Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. : The Beast of Vargu One-shot Comic Review
Summary: Working in the Carpathian Mountains, Hellboy meets a foe that will test his mettle, but all may not be as it seems, or is it?
4.5
Manipulated Monsters
When a figure such as Hellboy graces the pages of a comic… as with many superheroes, the challenge can be how to make someone, something, that seems invulnerable, appear as though they could fail? For all Hellboy’s strengths, he isn’t always lucky enough to come out on top in a fight and the beast of Vargu will certainly put him through his paces.
Writing
As mentioned, there can be a challenge making mighty characters seem fragile or at least susceptible to harm. Mike does a great job here showing Hellboy as both strong and threatened in the same story. Ultimately Hellboy needs someone else’s help to piece together what even occurred and in so doing might even surprise big red himself. The second story is a lovely tale that seems perfect for Hellboy.
Artwork
Duncan Fegredo performs his wonders with the pages within, sticking with the feel of the Mignolaverse but also adding his own little details here and there to put a sense of life into the characters. Dave Stewarts colouring also helps to set the mood with the dark earthen tones giving a sense of heavyness throughout that seems just right for the tasks set before Hellboy.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes it’s nice to have a short story… something that you can read in a quick sitting. But that doesn’t mean the story is light on content or depth. The Beast of Vargu continues the job of filling in the life of Hellboy… the experiences that make him who he is. The second story is a lovely idea… Hellboy sitting and listening to the telling of a folktale that sounds quite familiar to his own experience of life. Certainly a worthwhile addition to the Hellboy collected works.
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Duncan Fegredo
Colourist: Dave Stewart
Cover Artist: Duncan Fedgredo
Genre: Action/Adventure, Horror, Crime
Format: 32pgs, FC, One-shot
Release Date: 19th June, 2019
About the Author
Chris O'Connor Father of four, husband of one and all round oddity. Gaming at home since about 1982 with a Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Moving on to the more traditional PC genre in the years that followed with the classic Jump Joe and Alley Cat. CGA, EGA, VGA and beyond PC's have been central to my gaming but I've also enjoyed consoles and hand helds along the way (who remembers the Atari Lynx?). Would have been actor/film maker, jack of many trades master of none.
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