The first book of Hellboy can best be described as The X-Files in Arkham. Totally relevant to my interests. For the most part, it delivers. The villain is a little monologue-y, but that seems to be in character for him. I liked Hellboy's narration, and the art is striking. Aside from the main storyline, there are also a couple of short, action-packed comics there are pretty fun to read.

I watched the movies when they came out and I though they where ok but nothing to write home about.After it I had some interest in comic but not enough to put it high on my to read list.My interest rose significantly after The goon/ Hellboy crossover and now after finishing available New 52 Batman comics I finally started this series.After all this time time I should have learned that movies rarely have much in common with comics they are based on. Movie is classical colorful hero movie with cla...

I love this series. I have for years. That said, I haven't been a faithful follower of the books. I don't read comics in single issues. I read comics once they're collected in trade paperback, and even then, my purchases are erratic. But earlier this year I went on a Hellboy binge. I bought everything that I didn't already own, and read it all in just a week or two. Both the main storyline, all the side arcs, and the BPRD series too. About 30 books in all. How do I feel about it after glutting m...

Ah. This was quite good. The art suited the pulpy vibe of the story perfectly. And it is a good story too, underscored by Lovecraftian influences.There really isn’t much more I can say, other than this: it’s much better than the film.Recommended. Even to readers who don’t particularly enjoy the graphic medium.

This is the second time I've read this, the first being around the time the first or second movie came out, but I remember not bothering with reading the rest. Why? I honestly don't know.This has a great Cthulhu vibe to it, mixing old Nazis, Rasputin, private eyes, sea gods, and even a misspelling of Ereshkigal, Sumerian goddess of the underworld. What's not to like?Well, maybe I was just in a mood then or a mood now, but by the time I finished this volume today, I'm in the mood to keep on going...

Like Hellboy? This is where to start with the graphic novels, if you haven't already read it. You'll like it. I promise.Not familiar with Hellboy? Start reading here, it's an awesome origin. There's really nothing else like it. Also, see the movies, they're by Guillermo del Toro, and they're really good.Don't like Hellboy? Well that's on you. What isn't to like about a paranormal graphic novel following a trenchcoat-wearing demon that fights evil monsters and Nazis, occasionally at the same time...

After the movies, I didn't expect much from the comic. They were fun, but a bit cheesy. The film's director, Guillermo Del Toro tends to make films that are all flash and no substance, like Blade II and Pan's Labyrinth. I assumed that the Hellboy movies were just executed better, but I now realize that the movies fell far short of the source material.The comics are moody, charming, and uniquely stylized. The dramatic inking and chiaroscuro lighting combines with the simple, evocative lines to cr...

I always dug Mike Mignola's art as a young teen, he was one of the first comics artists (along with Liefeld and Lee) I felt had a very distinctive style.That said, the writing on this book was...not the best. I wish I could summon (even demonically!) the enthusiasm people seem to have for the character and the stories but, even though I found them movies pretty OK, I'm not there yet after this volume.

So much better on the second reading! John Byrne's writing style is still an annoyance, but oh man, did I miss so many important details from this volume when I first read it. Hellboy is an incredible story, even if it took me a long while to get into it the first time I was reading the books. But the atmosphere, the mythos, the great artwork — it's all already here, in the very first trade. Still, it gets sooo much better in the following volumes — I can't recommend Hellboy enough!First read: S...

It's been a number of years since I first read Seed of Destruction, the first Hellboy book, and, having read all of them at this point, I decided to go back and re-read the first book because my memories of it were hazy. Well, as I suspected, it's not a great first volume - but Hellboy is an incredible series, so don't be put off by this shaky start. The later books get better and better and better. But this first one...I had completely forgotten that Mike Mignola didn't write the first Hellboy

This comic was very great!

I love Mike Mignola's art style--chunky and dark with occasional flashes of brilliant colors. In this story, Hellboy goes up against a Nazi-sponsored Rasputin, but Rasputin has his own plans. The only weak point in this story is that it isn't really clear why Rasputin is doing what he is doing other than he's just evil.

Nazi-fighting demon? Satanic Rasputin? Mythical monsters? Sign me up! Unfortunately when compared to the Sistine Chapel it's no wonder I was disappointed--the editor made this comparison in jest, obviously, but made it nonetheless. Hellboy isn't bad--in fact there's fantastic art, a great story, and some great one-liners--but I was just expecting some indie comic nonstop thrill ride. It's dark fantasy meets historical fiction, but the action reads more like crime procedural meets old school horr...

Outstanding concept but lacked deeper characterization This trade paperback edition collects the comic book issues “Hellboy” #1 to #4, which it’s the beginning of the series. Also including the two previous illustrated short stories published as promos for Hellboy, the main character.Creative Team:Creator, illustrator and story: Mike MignolaScript: John Byrne HECK, BOY! If I have a real name, I’ve never known it. I’m called Hellboy. Hellboy is one of the strongest comic book titles in th

My very first Hellboy comic. I have seen the two movies and have to say that they were pretty good. Funny, with great make-up and costumes, very good CGI, and the atmosphere they created was fantastic. Thus, I wanted to know if the comics could invoke the same feeling.Many story elements in this comic reminded me of the first movie. Like how Hellboy comes to our world, who brought him from his world to ours, the Nazi story, his relationship with a certain scientist, his two rather unusual compan...

I am a man who loves good comic books, and Mike Mignola's Hellboy is exactly that. Good.It's a solid comic yarn with a charmingly antithetical leading man, fitting pencils, beautiful colour and noirish scripting (helped on by John Byrne in this early volume). Mike Mignola loves a great action sequence, and Hellboy's big ol' "Right Hand of Doom" and terrible aim with "The Good Samaritan" -- the oversized revolver the eponymous leading man received as a gift from the Torch of Liberty -- ensure tha...

Mignola mixes in Nazis, Rasputin, and H.P. Lovecraft into a bubbling, smoking cocktail worthy of Hellboy itself. The scripting here is verbose, but then again it's John Byrne. The story plods in spots. The plotting and voices of the characters gets much better in later volumes, once Byrne is no longer involved. Going back and re-reading this, I'd forgotten how much this lays the groundwork for further stories. Even The Visitor makes an appearance. I love the mixing of Nazis and Lovecraftian lore...

Man, I wanted to like this more. I didn’t.What’s it about?There’s this supernatural creature from Hell that a group of paranormal investigators find as a child and call him Hellboy. He investigates supernatural events and fights monsters as he doesn’t want to be an evil demon but a good guy instead, in this arc he has to deal with some creepy stuff involving frogs.Pros:Hellboy is a bad-a** and interesting fellow.The art is fantastic!This book is very unpredictable. Lots of suspense throughout.Th...

I love the Guillermo Del Toro movies. Therefore, it piqued my interest to check out the comics.The first story is sort of a murder mystery case, and it's also Hellboy's origin-story in a sense.There were some parts in the book that felt a little bit jumbled, but for the most part, it didn't bother me. I am, however, shocked that Mignola didn't write it. I'm assuming he had a hand in the writing though. That being said, John Byrne did a solid introduction.Overall, good writing, and the artwork by...

Why haven't I read this sooner? Mike Mignola pens a great tale in this, Seed of Destruction, my first Hellboy book. I truly enjoyed everything about it from the haunting and atmospheric artwork to the wonderful tale being told. This is what good comics and good artwork look like.I really liked this "introduction" to Hellboy. It seems Rasputin, even though they don't specifically call him that, survived his assassination attempt by making a deal with the Serpent. The Serpent promised him life and...