hellboy (one of my favorite characters). I'm currently trying to trade-wait for the Library Editions, but given how slow those are coming out I just don't think I can wait any longer!
Posted by Paradiddle on 01/07/09 at 07:24 PM
good choice, I enjoyed this immensley
Posted by AlexG on 01/07/09 at 07:27 PM
I loved the book. It was so satisfyingly...Hellboy. Also - great review!
Posted by CaptainPrimate on 01/07/09 at 07:38 PM
Haha just got done reading it when I got the twitter about this. Excellent choice. This the first time HELLBOY has been the pick? I think so, I could be wrong...
Posted by Tiocore on 01/07/09 at 07:38 PM
I believe it is, but i haven't done the research.
Posted by josh on 01/07/09 at 08:02 PM
I was really dissapointed with 3 out of my 4 books this week.
Detective, Buffy, and X-Men Noir were barely servicable. Invincible Iron Man was fantastic as always.
Might have to go pick this and the first one up (I know that I promised Paul I would last month, but I still haven't got around to reading Darkness Calls.)
Posted by Anson17 on 01/07/09 at 08:15 PM
I haven't read Darkness Calls.
Posted by josh on 01/07/09 at 09:24 PM
Nice pick. I really enjoyed this issue, though I find myself thinking more fondly of the first. This was an excellent second issue to the story though, and the "back up" stories were excellent reads as well. As Paul pointed out, it's interesting to see them piece together a sort of Hellboy continuity.
Posted by Neb on 01/07/09 at 09:31 PM
im going to start punching my annoying problems. cant wait till work tomorrow
Posted by mikeandzod21 on 01/07/09 at 09:42 PM
@Josh. When I asked Paul if there was any "required reading" for this story, he mentioned Darkness Calls as something that would enhance the reading, maybe not as required reading. Maybe I'll just jump in headfirst. Why the hell not? There's always wikipedia (and you guys) to iron out the details I might get a bit hazy on.
Posted by Anson17 on 01/07/09 at 09:50 PM
"I don't understand readers who get really worked up about something that happens in a Marvel comic book."
i.e. your taget demographic
Posted by nickmaynard on 01/07/09 at 10:59 PM
@nickmaynard - not all comic readers are created equal(ly crazy). It doesn't have to be that way.
Posted by josh on 01/08/09 at 12:01 AM
My HeavyInk shipments have been sluggish since Christmas (no surprise there), so my POTW is totally Captain Britian and MI:13 #8. I haven't even read it, just anticpating the goodness.
I always hesitate to buy Hellboy minis in issues because I expect everything will eventually be collected in a huge all-encompassing Prestige Edition called "Hellboy Armageddon: Both Fictiously and Here in Real Life." I'll read it in my tent city and finally 'get' what Mignola has been building to for all these years.
Posted by OttoBott on 01/08/09 at 12:02 AM
i didn't understand this issue at all. was it a sequel to a series i missed? i found it VERY hard to follow. was it in fact three seperate stories? i know there were at least two but the whole chunk in the middle felt like it came out of nowhere. i wouldn't be surprised to hear it was a seperate short story. i liked the very beginning, the end was interesting but not that special, but the middle section was confusing. i guess if this is going to be a sequel to an older story, i might just drop it for the remaining 6 issues
Posted by mikegraham6 on 01/09/09 at 02:06 PM
It's a continuation of Darkness Calls. Also, did you start with this issue or did you read the previous one as well. This second issue wouldn't make much sense without the first.
Posted by PaulMontgomery on 01/09/09 at 02:09 PM
It was three stories, intially, but this is still the beginning of the movie as it were, act 1. You're not supposed to understand how it all comes together yet. I have no reason to assume it won't.
Posted by josh on 01/09/09 at 02:11 PM
This is why I've been saying people should read Darkness Calls. The third story is the origin of a character in Darkness Calls, and the whole goddess in a coffin thing started there as well. Josh made this his POW without having read that story, so I think plenty of people will enjoy this arc on it's own. But for some, Darkness Calls is going to be a big help. And it's also a really good book.
Posted by PaulMontgomery on 01/09/09 at 02:25 PM
Yeah, I gotta go get that trade....
Posted by josh on 01/09/09 at 02:57 PM
I can vouch for this book wholeheartedly as a Hellboy dilettante. I've dipped my toe into the Hellboy pond a few times, and I have never been able to tell whether the books even have an order to be read in, much less what order that is supposed to be. It has never mattered. I haven't read Darkness Calls, but that hasn't hampered my enjoyment of this series so far one bit.
Posted by Jimski on 01/09/09 at 03:41 PM
@Paul i read and enjoyed the first issue, i just found this one to be far less new-reader friendly
Posted by mikegraham6 on 01/09/09 at 03:41 PM
I actually can never remember which Hellboy or BPRD books I've read and which I haven't. For some reason, that never really bothers me. I just look at the asterisk that tells me where so-and-so event happened, and I take it on faith.
Posted by ohcaroline on 01/09/09 at 05:30 PM
There were a lot of good, solid books out this week. But, to me, this was the best, no contest. Nice pick.
Posted by akamuu on 01/09/09 at 05:57 PM
Hellboy is definitely my cup of tea, but if Mignola isn't drwing it, I don't see the point. It's not that generally I can't accept the changing of an art team. It's just that, to ME, and this is JUST MHO, Hellboy's charm is so intrinsically tied into Mignola's art, that to replace him (not REPLACE HIM, because obviously its his choice) with someone else who's style is so obviously trying to be similar feels like the difference between coke and diet coke. It leaves a weird after taste. And face it, the reason these stories are so interchangable as some here have already pointed out, is that the stories ultimately don't matter. It's not a criticism. I've always seen Hellboy as more tone poems than epic stories. Maybe thats onpurpose, maybe not, but i dont mind that. If they decide to have someone who style is totally different try it, maybe that'd be different enough to be interesting to me. But not this. Im going to stay away from stuff Mike doesn't draw if its just going to be a weird clone.
Posted by thefreakygeeky on 01/10/09 at 04:37 PM
Have you actually read any of Fegredo's Hellboy? I really like it. What about the Richard Corben stuff recently? That was a different style, and it worked well.
To each their own.
Posted by josh on 01/10/09 at 07:11 PM
In interviews Mignola has stated that there are things Fegredo is more skilled at drawing than Mignola. And Mignola's made the decision to dial down his output in terms of drawing in favor of writing more books. Corben's a legend deserving of his rep and Fedrego is more than a Mignola clone. The monster he drew for the second story in this issue is exceptional. And, objectively, The Wild Hunt looks and reads better than Chapel of Moloch. It just does. This isn't a contamination of the Hellboy series, but a welcome expansion to it.
Posted by PaulMontgomery on 01/10/09 at 07:31 PM
Josh, if youre talking to me, yeah, I said in my post that i read it.
Posted by thefreakygeeky on 01/10/09 at 10:00 PM
Josh, if youre talking to me, yeah, I said in my post that i read it.
And to paul, with all due respect toy our opinion, "it just is" isn't a very good argument. I could simply say "it just isn't". And, and really I shouldn't have to say this, nowhere did I say that it was an issue of how WELL Mignola draws, whatever that means. I meant exaclty what I said, which you're free to disagree with, which is that I strongly feel that the charm of Hellboy has been intrinsically tied with Mignola's art, and that the art in question to me is a pale imitation.
As i said, maybe I'd be good with an art style that totally different, a different flavor as it were, but to me, TO ME, what's being produced seems to be a replacement plan because Mignola is too busy to draw the book himself.
And yes Paul, the Corben stuff was pretty cool, but I've never been a huge Corben fan by and large, but more stuff like that I think is a better direction than what DH is doing now.
Posted by thefreakygeeky on 01/10/09 at 10:04 PM
Your call to make, no arguments there. For me, the good in books like Darkness Calls and Wild Hunt outweigh any disappointment in the change of visual styles. I love Mignola's art as well as his writing, and I think that, while it's unfortunate that he's not drawing the main series anymore, his recent writing is as good or better than the best scripts he wrote in the past. I really want to see where this story goes. Because all of the pieces are coming together and what seemed aimless in the past is now headed towards something.
So, we'll agree to disagree. I do hope though that there will be more Hellboy with Mignola art in the future, because that's good news everybody can agree on.
Posted by PaulMontgomery on 01/10/09 at 10:22 PM
Agreed
Posted by thefreakygeeky on 01/10/09 at 10:35 PM
I'd rather have a great #2 to do the art and leave the original writer to do his work.
I love it that Mignola calls on other artists to do his book. His art is fantastic, but I would love to see Corben or even let Fegredo do the rest of the Hellboy titles from here on out.
Posted by TheNextChampion on 01/10/09 at 11:06 PM
Did you guys do a review of chapal of molach?
Posted by Gabe on 01/11/09 at 01:57 AM
@Gabe - They reviewed it on episode #157.
Posted by PaulMontgomery on 01/11/09 at 02:01 AM
" I would love to see Corben or even let Fegredo do the rest of the Hellboy titles from here on out."
I assume you mean IF Mignola weren't to do it himself, not INSTEAD, because that would be bananas to say that.
Posted by thefreakygeeky on 01/11/09 at 09:28 PM
Good review. Hellboy isn't my cup of tea, but my girlfriend is a big fan, so maybe I'll have to check this series out. Thanks!
Posted by kwisdumb on 01/07/09 at 06:41 PM