Book Review: Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1952 by Mike Mignola et al.

Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1952 story by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, art by Alex Maleev, colors by Dave Stewart, letters by Clem Robins

After twenty-one years in print, we finally get the story of Hellboy's first mission with the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense! Hellboy came onto the Earth in 1944 when summoned by a bunch of Nazis who were desperate for some way to win the war. Eight years later, Hellboy is fully grown and is cooling his heels on an Army base where the B.P.R.D. is stationed. Professor Bruttenholm, head of the organization and foster-father to Hellboy, sends four agents to Brazil to investigate strange murders in a small, remote village. He wants Hellboy to go along. The agents have various reactions from excitement to trepidation. Will they just have to babysit him? Things turn out to be a lot more dangerous and complicated, making an exciting story.

The art is grittier and more subdued Mignola's work high contrast work. The story is interesting with some nice twists and foreshadowing of things to come both in this story and in other Hellboy stories.

This is definitely worth reading for Hellboy fans!

I read this in individual issues but the trade paperback is coming in August!