HELLBOY AND THE B.P.R.D. #1 Review

Does the world, then and now, need the B.P.R.D.? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

A bizarre series of murders and rumors of something worse lead Professor Bruttenholm to send a young Hellboy to a Brazilian village on his first mission. Hellboy and a small group of agents uncover something terrible in the shadows of a sixteenth-century Portuguese fortress . . .

* Twenty years of Hellboy!

* Mike Mignola named one of “12 Vital Creators to Watch” by LA Times!

Call me a sucker for historical pieces centering around the supernatural, but this outing instantly got my attention with a creative team that clearly understands its audience. What we get from this comic is not new information but rather a re-affirmation of details we already know and trust me that’s a good thing.

Mike Mignola and John Arcudi continue to work well together, as Hellboy gets the spotlight once again. Our big red monkey is young and untested by the field, but he’s still the icon many fanboys and fangirls have come to know. With a simple set-up and a brief introduction of his current supporting cast, readers are given all the information they need before our hero and his allies head into international territory. From the first page to the final panel this was a fun script that understands its strengths while covering up any potential weaknesses therein.

The text is strong but it’s the striking illustrations handed in by Alex Maleev that turns this yarn into must own material. Each panel oozes with frightening precision without overplaying its own unique elements, as steadily applied pencil strokes bring life to the 1952 iteration of the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. Our titular character is also rendered perfectly as the talent keeps a spec of demonic intensity to unsettle the room. And as the colors by Dave Stewart come into play there’s plenty of worth to be sure.

Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. #1 is an enthralling release that will speak to its base. Excellent art, sturdy text and a solid set up lead to a highly recommended outing.