Conqueror Worm

"Hellboy" is a clever and unique creation that's often hard to describe to someone who's never heard of it. The closest I've been able to come is this: it's like Raiders of the Lost Ark mixed with The X-Files. It's the light-and-dark inkwork of Frank Miller's Sin City, but with vivid use of color. It's got action and horror, gore and humor, and it's hard not to find something to like about it. Even though this particular Hellboy story is fairly far along in the series, most of these graphic novel collections don't require that you know a lot of the background in order to enjoy them. Each reminds us that Hellboy is a magical being, was created/summoned by the Nazis during World War II (but fell into the hands of the Allies), and works for the fictional "Bureau for Paranormal Research & Defense" (B.P.R.D.), an organization that exists to track down odd happenings and put the monsters down. Each graphic novel also contains one or more complete story arcs, and that makes for a good read: you know you're not going to be left hanging or left in the dark. When you look at Hellboy stories, this novel is probably the most pivotal. From the beginning, we have a paranormal-nazi tale that points to earlier adventures, we're told that Hellboy's love interest Liz is temporarily out of the picture, and we're introduced to another odd new character in Mignola's pantheon: "Lobster Johnson". Last, the opening scenes put a rather nasty spin on the B.P.R.D., the agency for which Hellboy works. The title is taken from Poe's "Ligiea", and it weaves dialog from the poem into the story well. If you're a fan of the series, you won't be disappointed. If you're new to the world of Hellboy, you might enjoy some of the earlier stories, but you can easily start here if you wish.

I have always loved Mike Mignola's art, but this volume of Hellboy is the ultimate in the collection in my eyes, with its culmination of such magnificent art and intriguingly frightening storytelling.

This book is BY FAR my favorite of the series. Great purchase for any fan or newcomer to the series. Any one of these can be picked up and read on their own.

Mike Mignola does it again with Conqueror Worm. This collection brings together some of Mignola's best work to date. Unfortunately I must say that this looks like a fitting end to the Hellboy series for the time being. I say unfortunately because I am a big fan of the Hellboy series, and while this book is an excellent read, it only whets the appetite for more Mignola. Sigh. That being said, this book is a great read and an important addition to the Hellboy library. Definitely worth the asking price boys and girls.

Mike Magnolia brings it all together, all of the creepy bits, the folklore, the boggles and ghosts, Christ and the Devil, Lovecraft and Poe, he gathers all of the elements that make this kind of fiction wonderful, and binds them in the world of Hellboy. Anyone who enjoys the wierd fiction/folklore horror genre will enjoy Hellboy."Conqueror Worm" has all of the elements of a great Hellboy story. Mystical Nazi's seek to contact things from "beyond," who wait for mankind's destruction. If this sounds familiar, then you will probably like Hellboy. Newer characters, in the form of Roger the Homunculus and Lobster Johnston are developed, and become an interesting part of the Hellboy mythos rather than side players. The art is amazing, as usual. Magnolia refines his style with each Hellboy release. As always, the TPB offers new material and is superior to the monthly comic release. The entire Hellboy library is as worth owning as the complete works of Poe or Lovecraft. "Conqueror Worm" is a necessary edition.