If you're new to the [I]Hellboy[/I] Universe, this is the place to ask your questions, whatever they may be. Remember, this being a thread for newcomers, no spoilers. If you must post a spoiler use the [SPOIL] tag.
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If you're new to the [I]Hellboy[/I] Universe, this is the place to ask your questions, whatever they may be. Remember, this being a thread for newcomers, no spoilers. If you must post a spoiler use the [SPOIL] tag.
As a new reader of Hellboy, is it possible for me to jump on to B.R.P.D. and Abe Sapien in August, or do I need to go back and read everything. I'm going to start tracking down the B.R.P.D. trades, but I won't catch up with the series anytime soon.
[QUOTE=SpOck;120502]As a new reader of Hellboy, is it possible for me to jump on to B.R.P.D. and Abe Sapien in August, or do I need to go back and read everything. I'm going to start tracking down the B.R.P.D. trades, but I won't catch up with the series anytime soon.[/QUOTE]
[URL="http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/23-885/Abe-Sapien-13"]June's issue of [I]Abe Sapien[/I] is designed to be a jumping on point, with an extra eight pages recapping prior issues.[/URL] The June issue will be a one-shot, as will the July issue, but the August issue will be a special kind of one-shot... a one-shot flashback to an earlier period of Abe's life when he was still a B.P.R.D. agent. That issue will almost certainly stand alone, able to be read with virtually no background information. It seems now would be an excellent time to join the series.
As for the [I]B.P.R.D.[/I], I'm not as sure. Some people have found it easy to get into the swing of things joining this late, others haven't. It depends on you, what you want from a comic, and how good you are at filling in the blanks. More than anything you'll really be missing the significant character beats that come from knowing these people for so long. That said, in August the series will be beginning a new two-issue arc, so there's every chance the story could be contained enough that you'll be able to follow it and really get into it. I really can't say without having read it yet, but I think there's a good chance it'll be new-reader friendly.
On the other hand, if you want to start collecting the older material, the [I]B.P.R.D.[/I] omnibuses are about to get really damn cheap. In October the first volume will be coming out in paperback for $20, which is the same price for a regular trade paperback... and an omnibus contains the material from three. The second omnibus will be out in January followed by the third and fourth later in 2015 (I'm guessing April and July). That would cover the entire [I]Plague of Frogs[/I] cycle. If you can't wait that long, all four omnibuses are currently available in hardcover for $35 each (which is still cheaper than buying 3 trades).
The second [I]B.P.R.D.[/I] cycle, [I]Hell on Earth[/I], is still ongoing, and won't be collected in omnibuses until it's finished. There's currently eight trades out with a ninth coming out in September. Some people have jumped onto this cycle fine, but there is a lot of connective tissue between [I]Plague of Frogs[/I] and [I]Hell on Earth[/I]. I know in my case, I wouldn't want to miss that.
And if you want to try out another side of the [I]B.P.R.D.[/I], the flashback trade [I]1946[/I] is very new-reader friendly, as is its sequel, [I]1947[/I]. [I]1948[/I] less so, the same with [I]Vampire[/I]. I'd recommend reading at least [I]1947[/I] before reading either of those two. They're a bit different from their modern counterparts, but these four trades will give you a taste of the universe.
[QUOTE=SpOck;120502]As a new reader of Hellboy, is it possible for me to jump on to B.R.P.D. and Abe Sapien in August, or do I need to go back and read everything. I'm going to start tracking down the B.R.P.D. trades, but I won't catch up with the series anytime soon.[/QUOTE]
Since I would personally not be feeling myself a new reader, I wouldn't feel to have a snappy or way brief answer.
But if you mean to be following the ongoing current BPRD, as well as current Abe Sapien, with remaining open onto gradually rereading or catching up with the other books, or at least some of them, then I would certainly hope such to being possible for you without too much trouble.
Some of the trades or even oneshots might seem more introductory than others at first glance, such as [I]Hellboy: Seed of Destruction[/I], [I]BPRD: 1946[/I], [I]Abe Sapien: the Drowning[/I] or [I]BPRD: Garden of Souls[/I]. But most any of the books would basically seem rather good to include in one's reading. Plus any trades or collections will mostly offer pretty complete or fullfilling tales, [U]even if[/U] any of them interconnect to bigger pictures, involve happenings from prior arcs distinctly, or would most pivotally be all involving puzzlingness and mystery rather MUCH.
I hope any (new) readers may feel capable or comfortable at having fun in their reading. Since I would think the reading would be made for that.
I don't think mystery or puzzlingness would be meant to be putting anybody off. I can feel greatly puzzled and mystified without considering such off-putting at all.
I'll start collecting the trades and omnibuses. I still haven't decided if I want to jump on to the books now, but I'll probably decide soon. Thanks for the help, guys!
[QUOTE=SpOck;121159]I'll start collecting the trades and omnibuses. I still haven't decided if I want to jump on to the books now, but I'll probably decide soon. Thanks for the help, guys![/QUOTE]
Feel free to ask any questions relating to this. Like which books could be to grant the most accessibility onto specifically what you'd want. Which could prove hard to answer nonetheless.
Or if you wouldn't find access where to buy those designated titles at all. Any such stuff on which people might be able to advise you, if only a little.
I'd think collecting the way you'd want would be the way to go, on your own time and hopefully to your own preferences.
Happy reading!
I think I'm going to just collect the trades. It seems smarter, especially considering how cheap they are. I hope to frequent this board more once I get deeper into the Hellboy universe. Thanks for the help!
I found this recent post on Tumblr, [B][URL="http://conquerorwurm.tumblr.com/post/89606572636/how-and-where-to-buy-mignolaverse-comics-hellboy"]How and Where to Buy Mignolaverse Comics[/URL][/B]. It should be quite helpful to new comers.
I've been wanting to jump into Hellboy, but I honestly have no idea where to begin... does anyone have any recommendations for what the best starting off points would be in terms of storylines?
I think a great place to start with Hellboy (and what I usually recommend) is [B]The Chained Coffin[/B] TPB. It has a bunch of short stories that would give you a feel for the world and Mignola's art/writing style, etc. If you enjoy that jump back to[B] Seed of Destruction [/B]TPB and then read in order from there.
Thanks for the recommendations! I went to my local comic shop the other day and was looking through the Hellboy shelf and I was at a total loss. I'll definitely check those out!
[QUOTE=mscorley;371582]I think a great place to start with Hellboy (and what I usually recommend) is [B]The Chained Coffin[/B] TPB. It has a bunch of short stories that would give you a feel for the world and Mignola's art/writing style, etc. If you enjoy that jump back to[B] Seed of Destruction [/B]TPB and then read in order from there.[/QUOTE]
I have to agree. I started with [I]The Chained Coffin and Others[/I] myself.
I've started collecting the Library editions,and plan on picking up BRPD plague of frogs next.I want to go in order.Is there something I
should pick up first,or next?Thank you.
If you've got the first three [I]Hellboy[/I] Library Editions, dive straight into [I]B.P.R.D. Plague of Frogs[/I] hardcover omnibuses. The next hardcover will be [I]B.P.R.D. 1946-1947-1948[/I] coming out June next year.
The fourth [I]Plague of Frogs[/I] volume has some connections to [I]Lobster Johnson: The Iron Prometheus[/I] and [I]Witchfinder: In the Service of Angels[/I]. It's not necessary to read them, but they do fill in some backstory. Both are only available in trade paperbacks at the moment.
This is a great help.thank you.
EDIT: Looks like my question was already answered above. Sorry about that! Mods, please delete if possible.
Hey all.
I am finally about to take the plunge into the Hellboy universe. I've got Hellboy trades 1-6 and BPRD Plague of Frogs 1-4 coming. I've already read Hellboy 1-2 since I borrowed my friend's Library Edition.
Question is: Should I read all of the Hellboy trades up to 6 before jumping over to BPRD for Plague of Frogs? Or do I need to continue onto Hellboy 7+ before Plague of Frogs?
Hellboy trade 5 really kicks off the story lines that will be in BPRD, but the first 6 are kinda all very connected which is why you often see 6 as the break off point
Hi. I've read Hellboy LE 1 and the 1st omnibus of BPRD some time ago and I plan to get Hellboy and BPRD and the 2nd BPRD omnibus. I want to ask if Baltimore is related to the Hellboy universe.
No, Baltimore is it's own separate universe.
[QUOTE=Joker;667587]No, Baltimore is it's own separate universe.[/QUOTE]
Ok thanks!
Are the Hellboy Library Edition Vol. 1 and Lobster Johnson Vol. 2 out of print or is amazon just out of them atm? Anyone know how long amazon usually takes to get new ones?
No idea. The library editions are always reprinted though. The trades only go out of print after they've been corrected in an omnibus edition. You'll probably find that Amazon just ran out of stock over Christmas.
[QUOTE=middenway;808399]No idea. The library editions are always reprinted though. The trades only go out of print after they've been corrected in an omnibus edition. You'll probably find that Amazon just ran out of stock over Christmas.[/QUOTE]
Alright! That makes sense. In that case, I'm sure they are gonna have a big restock happen in the next few days/weeks.
I was just looking ahead and saw that there are quite a few stories not collected, such as The Coffin Man, Aztec Mummy, Abe Sapien #8 and 15, Exorcism etc. From what I can gather, there will be a "Mexico" trade as I think there is enough material if you include House of the Living Dead, but what about these other issues/Hellboy one shots/2 issue "missing" pieces? Any talk about these issues?
They'll obviously end up in a Library Edition at some point.
I wish they'd put the Mexico stuff in a Library Edition with the Bride of Hell half of vol.6, and put Hellboy in Hell after The Storm and the Fury.
Well I borrowed Hellboy in Hell: The Decent from my library. I'm chapter four, death riding an elephant. It's very good so far, I'm enjoying it. As far the character himself, I'm a bit disappointed because I don't really find him that interesting. I figured he would be more like the Hellboy I know from the movies. But this is my first time actually reading a Hellboy comic, so I'll see where it goes.
I purchased the entire Hellboy run from the beginning through "The Fury," or all pre-Hellboy in Hell stuff, digitally during Dark Horse's cyber Monday everything sale. I'd been intrigued by the character and obviously have taken note of his following. I read it all throughout the course of a week. I found many of the stories to be entertaining, liked a lot of the artwork, and occasionally found Hellboy himself to be interesting. However, all in all, I was just not wowed or blown away by any of it. I was not left with a burning desire to read further. What's wrong with me? Did I do it wrong? Maybe it's just the genre that doesn't hook me...
[QUOTE=SediarSago;824121]I was just looking ahead and saw that there are quite a few stories not collected, such as The Coffin Man, Aztec Mummy, Abe Sapien #8 and 15, Exorcism etc. From what I can gather, there will be a "Mexico" trade as I think there is enough material if you include House of the Living Dead, but what about these other issues/Hellboy one shots/2 issue "missing" pieces? Any talk about these issues?[/QUOTE]
"Talk"? As a pretty long-time and complete follower and reader of everything Hellboy I'm feeling pretty certain there isn't any Hellboy- or BPRD-related story material going "missing" or as remaining uncollected or remaining out-of-print [B]at all[/B].
Everything becomes collected in the best way possible once it can or needs to be, which means that for some bits it may take a while to get collected moreso than not, because of the material being so rich and diverse of itself to begin with.
For example two tiny backup-features created for filling up the pagecount to two of the 8-part installments of the 'Hellboy: The Wild Hunt' mini-series, were collected into the Hardcover edition of 'Hellboy: Weird Tales', after remaining *uncollected* for some 5 years. Whereas everything else would be finding its own way of becoming collected perfectly.
If you consider how Hellboy and the BPRD have only always consisted of but multi-layered and wildly diverse arcs from multiple vantage points, 5 years isn't a long time at all for stuff to get collected or reprinted, also as depending whether any original editions could still be getting bought and sold.
There are some stories [I]appearing as specifically created[/I] for fitting the Dark Horse Presents anthology magazine (both as the formerly digital-only Myspace Dark Horse Presents TPBs).
The Mexico stories seem particularly well-suited to ending up in there: because the Mexico-related stories take place in a period being [I]definably an out-of-continuity time in Hellboy's life![/I]
The slim hardcover graphic novels such as "Hellboy: House of the Living Dead" as well as "Hellboy: the Midnight Circus" seem a format as to particularly target or cater to bookshelf venues in today's markets. Those seem to be their own particular format for a reason.
Both these books seem tailored for celebrating either the swell Corben artwork or the Duncan Fegredo artwork, in a complete book of its own. And I do believe as books these'd be as complete as could be.
Whereas side-by-side all these various books and titles and projects to perform or deliver make up the roster for people to follow, in a balanced-out, unbulky, coherent and affordible way, as however any those readers or customers would or might feel to prefer, be it now both as whenever?
[QUOTE=Ninjak;824772]Well I borrowed Hellboy in Hell: The Decent from my library. I'm chapter four, death riding an elephant. It's very good so far, I'm enjoying it. As far the character himself, I'm a bit disappointed because I don't really find him that interesting. I figured he would be more like the Hellboy I know from the movies. But this is my first time actually reading a Hellboy comic, so I'll see where it goes.[/QUOTE]
You have a library near you that carries comics and even as new as that?! That is AMAZING.
There will be a number of Hellboy stories potentially more like the movies such as 'Hellboy: Seed of Destruction', 'Hellboy: the Chained Coffin and Other stories' or 'Hellboy: the Conqueror Worm'.
But seeing how all those stories form a part to the story matter quite as profoundly or as specifically as how they do already, where Hellboy In Hell will be to form more current or at least progressively developing installments onto it all, it won't be weird how either all or any of it will read as being its own thing as much as it would be?
I've seen and pretty much enjoyed the movies too, but. Seeing how the creator of Hellboy most primarily happens to be a maker of [U]comics[/U], which I can like, I'll prefer those moreso than whatever movies or tv thingies I'm sure. It's not that I don't like movies but as a comics fan both as a book fan, such comics or books can seem pretty damn fine on their own already, I'd say.
[QUOTE=Hero;824888]I purchased the entire Hellboy run from the beginning through "The Fury," or all pre-Hellboy in Hell stuff, digitally during Dark Horse's cyber Monday everything sale. I'd been intrigued by the character and obviously have taken note of his following. I read it all throughout the course of a week. I found many of the stories to be entertaining, liked a lot of the artwork, and occasionally found Hellboy himself to be interesting. However, all in all, I was just not wowed or blown away by any of it. I was not left with a burning desire to read further. What's wrong with me? Did I do it wrong? Maybe it's just the genre that doesn't hook me...[/QUOTE]
You appear to be answering your own question. The only one able to figure out how any stuff could or *should* be for you - regarding or regardless of "following"s - would be you. So good luck with that.
[QUOTE=Kees_L;825165]You appear to be answering your own question. The only one able to figure out how any stuff could or *should* be for you - regarding or regardless of "following"s - would be you. So good luck with that.[/QUOTE]
Well, I didn't mean my comment as an insult toward Hellboy fans. Overall, I'm happy I read the run. I'm sorry if my comment bothered you.
Thanks and another thing is that it doesn't even feel like i am reading a comic book. I'm loving how it's not action driven at all. Everything is a mystery. [QUOTE=Kees_L;825119]You have a library near you that carries comics and even as new as that?! That is AMAZING.
There will be a number of Hellboy stories potentially more like the movies such as 'Hellboy: Seed of Destruction', 'Hellboy: the Chained Coffin and Other stories' or 'Hellboy: the Conqueror Worm'.
But seeing how all those stories form a part to the story matter quite as profoundly or as specifically as how they do already, where Hellboy In Hell will be to form more current or at least progressively developing installments onto it all, it won't be weird how either all or any of it will read as being its own thing as much as it would be?
I've seen and pretty much enjoyed the movies too, but. Seeing how the creator of Hellboy most primarily happens to be a maker of [U]comics[/U], which I can like, I'll prefer those moreso than whatever movies or tv thingies I'm sure. It's not that I don't like movies but as a comics fan both as a book fan, such comics or books can seem pretty damn fine on their own already, I'd say.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Hero;825315]Well, I didn't mean my comment as an insult toward Hellboy fans. Overall, I'm happy I read the run. I'm sorry if my comment bothered you.[/QUOTE]
I think you mistook his comment. he's just saying you didn't 'do' anything wrong, it just may not be for you.
[QUOTE=SediarSago;824121]I was just looking ahead and saw that there are quite a few stories not collected, such as The Coffin Man, Aztec Mummy, Abe Sapien #8 and 15, Exorcism etc. From what I can gather, there will be a "Mexico" trade as I think there is enough material if you include House of the Living Dead, but what about these other issues/Hellboy one shots/2 issue "missing" pieces? Any talk about these issues?[/QUOTE]
...Uh, I'll get back to you in a few days when I can actually talk about this stuff. But I will say [B]everything[/B] always gets collected eventually.
[QUOTE=Joker;824594]They'll obviously end up in a Library Edition at some point.
I wish they'd put the Mexico stuff in a Library Edition with the Bride of Hell half of vol.6, and put Hellboy in Hell after The Storm and the Fury.[/QUOTE]
I think you'll find it's because they want the first four [I]Hellboy in Hell[/I] books collected back to back over two volumes. Mike Mignola's already said those first four are kinda one big chunk of stuff. That's not insider info by the way, that's just my theory.
[QUOTE=Ninjak;825362]Thanks and another thing is that it doesn't even feel like i am reading a comic book. I'm loving how it's not action driven at all. Everything is a mystery.[/QUOTE]
To me Hellboy seems a fresh take on comics heroics or storytelling on the whole because Hellboy responds rather uniquely to things.
As if the storytelling means to be uniquely its own thing just the same. As if it doesn't merely seek to be 'like anything' but more rather it aims to actually be what everything else couldn't.
I think both the movies and the comics mean to engage these story elements, like as only Hellboy stories could.
I think the awesome thing about everything Hellboy is that it will have been created by a comics creator for the purpose of presenting awesome comics material, even with whatever help of others, or as enabling even such altogether different material as movie adaptations.
Different titles or different story arcs will be presenting things differently, like Lobster Johnson will be in-the-face pulp mystery, where the BPRD paranormal agent stuff may feel more like a superhero team type-of-thing, where Witchfinder or Hellboy might seem more wayward or not, as depending.
A story like 'Hellboy: the Corpse' (from Hellboy: the Chained Coffin AOS TPB) as dating all the way back to 1996 presented a tale following its own type of logics and proceedings unmistakably, since Hellboy was to follow directions as given by a corpse (like in the movie Hellboy II: the Golden Army something similar takes place for a bit). Everything to the tale in the comic gets visualized and paced in its own particular style as literally only Mignola pages could do such.
Hellboy In Hell seems to be an ongoing title taking place where anything or any stories will proceed or take place according to their own unique ways completely. Dealing with whatever stuff in its own way primarily as a result of its location being a nether- or after-world instead of an ordinary one.
Which doesn't mean anything to it should be nonsensical or merely weird, since the stories to Hellboy In Hell so far have also presented very gettable both as quite moving stories already.
Where either demonic princes or brotherly bonds could die or perish, as well as just the most powerless or ordinary of solemn soldiers and whatnot. Houses both as buildings seem apparent there moreso than not, both as statues and roads and lakes, instead of things only needing to be dark or even bloody. Vibrant moreso than only consisting of death or dead, even if any of it would be!
[QUOTE=Joker;825403]I think you mistook his comment. he's just saying you didn't 'do' anything wrong, it just may not be for you.[/QUOTE]
Yup. That's what I meant to be saying.
[QUOTE=Kees_L;825445]Yup. That's what I meant to be saying.[/QUOTE]
Ok, I got you now. Sorry, my brain was scrambled. I like the way you described the Hellboy series in the post above this one. And your description of Hellboy in Hell now has me curious to check it out...
[QUOTE=Hero;825947]Ok, I got you now. Sorry, my brain was scrambled. I like the way you described the Hellboy series in the post above this one. And your description of Hellboy in Hell now has me curious to check it out...[/QUOTE]
O.K., cool, thanks.
[QUOTE=middenway;825415]...Uh, I'll get back to you in a few days when I can actually talk about this stuff. But I will say [B]everything[/B] always gets collected eventually.
[/QUOTE]
Ah, so there's something to know in a few days eh....
[QUOTE=Skinkie;827231]Ah, so there's something to know in a few days eh....[/QUOTE]
[URL="http://multiversitycomics.com/interviews/mignolaversity-ahead-in-2015-hellboy-and-the-b-p-r-d/"]Ahead in 2015[/URL], the first of five, with a new one going up ever day until Friday. Now that this first one's out, I think I can say the loose Hellboy in Mexico stories will most likely be collected in a trade with [I]Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: 1956[/I]. I doubt [I]Hellboy: The House of the Living Dead[/I] will be collected in that trade, though it's not completely impossible either. So the trade will collect [I]Hellboy versus the Aztec Mummy[/I], [I]Hellboy Gets Married[/I], [I]The Coffin Man[/I], [I]The Coffin Man 2: The Rematch[/I], and [I]1956[/I] (which, given the space left in the volume, will probably be four issues).
As for [I]Exorcism[/I], Cameron Stewart has hinted on Twitter that he'll be returning to [I]B.P.R.D.[/I] after he's finished with [I]Fight Club 2[/I]. All the Ashley Strode stories will be collected together most likely, and they're not done yet.
The [I]Abe Sapien[/I] flashback stories were put in as a way to relax the schedule for the Fiumaras on the ongoing story. When there's enough of them, they'll all be collected together.