Written by Mike Mignola
and Thomas Sniegoski
Art by Craig Rousseau
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Alas, Young Hellboy.
There’s a part in this issue when he just wants to follow a bug crawling into an opening of a bunch of rocks. Yes, Professor Bruttenholm told him not to touch anything and not to wander off. But that bug, though!
Craig Rousseau’s art, though stylized and sketch-like simple, still captures Hellboy’s expressions beautifully. The script has a lot of people standing around talking or relaying exposition, so this issue is a challenge for creating dynamic panels.
Yes, that bit of rocks leads to a doorway at a forbidden temple on the hidden island. And we know that Vesperra the vampire queen is inside that temple, freshly out of her prison and gathering power.
But Hellboy’s too young to read the clues. He sees a lit torch at the top of a flight of stone steps, and he thinks how lucky he is! Someone left it for them because it’s dark down there and they wouldn’t have been able to see.
Aw, buddy.
I don’t know, but the possibility of Anung Un Rama in thrall to her, or worse, killed and his essence consumed by her would be quite bad!
Hellboy at this point is just a boy, so he goes into the temple as the Professor and Scarlett tiptoe in fear of encountering the vampire.
Scarlett, with the magic of the ape-men’s protector running through her, is psychically connected to the warnings carved into the temple walls. She tells the story of Vesperra’s danger and imprisonment, but it’s not long before zombies attack.
It’s a classic story construction: two separate pieces of action meet in the middle. Bruttenholm and Scarlett, armed with the knowledge and warnings. Hellboy, oblivious and caught.
Scarlett transforms into her giant she-ape form to battle the vampire queen, who has taken on a monstrous she-bat form. Who doesn’t love some grand monster-on-monster fighting?
The only problem is, things turn sideways and Vesperra is on the brink of reemerging to the world.
Young Hellboy trips, he screams in fear. He’s a boy. But things are getting very real, very fast.
How will the lad find his courage?
We’ll see next time.
