A few people have recently asked where to start on HELLBOY, and though my usual answer is ‘read all of it, twice’, I understand that might hurt wallets and take time. If you’re not prepared to spend a small fortune, but want to see what the current fuss is all about and prepare for next year’s sure-to-be-brilliant-‘Hellboy In Hell’, here’s a guide.

Seed Of Destruction (Vol. 1) tells the origin of Hellboy (which you’ve seen in the film, so you’ll be comfortable here). Seed is likely the ‘safest’ of the series and is fairly gentle with the world building, ensemble cast introductions and Lovecraft influences, but it’s the obvious starting point.

Wake The Devil (Vol. 2) explores Hellboy’s purpose and destiny, which has always been an important focus of the character, but never truly explored until the most recent story arcs. It’s worth noting that the charm of Hellboy punching Nazis never wears off. 

I’d recommend Conqueror Worm (Vol. 5) next, not only because it’s my personal favorite, but because it ends with one of Hellboy’s defining character moments. I’ve always loved the unexpected directions Mignola has taken his cast of characters, even when he dresses these up in apocalyptic battles with giant worms (and more fucking nazis!).

Darkness Calls (Vol. 8) was the beginning of a four year epic that concluded last week, with Duncan Fegredo on pencils and Mignola on fire. The series takes a dark, violent turn here that continues in The Wild Hunt (Vol. 9), at which point Mignola’s villains become as deeply layered as his heroes. The final two pieces, The Storm and The Fury, are yet to be collected in trade, but call on nostalgia and familiarity with the property to build to a completely satisfying conclusion to a hell of a ride. 

Catch up. Read the brilliant short story collections and B.P.R.D. next. And next year, we’ll read together.