Hellboy: The Crooked Man #1

By Mike Mignola (Writer), Richard Corben (Artist) and Dave Stewart (Colorist)

In the ilk of the rural American supernatural stories like American Gods or Pigeons from Hell, HellBoy: The Crooked Man tells the story of a man’s homecoming after 20 years abroad and how the pacts he sought to escape still wait for his blood. In the green and misty mountains of Virginia, Hellboy responds to a dying woman who’s been witched. Enter: Tom Ferrell. Suddenly, the story shifts and Hellboy finds himself on a journey with a man who seeks to recall the devil and reclaim his loved ones.

Richard Corben’s art is creepy and beautiful. The rough and rather unpleasant design of his characters makes Hellboy appear normal looking in comparison. Moreover, the story of the “crooked man” and his appearance in the book is frightful and lingeringly so.  Yet, Corben’s style makes these unsettling images very attractive and full of depth. Ferrell’s stoic reaction to everything from seeing his childhood friend shed her skin to a presumably deceased woman riding a dead horse leaves the reader with the understanding that he’s not only accustomed to the supernatural, but is naturally cool and collected.

The Crooked Man # 1 is the scariest Hellboy story I read so far. If you’re not afraid of the dark or the crack of a twig in the forest, you’ll enjoy this book. I would caution, however, that unlike Hellboy related titles this may be a little more risqué and harrowing. There is nudity and some really disturbing scenes of human mutilation. You’ve been warned! (Grade: A)

-Steven M. Bari