Book Review: The Serpent in the Garden by M. Mignola et al.

The Serpent in the Garden: Ed Grey and the Last Battle for England written by Mike Mignola, art by Ben Stenbeck, and colors by Dave Stewart

Sir Edward Grey, Witchfinder to Queen Victoria, was granted immortality through a set of bizarre and convoluted circumstances that I won't relate here (many situations in the Hellboy universe result from the bizarre and convoluted). He lives in England, the only part of the planet Earth spared from the apocalyptic ravages that have happened everywhere else. He lives a simple cottage life with Mary, though he is called upon by Queen of Avalon Alice to defend the country from a last ditch attempt by Morgan le Fay to take over. Morgan has her own champion Gruagach, an old foe of Hellboy. Things come to a blows when the small, piglike Gruagach is transformed into a more fitting champion and Grey is similarly transformed into a Green Man.

The story is interesting but leans heavily on previous Hellboy lore, so I am sure newcomers will not appreciate all the details laced into the plot. As with most other Hellboy-adjacent works, the art is delightful, capturing the richness of the world that Mignola has imagined. The ending has a nice payoff that is unexpected and satisfying.

Recommended for Hellboy fans who have kept up with the Witchfinder's tale and the general arc of the Hellboy universe.