Creative Staff:
Story: Mike Mignola – Scott Allie
Art: Christopher Mitten
Colors: Brennan Wagner
Letters: Clem Robins
What They Say:
Hellboy and Agent Kinsley delve deeper into the mystery behind a cache of bodies found in the New Hampshire woods. Possible explanations include werewolves, vampires, and demons . . . but the truth may be even stranger! Meanwhile, a runaway Liz Sherman finds that life on the street comes at a steep cost!
Content: (please note content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
The hunt for the mysterious entity behind the decades-long culling of New Hampshire locals ramps up again in this issue. Agent Kinsley follows a lead that takes him into the home of an older woman who believes aliens abducted her father.
Liz continues her journey away from the Institute with the derelict Steve and Liz. When a local mob boss catches up with the runaway trio, Steve attacks one of his men and is shot in the process. Liz unleashes her power and explodes the pistol in the man’s hand, but burns down a building in the process.
As the investigation continues, Hellboy and the remaining agents search the forest for any sign of more bodies. Hiding in a nook of the woods is a long, lean creature that closely resembles a werewolf. When it squares off with HB, he takes a wound to the gut before flipping it into the shadows, where it disappears.
In Summary:
I think Mignola and Allie are doing some great work in this series. The mystique and mystery of what is happening stay hidden for a long time. There are rumbles of zombies, aliens, and demons, but nothing concrete. It keeps the reader interested and invested in future issues. Chris Mitten does a bang-up job of recreating the bleak and blurry line work that Mignola has perfected over the years. The fight between Hellboy and the monster is drawn to perfection with tiny details tucked into the forest beyond. Wagner uses a fall-themed pattern in his colors that is vibrant and subdued at the same time. His light touches inside the Institute and forest scene work are very engaging. Clem does an outstanding job of making the letters fit the artwork. His SFX work is clean and fits well with the art.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: T
Released By: Dark Horse
Release Date: September 18, 2019
MSRP: $3.99
