Hellboy: Seed of Destruction: Seed of Destruction

Mike Mignola

Feb 2004 · Hellboy: Seed of Destruction Vol 1, #1-4 · Sold by Dark Horse Comics

About this ebook

Dark Horse presents new editions of the entire Hellboy line with new covers, beginning with Seed of Destruction, the basis of director Guillermo del Toro's blockbuster films. Hellboy is one of the most celebrated comics series in recent years. The ultimate artists' artist and a great storyteller whose work is in turns haunting, hilarious, and spellbinding. Mike Mignola has won numerous awards in the comics industry and beyond. When strangeness threatens to engulf the world, a strange man will come to save it. Sent to investigate a mystery with supernatural overtones, Hellboy discovers the secrets of his own origins, and his link to the Nazi occultists who promised Hitler a final solution in the form of a demonic avatar.

" ... Hellboy is a brilliant example of how to elevate the comic of the future to a higher literary level while achieving a higher pitch of excitement."
—Robert Bloch, from his introduction

Ratings and reviews

I really enjoyed this series quite some time ago and this read through was definitely a rush of nostalgia. Though the early series were fairly wordy, it really lends itself to fleshing out a very deep and elaborate character. I felt that Hellboy's inner monolog was a bit limited, but it definitely helps set the tone and feel of his personality. I'll give it four stars, mainly because if nothing else this series was a breath of fresh air in a swimming pool of capes and tight wearing sludge.

The Hellboy comics/graphic novels have been on my to-read list for quite a long time now and I was finally able to give this first volume a read since it was free on the Google Play store. This first issue was superb and its use of the Cthulhu mythos is superb. I also liked the alternate history theme as well. This first volume acts as a sort of origin story to Hellboy as a character. It has him and his teammates from the B.P.R.D going up against a Russian warlock who happened to be the one who summoned Hellboy from the pits of hell. It also has everything you'd expect from a Lovecraftian themed story, cultists attempting to raise the old gods for example. There are also some early comics featuring Hellboy at the end of this volume as well. I'm quite impressed with the comic so far and I'll definitely be picking up the other volumes in the future. Very enjoyable and definitely right up my alley as far as comics go.

I own the original print copy. And it sits with my favorite books. Always. Brilliant mash of noir, comedy, classic mythos, and horror. Mignola pulls together wonderful atmosphere. Highly recommended!