Broken Frontier

In 1992, Hellboy finds himself in the art of darkness and, as usual, things do not go according to plan.

Hellboy fans rejoice as Mike Mignola returns to handle all of the art for this Hellboy one-shot in addition to writing the tale. Released just in time for Halloween, this stand-alone one-shot is perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike.

1992 Portugal and Hellboy is called in to investigate when a rising artist suddenly stops speaking to his agent/friend, stops painting and instead begins to work on a clay sculpture – a figure that Hellboy recognizes. But is everyone’s favorite paranormal investigator too late to stop something horrible from entering our world?

You know that feeling when a good friend has been away for a long time and you get back together and it’s like no time at all has passed between you? Mignola back on art for Hellboy is exactly like that feeling. His style is as dark, angular, gothic, and atmospheric as ever and there is a unique kind of pacing that Mignola does that no other artist has ever quite mastered. It is a feeling of a breath being held or of those moments in a windstorm where the wind seems to die for just a brief instant.

In addition to that, Mignola takes a bit here to make a sly little satire and poke a little fun at himself. After all, the artist, Jerry, bears something of a resemblance to Mignola himself and, of course, since all the art in the comic is provided by Mignola, this includes the art within the art – Mignola draws what are ostensibly Jerry’s paintings and, as such, he essentially accuses himself of "ripping off Goya" with a deliberate wink and nudge to the audience along with what really is a tribute to the influential Spanish artist. This wonderful little bit of metatexual reference, however, all runs underneath as audiences are also treated to a wonderful story of Hellboy in his prime with all of his usual bags of tricks, blue collar attitude and blunt attitude toward dealing with the supernatural.

The return of Mignola, even if it is for only a one issue story, is certainly welcome to fans and to those who may only be just now stumbling into the wild, weird, and wonderful world of Hellboy. The adventures of the "World’s Greatest Paranormal Investigator" continue to grow and Mignola continues to prove that his art and his storytelling abilities have not flagged and have, in fact, grown deeper and more breathtaking over the years. Trick or Treat this Halloween? With In the Chapel of Moloch, it isn’t even a question… Treat.