The past lingers.
Creative Staff:
Story: Mike Mignola
Art: Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Clem Robins
What They Say:
Trouble runs in the Whittier family! When Catherine Whittier learns she’s inherited the family home, she knows better than to go back alone, and Hellboy’s experience with the family (in Hellboy: The Whittier Legacy) makes him the perfect one to make sure any unkind spirits are rest. Because in a house with a history like this, “plot” can mean more than just a family graveyard. Hellboy creator Mike Mignola is joined by artist Gabriel Hernández Walta to bring readers a terrifying new one-shot in the home of the infamous Whittier family!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
I’ve long enjoyed the concept of Hellboy and a few of the series over the years but I’ve read probably less than ten percent of the works created over its run since the old Bravura days. Dark Horse has dropped this new one-shot that has Mike Mignola doing a little cleanup and closure on a part of the past that works nicely but I’m sure it’ll resonate more for those that have been longtime readers. It’s been a few years for me and I think I left off reading some of the 1950s-era books. This installment has the very talented Gabriel Hernandez Walta on the art duties and that distinctive look works so well here, especially with how Dave Stewart colors it. Everything just has that feeling of decay and decrepit elements that sets the tone so well, even as Hellboy himself stands out with all of his redness.
The premise for this brings us to 1986 where Hellboy and Catherine have arrived in Lenox, Massachusetts as she found out that she inherited a family home. This is where she spent her time until her parents sent her away with her aunt when she was four, some thirty years ago and now she has to deal with it. She’s clear about not wanting the house because she’s very much an 80s New York City woman, but there’s still the draw to finish out this chapter of her life. Bringing Hellboy along makes sense after a recent issue with the Whittiers in Rhode Island and while she uses her aunt’s last name of Roland, she is a Whittier herself. And that situation went south and caused a lot of chaos so she’s being quite proactive here in a good way. And honestly, the house has been in disrepair and lack of attention for some time so that it’s warranted just from that alone.
Naturally, there’s a twist when inside as she discovers that Mrs. Cooke who used to take care of her as a child is still there, hoping that she’d come back. This leads to learning a bit more about Catherine’s past and has Hellboy checking out the cemetery in the back of the property, both situations of which lead to learning that something wicked still lurks on the property. It’s something that you know will wrap up quickly being a standalone issue so it moves quickly and precisely but it doesn’t feel rushed or forced. That helps a lot in smoothing over what could otherwise be problematic and you find yourself enjoying the small touch of additional family history revealing itself and the way the pair deal with the threat that surfaces.
In Summary:
I don’t get to read or “know” as much Hellboy as I want to but I really enjoy every little smidgen that I get from time to time. This standalone issue is one I can make some easy leaps to understand without the backstory to it and still enjoy it because it works a familiar line with characters that, in broad strokes, I enjoy. Mignola’s scripting is solid as there’s a lot to cover within a small space and Walta’s artwork with Stewart’s excellent color design gives it such a fantastic feeling. It’s good standalone piece and one that lets both leads really have some good time to themselves and as a pair doing this kind of work.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 29th, 2022
MSRP: $3.99
