Connect with us
Is It Good? Hellboy: Weird Tales Hardcover Review

Comic Books

Is It Good? Hellboy: Weird Tales Hardcover Review

Hellboy fans have plenty of reason to give thanks this week as Dark Horse releases a hardcover collection of Hellboy: Weird Tales Volumes 1 and 2. Is it good?


Hellboy: Weird Tales Hardcover (Dark Horse Comics)


hellboy-weird-tales-hc-cover

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

Of course it’s good. It’s a collection of short Hellboy tales from a plethora of comic’s greatest writers and artists. The only drawback to this volume is that there’s no real cohesiveness to the stories. That’s obviously to be expected with this type of anthology, but the mythology and evolving interactions within the Mignola’s universe is one of its best aspects.

Think of it this way: A typical story in the Hellboy universe is presented like a gourmet dinner, filled with various courses that all lead to a well-planned and satisfying experience. This anthology, on the other hand, is more like a box of chocolates: A variety of exotic flavors varying from incredible to average depending on your tastes.

What sets this anthology apart from others, however, is the lack of coconut filling…in other words none of the stories suck. Even the ones that didn’t really hit the mark with me were still enjoyable on some level (and were over after just a few pages). But the great ones…oh man…there is some really good stuff in here.

Below are a few of the ones that stood out for me:

Baba Yaga’s Feast: Mignola spins a truly warped and twisted fairy tale complimented perfectly by Guy Davis’ pencils.

Midnight Cowboy: A hilarious tale from Hellboy’s youth that is both lighted hearted fun and a bit terrifying.

Hot: The story Randy Stradley is good, but jaw dropping artwork by Seung Kim is what really shines in this one.

Stillborn: Limited dialogue doesn’t keep this one from delivering a story that is equal parts terrifying and heartbreaking.

The Dread Within: A much appreciated look at things from Liz Sherman’s point of view, sprinkled with just the right amount of dark humor along with a heaping helping
of horror.

Downtime: Anyone who has a break room with a mischievous copier and/or drink machine will love this one.

Professional Help: You’ll laugh and cry at the same time.

Keep in mind these are just my favorites. For another reader, they could very well be different. All of them, however, are well crafted and short. If you’re looking for a perfect sampler of Hellboy goodness, this is where you need to start.

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024 WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024 AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024 AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup