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This item: Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction by Mike Mignola Paperback CDN$ 13.68

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Hellboy Volume 2: Wake the Devil - NEW EDITION! by Mike Mignola Paperback CDN$ 13.68

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Hellboy Volume 3: The Chained Coffin and Others - NEW EDITION! by Mike Mignola Paperback CDN$ 15.12

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Product Description

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.

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Journal of 1st Sgt. Read the first page

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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
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4.1 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Dark subject matter, but ultimately VERY optimistic., April 4 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction (Paperback)

From the look of the art, you would think that Hellboy would be depressing and dark in a Lovecraftian way, but actually, it's not at all. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Hellboy faces the challenges that usually reduce the main characters in such stories to quivering masses of soon-to-be-blood-spattered jello, but he meets them head-in in the calm, workman-like fashion of a plumber about to administer profession-strength Drano to a clogged pipe. All in a day's work. No sweat, no matter how big or evil-looking the threat might be.

And what about the main character himself? Pretty much the ULTIMATE redemption story, wouldn't you say? A demonic creation that serves the good, even in some stories displaying a downright Christian outlook on life. Kind of makes you feel warm and fuzzy about your fellow man! I mean, if a DEMON can be raised to be a pretty good guy, then maybe the hooligans down the street could be too, if they ever got better role models than their OxyContin-dazed parents. Mignola obviously supports Nurture over Nature 100 percent!

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4.0 out of 5 stars Something is coming, Jan 11 2009

By

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME) (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction (Paperback)

Near the end of World War II, the evil Rasputin summoned a creature from another world -- a little red demon baby.

And so starts Mike Mignola's distinctly offbeat "Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction," an eerie action/fantasy with a bright-red demon as its anti-hero. Mignola happily crams this rather brief tale with Lovecraftian horrors, a crumbling cursed mansion and a truly malevolent villain who wants to destroy the world.

Decades after Hellboy was summoned into this world, his adoptive father Professor Bruttenholm recounts what little he can remember of a doomed expedition to the north pole, along with the three Cavendish brothers. Then a grotesque frog creature attacks Bruttenholm, killing him instantly -- moments before Hellboy returns the favor.

Soon after, Hellboy and his companions Abe Sapien (fish-man) and Liz Sherman (pyrokinetic) arrive at cursed Cavendish Manor, unaware that the mansion's owner is in league with Rasputin. Then ghastly frog-creatures kidnap Liz and attack Hellboy, as Rasputin reveals his presence to the demon/man that he considers his servant.

And if Hellboy will not serve him, then Rasputin intends to use Liz's power to unleash a horrifying evil on the world....

"Seed of Destruction" is basically the springboard for the Hellboy graphic novel series (particularly as it reveals Hellboy's background and supposed destiny), and it's also the briefest -- virtually all the action takes place in the course of an hour or two. It's only real flaw is that Rasputin's drawn-out monologues tend to slow the plot down -- there's a LOT of exposition.

But for all that, it's a pretty wild ride. Mignola's rough, shadowy art matches the overall tone of the story, starting as a straightforward horror/suspense story before rapidly escalating into an all-out war on the lakeside. And there are some poignant moments as well, such as Hellboy's tragic final meeting with his adoptive father, or Abe's glimpse of the frogmen cradling the mother they killed.

And Mignola is pretty clearly a huge H.P. Lovecraft fan -- the story takes place in a cursed lakeside house, with a tentacled monster and mutated frog-beasts that were once human. And the Ogru Jahad only add to that impression -- they're ancient, terrible creatures that apparently want to obliterate everything. For whatever reason.

Hellboy is the pivot of the whole adventure. And despite his scarlet skin, horns and cloven hooves, he's anything but devilish -- he's sarcastic, wry, hot-tempered and determined to keep the world from Rasputin's clutches. But he also has a gentler side that we see when he's dealing with the elderly Bruttenholm, as well as his teammates Abe and Liz.

Full of action and grotesque creatures, "Hellboy, Vol. 1: Seed of Destruction" is a solid introduction to a decidedly unusual series. Bravo, Mike Mignola.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Well done, April 26 2004

By

C. Fletcher (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction (Paperback)

Okay, I just read picked this up because the movie was coming out, and I'm one of those people who does that (as probably are many of you reading these reviews). But I found myself thoroughly enjoying Mike Mignola's HELLBOY.

This first HELLBOY book is a little on the short side, and at times, Mignola probably gives too much attention to the mythology rather than the characters, but all in all it's a fun read.

It's not my favorite comic I've read (definitely not in the Alan Moore category) but it's fun and well worth your time.

The artwork is definitely top notch. Even if the story were no good (but it is good) it would be worth getting to look at.

Now that the movie's out (which was also very entertaining and worthy of your time) I'm sure I'll keep reading the rest of the series.

Happy reading!

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Hell on earth with a snappy attitude
In 1944, a team of specialized German Nazis gathered together with a powerful sorcerer on a strange mission to raise seven demons, while at the same time a group of rangers led by... Read more

Published on April 19 2004 by Schtinky

5.0 out of 5 stars Cool book.
I'm not very big on comics, but this was a good book. In 1940 something, Raputin( evil wizard guy), tried to open the gates to hell. But only this little baby demon came out. Read more

Published on April 12 2004 by Lauren B. Floss