Hellboy/BPRD

[Lobster Johnson]

Hi everyone,
Is anyone else a fan of the Hellboy universe? I've been a fan for a while, and I think I've collected everything but a few of the crossover issues.

[jabba359]

I have all six Library editions (I just finished reading the third volume today), plus I own Hellboy in Hell: The Descent (hardcover and the Artist Edition) and BPRD vol 1, however I won't start them until I've finished reading the Hellboy volumes. I'm really enjoying the stories and art and as long as the quality of the other books is just as high, will pick up the remaining BPRD volumes, the Lobster Johnson series, as well as the BPRD 1946-1948 book when it comes out in a couple weeks.

To tell the truth, I didn't know anything about Hellboy until I saw the first movie when it came out. I found the character very entertaining but didn't get around to reading the series until last year, when I bought the first Library volume. It was such a beautiful book (I wish the Usagi Yojimbo Saga books were of the same size and materials) that I went ahead and bought all 5 of the other volumes before I had even finished the first one.

[Lobster Johnson]

My Hellboy/BPRD collection is a weird blend of one Library edition, a few omnibuses, plenty of single issues, and a whole lot of trades.
I was introduced to Hellboy when a friend started reading it, and then I saw the movie soon after. A few months after that, I saw a great Lobster Johnson cover by Tonci Zonjic and decided to try the book. Ever since then I've been a fan.

[Usagi-chan]

I used to be a Hellboy fan until I read "The Crooked Man" and got creeped out. Now I only read Itty Bitty Hellboy. Practically the same thing, right?

[Maka]

Dark horse digital had a HellBoy collection sale last year. I picked that up. The artists are great and I like the sense of humor. I have not read much more of the other parts of the universe yet. Peace, maka

[Angilasman]

Been a big fan since I saw the first film when it came out 11 years ago... wow! Has it really been that long? Saw the movie opening weekend, saw it again next weekend, and then bought the first tbp the weekend after that! Haven't missed anything by either Mike Mignola or Guillermo del Toro since then.

[Lobster Johnson]

I like that there is a small group of writers, but lots of different artists. I have really found a lot of great illustrators through these books, including three of my four all-time favorite artists.

[maichan]

I have been a fan of Hellboy since he first appeared in Seed of Destruction back in 1994. I've kept up with almost all of the Hellboy and BPRD titles since then, but recently cut back on the BPRD/Abe Sapien/etc spinoff titles in order to keep focused only on Hellboy.

What attracted me to Hellboy was Mike Mignola's art, and the storyline in general.

[Lobster Johnson]

I have been a fan of Hellboy since he first appeared in Seed of Destruction back in 1994. I've kept up with almost all of the Hellboy and BPRD titles since then, but recently cut back on the BPRD/Abe Sapien/etc spinoff titles in order to keep focused only on Hellboy.

What attracted me to Hellboy was Mike Mignola's art, and the storyline in general.

Mike Mignola is a great artist and writer. His artwork doesn't come out too often, but it is always worth the wait.

[Jubei]

Sparked by Kyle's comments in the Superhero thread, on my last visit to my LCS, I bought a copy of Seeds of Destruction and read it in about a day, my first exposure to Hellboy's universe. I've seen both films and enjoyed them, especially the second one, but Hellboy was always one of the titles that I know of but have never read till now.

Very good, Mignola's art is terrific, one of the most distinctive styles in the medium. But how interconnected are the titles? If I read Hellboy, should I wait till a certain point to start reading BPRD?

[Lobster Johnson]

Umm... the BPRD title starts right after Hellboy: Conqueror Worm, but you could probably start reading BPRD and have a good understanding of it. BPRD books 1 and 2 are OK, but they are mostly one shots and short stories by several different creators. Book 3 is where it really starts to get good (Mignola alone wrote that one, and Guy Davis becomes the regular artist during that one; Guy Davis's art is AWESOME!). I would say that BPRD could be understood pretty well after only having read Seed of Destruction.

[Steve Hubbell]

Are you reading the new Frankenstein Underground that Mignola just started?

[jabba359]

Here's one recommended reading order for all the different books: http://multiversitycomics.com/annotatio ... rder-2015/

[Angilasman]

Very good, Mignola's art is terrific, one of the most distinctive styles in the medium. But how interconnected are the titles? If I read Hellboy, should I wait till a certain point to start reading BPRD?

Like Lobster said, it's probably a good idea to wait until after Conqueror Worm to start BPRD.

In conjunction, the various titles really flesh out the world, but you can read Hellboy without having to read any of the spin-offs if you want.

[Lobster Johnson]

Are you reading the new Frankenstein Underground that Mignola just started?

Yes, I am. It's pretty good so far- a new issue just came out this week.