Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction
by Mike Mignola, John ByrneSign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
Reader Friendly Noir Fans | Sword and Sorcery Fans
This is basically a generic review of all the HellBoy and HellBoy related books.
Fact is, they're intricately connected. Even the stories which were one shots, they become part of the HellBoy character.
Relying more on imagery than senseless exposition, Mike Mignola manages to bring a bit of Noir to his Detective in Red, as he fights the minions of darkness. Despite the obvious "demon turned hero who fights hell," noir feel, these HellBoy comics are less disturbing than the las...more
Fact is, they're intricately connected. Even the stories which were one shots, they become part of the HellBoy character.
Relying more on imagery than senseless exposition, Mike Mignola manages to bring a bit of Noir to his Detective in Red, as he fights the minions of darkness. Despite the obvious "demon turned hero who fights hell," noir feel, these HellBoy comics are less disturbing than the las...more
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Mike Mignola does great art. Some great characters. Great settings. Has some great ideas. His storytelling however isn't especially polished. And could use a few more events. I think he plots his big stories like short stories.
I love the Jack Kirbyness of the art. Heck he even has Kirby dots. The biggest flaw in his art is his characters don't really portray emotion. He can pull off angry, but even then not always. This kinda fits with his short stories. You don't have enough ti...more
I love the Jack Kirbyness of the art. Heck he even has Kirby dots. The biggest flaw in his art is his characters don't really portray emotion. He can pull off angry, but even then not always. This kinda fits with his short stories. You don't have enough ti...more
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Read in June, 2008
Flipping through the recently released "Hellboy Companion" left me feeling daunted and inadequate in the ways of Hellboy. I love it more than about anything published in the last decade, but my memory just can't hold all the threads together. So I have declared it high time to reread the series from beginning to end.
In this first one, Mignola seems to be finding his style. Everything is there, plot- and character-wise, but the layouts aren't anywhere near as dynamic as they'll e...more
In this first one, Mignola seems to be finding his style. Everything is there, plot- and character-wise, but the layouts aren't anywhere near as dynamic as they'll e...more
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Read in September, 2008
recommends it for:
Occult fans
The good news is that this graphic novel offers exactly what I loved about the movie. HellBoy is a devil summoned by a mysterious Nazi who wants to unleash cthulhu-like elder gods upon the world. He's got an anger problem, he's a smart ass, and he calls himself the World's Best Paranormal Investigator. The art is dark, yet HellBoy's attitude adds some levity to the atmosphere.
The bad news is that there isn't much in this first volume that you don't know from watching the first movie. Having s...more
The bad news is that there isn't much in this first volume that you don't know from watching the first movie. Having s...more
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I've been avoiding Hellboy, because I figured that once I read the first trade I'd have to catch 'em all (Pokemon-style). That is indeed the case. I was a little worried about the first volume, as I wondered if this was the kind of series that picked up steam as it went on. Well, if it does, this is still a fine first foot forward (do it alliteration!).
Mignola's art is totally amazing, especially when you look at what he does with so few lines. The colors on this book really make the art sta...more
Mignola's art is totally amazing, especially when you look at what he does with so few lines. The colors on this book really make the art sta...more
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recommended to Ren the Unclean by:
Wickerman
recommends it for: Hellboy fans, people who the art style appeals to
recommends it for: Hellboy fans, people who the art style appeals to
This is a pretty good introduction to the Hellboy universe. Three of the main characters are introduced and the origin of Hellboy is also covered.
Mignola's art style is really unique and cool to look at. He does a ton with negative space while still using a really good color palette.
I would give this book more stars, but the conclusion leaves something to be desired, as it sort of seems thrown in and not really resolved. Of course, the main bad guy will come back in later issues, so m...more
Mignola's art style is really unique and cool to look at. He does a ton with negative space while still using a really good color palette.
I would give this book more stars, but the conclusion leaves something to be desired, as it sort of seems thrown in and not really resolved. Of course, the main bad guy will come back in later issues, so m...more
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I do like comics. I make up for the childish interest by reading adult oriented comics. I never liked super heroes. Hellboy is about as close as I get. What I like most about Hellboy is the art. It perfectly matches the originality of the writing. Mike Mignola's art is instantly recognizable. If you get a chance to read a BATMAN comic drawn by him you should. It's blocky, dark, and appears rushed, but it lends itself to my imagination. This is not like the movie. If you like magic, mystical ar...more
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Mignola's fantastic fully saturated graphic style and incredibly imaginative illustrations aside, there is a lot going on in these stories. Folklore inspired characters such as Babba Yaga, vampires and werewolves inhabit a world also populated by Evil super-science Nazis and Cthuluesque eldrich gawds and benevolent aliens.
The movie was OK and in places gave some of the feel of the graphic novels, but there is always just so much going on...architectural details, little asides, animals or gho...more
The movie was OK and in places gave some of the feel of the graphic novels, but there is always just so much going on...architectural details, little asides, animals or gho...more
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My first comic book. I love Hellboy, I've found out, even though I still think comic books are too short, and don't reveal enough detail about their characters to be interesting. And, why the random bolding? It's like a memo from a moron admin.
On the other hand, I love the hellboy story and it shines through. I like the pulpiness when I usually hate pulpiness. Hardboiled blows. Hardboiled in the spawn of satan who just wants a cold six pack, I buy it wholeheartedly, and I don't know why.
...more
On the other hand, I love the hellboy story and it shines through. I like the pulpiness when I usually hate pulpiness. Hardboiled blows. Hardboiled in the spawn of satan who just wants a cold six pack, I buy it wholeheartedly, and I don't know why.
...more
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Read in April, 2008
since i've burned through all the fables comics, i'm gonna hitch my wagon to the hellboy series.
have started, and am glad that though it is like the movie, it is also pretty different.
now that i'm done, i have to say i'm a bit disappointed. it really was too short in my opinion. i wanted more, and not just because it was so good....don't get me wrong, it was good.....but because it was just a pretty slim volume for the price. if i didn't get it discounted off of amazon, i'd probably b...more
have started, and am glad that though it is like the movie, it is also pretty different.
now that i'm done, i have to say i'm a bit disappointed. it really was too short in my opinion. i wanted more, and not just because it was so good....don't get me wrong, it was good.....but because it was just a pretty slim volume for the price. if i didn't get it discounted off of amazon, i'd probably b...more
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Really nice collection of obscure myths retold and beautifully illustrated with Hellboy as the story plot driver. I'm not as familiar with the Hellboy world as many are, but that doesn't seem to matter much because each chapter stands on its own. Would definitely reccomend- this seemed like several independent adventures and not really one tale- so if you are in the mood for something epic then pass and find something else, but this is a good introduction to the character and what he is all abou...more
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Read in January, 2007
The first Hellboy trade has a neat story involving some historical figures, some myth, and a dose of H.P. Lovecraft. Nice. The script that Byrne provided does the job, while Mignola's art is, of course, mesmerizing. The "talky" parts run a bit long, though, especially in comparison with the distilled writing that Mignola brought to later Hellboy stories. For that reason, I prefer other volumes over the first - especially the 3rd and 4th, which collect Mignola's short stories.
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Instead of posting each individual Hellboy book here, I'll just review one and let it speak for the series. I've loved the weird, scary world of Hellboy. It all swirls around the big red guy who may be the most unflappable hero of all time. When Hellboy answers "I'll eat your heart and drink your blood" with "Nice" you can't help but love the guy. An interesting hodgepodge of vignettes and longer sequences that all, in their way, tie into the overarching story.
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Read in August, 2007
This never really rises above a standard comix adventure cum origin-story, but it is often very hilarious and/or grody. I don't really connect with Mignola's Manichean storyline (and I wish his Hellboy had better one-liners during fight scenes), but he's one of the most absorbing Old-Skool-schooled draftsmen around. Props also to James Sinclair for his witty and gorgeous coloring, which seems on a mission to remove the cream from Mignola's coffee.
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Read in February, 2008
I've read this before, but it was really fun to sit down and read the first six volumes all in one day. Hellboy is kind of one of those ultimate pleasures for me -- it's funny, the artwork is gorgeous, there are all kinds of references to folklore and Lovecraft, and most problems are solved by punching things. I somehow missed that there are now volumes 7 and 8 out there; I shall have to acquire them ASAP.
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Read in July, 2008
Gee is super insistant that I read these because we recently watched both Hellboy movies and I liked them. While I respect the idea of graphic novels, I haven't ever found an interest in them myself. Maybe this will be different?
Verdict: Not at all like the movie but pretty interesting nontheless. I'm actually sort of interested in reading more of the series. Maybe selectively getting into graphic novels?
Verdict: Not at all like the movie but pretty interesting nontheless. I'm actually sort of interested in reading more of the series. Maybe selectively getting into graphic novels?
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Read in August, 2008
I don't know what I really expect when I read comic books. They can be pretty cool, and do things that are pretty unexpected, but mostly there's not a lot of there there.
I really enjoyed the art, and especially appreciated a lot of the winking genre jokes and irreverence. However, it's super weak in terms of character and a coherent plot. Then again, what the hell do I expect?
Rinse and repeat review.
I really enjoyed the art, and especially appreciated a lot of the winking genre jokes and irreverence. However, it's super weak in terms of character and a coherent plot. Then again, what the hell do I expect?
Rinse and repeat review.
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Platoeatssouls by:
my brotherrecommends it for: comic readers
Funny and sharp. A bit too much repetitive back story within the issues, but it was initially a serial comic, so that can be forgiven. My major quarrel is with the copy I picked up: something seems to be wrong with the binding, and the pages are falling out already. Otherwise, I'm pretty sold, I have to say. There's plenty here to keep you reading the next volumes.
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Read in September, 2006
As I've said before, I love Mignola's work, and specifically anything he's done within his Hellboy universe (BPRD included). There's a relentless dry, dark humor that runs through this book and all of his work, eagerly complimenting the mythology, folklore, and dark underbelly of possible history that Hellboy rams his giant red fist through.
This is great stuff.
This is great stuff.
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Ridiculously great art. Pretty much my favorite art in the genre.
The first volume suffers from a Frank Miller derived dependence on internal monologue. Makes the image subservient to the text. Luckily Mignola drops this quick and subsequent volumes let the action image express itself.
The first volume suffers from a Frank Miller derived dependence on internal monologue. Makes the image subservient to the text. Luckily Mignola drops this quick and subsequent volumes let the action image express itself.
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