Hello all, I just finished the Hellboy Omnibus vol.1 and what a disapointment.
I had never read any Hellboy before but had hight hopes having seen the movies and read a lot of the threads here.
First the art. Yes Mike Mignolia is a good artist because he can pull out good drawings. But like too many american comics, lots of panels have a plain background.
Also, you like it or not, but Mignolia's way of drawing is very particular. I find it very geometric and angular. His art is not smooth.
Then the stories are not as great as I had hoped. I never go the chills like I had with Swamp Thing for exemple.
Especially his first one Seeds of Destruction that disapointed me much.
Then there are lots of incoherent stuff or unexplained things. I won't name them, there are too many in my taste. This is not the result of well worked stories.
Sure Mignolia and Byrne certainly do lots of researched about legends, myths and creatures, but that don't mean their stories are well constructed.
But to be a bit positive, throu-out the book the stories got better and better. But not as good as people seem to say. Maybe the second omnibus will proove me wrong.
Also his art stays constant. There are no parts that seem rushed.
I will wait to read omnibus 2 to make a final judgement on Hellboy. So far I'm disapointed.