Broken Frontier

The Ogdru Jahad, the great destroyer who will bring about the Apocalypse, is doing just that. Using the Blood Queen, Nimue, as its vessel, the Ogdru Jahad has but one challenger, standing against its world-ending tirade: Hellboy.

Hellboy, who has given everything to get to this point, Hellboy, bloody, bruised and exhausted, stands between the dragon and the world. In this final issue of Hellboy: The Fury, Mignola, Fegredo and Stewart deliver an amazing and quintessential story of the one who carries the Right Hand of Doom.

One of Hellboy’s strengths has always been the blending of its horror infused voice with that of heroic myth. The Fury continues in that same vein. We’ve seen Hellboy overcome his demonic lineage, and now we witness his rise to knight, as he goes off to slay the dragon. Mignola doles out his words in very small doses, letting the art and the color convey the drama happening. His writing, while sparse, is poetic and haunting, proving that less is more. And even Hellboy, who has always been a man of few words, has some pitch perfect lines. The story comes full circle, and like all good heroes, Hellboy makes sure it ends with a bang. And just when you think it’s over, Mignola takes you for a ride with a cliffhanger that truly will change Hellboy from here on out. While it may not be the ending most were hoping for, it definitely is a new beginning.

I have always been an enormous admirer of Duncan Fegredo’s artwork. His energetic atmospheres, dynamic compositions and expressive characters have always felt right at home in the world of Hellboy. His work is always spot-on, and in this issue he delivers top-notch work. From an enormous fight between Hellboy and the Ogdru Jahad to the epic conclusion and all the terror, anger and tragedy between, Fegredo blew me away with every page. From the tiniest details of flying rubble to the glint of triumph and pain in Hellboy’s eye, it all works towards a heartbreaking finish.

And while Fegredo’s artwork is stunning on its own, it is the colors of Dave Stewart that make every panel pop and sizzle. His colors leap off the page, and are some of the most vivid I’ve ever seen. From roaring flames to leaping lightning, from crimson blood to grey mist, Stewart’s work adds something special to Hellboy.

A final issue to a finale in the making, Hellboy: The Fury #3 is worth your time and your money. If you’ve been with the big red lug from day one or caught up with him later on, this is an issue not to be missed. Mignola, Fegredo and Stewart deliver some of their best work, and every page sings. I have no idea where they’ll possibly go with Hellboy from here, but I can’t wait to see how they’ll pull it off.