Broken Frontier

A goddess is shackled and a gathering of witches approaches as the next major chapter in Hellboy’s life begins.

In a decrepit Italian catacomb, second-rate sorcerer Igor Bromhead manages to summon the witch-goddess Hecate through ancient ritual. The Queen of the Crossroads is amused by this mortal’s audacity until he binds her by her own secret name. Meanwhile, in England, Hellboy recuperates from his last adventure at the home of an old friend. In the nearby woods, he comes across a strange trio ready to conduct a ritual of their own. And the witch-haunted woods become a far darker place…

At this point, it goes without saying that Mike Mignola is good at what he does. There is no one who has quite the same distinctive blend of gothic horror and old school pulp adventure. In Darkness Calls, he’s once again creating a story of atmospheric eeriness and ominous portent. That classic tone combined with illuminating tidbits of history and mythology makes for an immediately engaging read. Longtime readers will be intrigued by the foreshadowing and familiar faces, while newer readers (perhaps lured by Big Red’s movie or animated adventures) can enjoy it as a well-crafted and creepy horror comic that’s a cut above the usual fare.

Much ado has been made about Mignola stepping down as Hellboy artist and handing the reins to Duncan Fegredo. Some fans can’t even imagine the character under someone else’s pen. Based on Fegredo’s work here, these fears are mostly unfounded. Fegredo’s style looks remarkably similar to Mignola’s and makes use of the same gritty linework, patches of inky blackness, and Jack Kirby-esque angularity. It’s a touch more polished and less abstract than Mignola occasionally can be but otherwise, the transition looks to be a smooth one. Any major differences in style are further lessened by Dave Stewart’s somber colors setting the perfect sinister mood.

Hellboy: Darkness Calls is a strong first offering for the miniseries. Mignola’s story engenders the feel of something huge and horrible on the horizon. I for one can’t wait to see what it is.