Crazy fan theory time and I’m not sure if this one has been proposed before, I can’t remember reading it.
SPOILERS FOR: all current series, especially Frankenstein Underground #5, any Hellboy in Hell and current arcs of BPRD and Abe Sapien.
Here we go…
I think two things were made clear in Frankenstein Underground #5 (and possibly with the teasers for the upcoming linking of all series) –
One) The Earth, at least above ground, will be devastated to an extent mankind as it is will not be able to survive on it. Hell on Earth. It’s been pointed to with Mayan prophecies in Abe and elsewhere, the Earth will be destroyed to be recreated again. Now in Frankenstein Underground we get the prophecy clearly stated from Tefnut Trionus – Earth above ground will be destroyed. The Mignolaverse has been leading to this from the start and it’s been hinted at in just about every series (Hellboy, BPRD, Abe, Frankenstein – definitely, probably even Lobster, Witchfinder, etc).
Two) Tefnut states it clearly in issue five of Frankenstein Underground – humanity will have to find somewhere else to survive whilst the world goes through the transformation it needs to or humanity will be wiped out. The destruction being Earth fully destroyed by the Ogdru Jahad and then rebirth into the next world – the Viking Ragnarok / Mayan mythology fulfilled. Her answer is to hide underground and sends people down to find this hiding place. We know now that the mission goes wrong but possibly through Frankenstein that place could be a safe haven. But…
Didn’t Liz destroy all the underground realm which in turn led to the Hell on Earth series? So what remains of Frankenstein’s hidden world after Liz’s world burn? That is unknown, though I’d like to think he’s still there.
So where does this lead us? I believe one place…
Hellboy, as our hero and the one to save us, had to go ahead (of the rest of humanity) and to do that he had to die to get there, because there is no alternative way really for the living to go normally. The place I am suggesting for humanity’s salvation? That’s right… Hell.
From the current series we are learning that the big cities of Hell are emptying out after actions by Hellboy in Hell itself, i.e. the killing of Lucifer which led to the underling revolt, death of a lot of Hell’s royalty and their fleeing to remote palaces. Lot of empty space for people to “live.”
We’ve heard time and again about the Right Hand of Doom and the crown upon his head – legacies he has denied a lot of times. But… only he has the power to open the “wall” between Hell and Earth – that is the power of the Right Hand of Doom. So Hellboy could open the way for humanity to escape the destruction of Earth via entering the realm of Hell. And Hellboy can then lead the charge back to Earth with the armies he controls with his crown.
Where is the Black Flame in all of this? I think he is just an agent to bring about the change on Earth. He said it to Abe himself he is not the key. Black Flame is the opposite of Abe/Hellboy – the anti-version of them. He destroys, they rebuild.
And the final key… Abe. We have been nudged towards this time and again, Abe will be the key to rebuilding after the end of the world. Abe will be there, hopefully with Hellboy, to remove the last remnants of evil (if they even exist) so that humanity can return to the new world, to begin again, to restart the cycle. Abe will welcome the people in and teach them anew – the Oannes part of his mythology. And, maybe stretching here, I am hoping it is to that garden in England that they return to, since it was in Hellboy that it was said people will return here eventually.
In the Abe ongoing series it was stated a while back that it was necessary to have the gods and heroes to bring about this death and rebirth. Everything has come together for this.
A final wish – hope that we see the realm that Morgana and Gruagach went to and there is some absolution. I really love the idea of these other realms alongside Earth, Hell, etc. I think with Hellboy being in Hell right now I really miss that side to the Mignolaverse.
Final thought - I really have to disagree with the letter by Gary O. in Frankenstein Underground #5 - if the Mignolaverse kept its status quo then it would never be reaching the heights it is reaching now. I absolutely LOVE where the series is going, whether my above theory is on the right track or not, and it's the fact things DO change that makes the Mignolaverse a step above Marvel and DC. This IS the best comic series right now, it's keeping me very happy! Thank you Mike and team.
Post note - And oh my gosh, John eventually stepping down as writer is really making me sad. John... I wish you would see it through to the end, you and Mike are the BEST team, partners in crime, it will end on a high whether you leave it together, but to not see it through to the end really makes me sad, you have forged it together even if Mike started it. I wish there could be a change of mind. But, I wish you all the luck with wherever your path takes you!
Edit: I'm going to go through the published Hellboy in Hell books/comics because I just remembered there is a lot of ominous prophecy regarding Hellboy from Sir Edward and the other character(s) he was talking to, which may affect all or parts of the above theory.
Over to you...