Oh, yeah, you heard right. Hellboy is back, back in an exciting yet frustratingly short two-part mini series. But when you can get any Hellboy; you don’t complain. Especially with this mini-series because Mignola has not written anything about Hellboy in some time, except when he is briefly mentioned in B.P.R.D. More importantly, The Island contains all of the aspects that make Hellboy’s comics some of the best out there. Mignola has a brilliant yet subtle way of telling his stories much akin to H.P. Lovecraft himself, and his dark and mysterious stories, settings, and histories show a huge imagination and depth of solemn ponderings that would keep most men up at night. This tale of stygian nightmares is aptly coupled with the shadowy and supremely inky art also done by Mignola. His artwork is simple and very expressive, and his shading makes everything look ancient and sinister.

The Island takes place after Hellboy’s wonderings took him to the bottom of the sea for a couple of years. After a drink with some dead guys, Hellboy is confronted b a strange, Medusa like spirit of some kind who does not want him to go any further onto the island. This lady is no ordinary evil spirit, though. This is not the first time Hellboy has encountered her. And beyond that is an ancient castle which is the resting place of a heretic that was executed but never quite died, and now he guards important secrets and awaits a new body to replace his old. Naturally, Hellboy puts his foot right in it.

Whatever is on the Island that Hellboy isn’t supposed to see is going to be something that you really should see; especially if you are a Hellboy fan. Mike Mignola promises that this mini series is going to be important to the overall story of Hellboy and his all but unknown origins. Plus, this is the first Hellboy comic we have seen in some time, and the first done by Mignola in a long time. So if you are a fan, this is a comic that you absolutely must not miss, and if you aren’t, this would be a great place to start.

-Fumanchu