A crooked review and breakdown of Hellboy: The Crooked Man comic
As someone who’s been a fan of the Hellboy universe for decades now, I can confidently say that “Hellboy: The Crooked Man” is a tale worth sinking your teeth into. Now, I ain’t no literary scholar, but even I could appreciate the careful weaving of exposition that Mignola masterfully crafted to set the stage for this chilling yarn.
Hellboy has captivated audiences from the world of games, movies, and where it all began, comics. One of the most revered Hellboy comics was the three issue mini series titled Hellboy: The Crooked Man. Creator and writer of the comic and the entire Hellboy mythos, Mike Mignola, has gone on record to say that the Hellboy: The Crooked Man he wrote is his favorite and best work.
This year, the comic “Hellboy: The Crooked Man” will make its way to the big screen. But just how good is the original source material, and does it truly deserve all the accolades from both fans and its creator? Join us as we explore the terrifying world of “Hellboy: The Crooked Man” and discover the answer! Be warned, spoilers lie ahead!
The overall story
In 1958, the setting for this tale is the Appalachian Mountains, where our protagonist, Hellboy, was still relatively new to his role at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD). This particular story finds him probing a suspected group of witches hidden within the locality.
During the investigation Hellboy encounters a man named Tom Ferrell, a local of the area recently returned to his roots. Tom finds what’s called a witchball, a object laid with a curse upon whoever touches it, which Hellboy missed upon his initial investigation in the area. The witchball is discovered in the home of one Cora Fisher, a girl Tom knew back in the day, and he and Hellboy set out to find Cora in case something bad happened to her. While walking to find Cora, Hellboy and Tom talk with each other, the latter of whom talks about his past serving in World War II, and how he felt he needed to return home.
At a cabin, they find a chaotic array of witchballs and other occult items, and a gruesome scene: the desiccated remains of Cora Fisher, devoid of any blood or gore. Tom identifies the skin as belonging to Cora, leading them to infer that she discarded her flesh and is awaiting its reattachment, placing her squarely in the midst of Hellboy’s ongoing investigation.
As they pass time, Hellboy inquires about the incident involving the devil that Tom mentioned earlier during their conversation. Tom then recounts the story of Effie Kolb, a girl he knew who persuaded him to become a witch like herself. In a deal with a local spirit known as The Crooked Man, Tom received a fragment of his power unknowingly when he rejected him and decided to join the military instead.
In a surprising twist, Cora makes her reappearance as a raccoon, then steps back into her human form. When asked about her transformation, Cora reveals that she took up witchcraft due to extreme necessity. However, before anyone could delve deeper, Effie Kolb arrives on a dilapidated horse. She alerts them that The Crooked Man demands the presence of Cora and Tom, prompting the trio to prepare for an encounter with this enigmatic figure.
En route to The Crooked Man, Cora meets an untimely end at the hands of vengeful witches who believed she had deceived them. In the same encounter, Cora dies, Tom and Hellboy find themselves besieged by monstrous beings summoned by the witches’ power. Tom employs a talisman he acquired from The Crooked Man – a lucky cat bone – to fend off danger, allowing both him and Hellboy to live. Later, Effie informs Tom that by using the bone for the first time, he is now under The Crooked Man’s control.
Tom and Hellboy proceed on their adventure, eventually coming across an ancient church inhabited by an elderly blind priest. Not long after they arrive, they are encircled by witches, who are unable to set foot on sacred ground due to their rejection of God and allegiance to The Crooked Man. As if on cue, The Crooked Man himself emerges, demanding repayment from Tom for an alleged debt. Hellboy steps forward to challenge the entity directly, but is momentarily overpowered by him. In an attempt to sway the priest, The Crooked Man offers gold, restored youth and sight, and a beautiful woman to love, all in exchange for Tom. However, the priest rejects each offer, maintaining his loyalty to Tom instead.
In this scenario, the sinister figure known as The Crooked Man summons an undead force that clashes with Hellboy and Tom. Meanwhile, a priest comprehends that the antagonist covets the cat bone over Tom himself, leading him to sanctify the artifact and purge its malevolence. Hellboy, armed with a shovel imbued with divine power, strikes The Crooked Man once, causing him to vanish. With their leader defeated, the witches retreat in defeat.
On the following day, Tom and Hellboy return to the forest where they unveil The Crooked Man’s genuine shape – a pitiful collection of tentacles encompassed by piles of cash. They present the now blessed bone to The Crooked Man, causing him to vanish permanently.
It was discovered that Effie had transformed into an old woman since the absence of The Crooked Man’s powers left her powerless. Before departing, Tom and Hellboy transformed her into a horse and scribbled a warning on her side: “Caution! I am a witch!
Review
Revisiting a cherished plot can prove challenging as it may seem like repeating information that’s already out there. However, I’m prepared to take the risk that there are readers eager and curious about the fresh perspective I plan to offer.
The narrative unfolds gradually, as it’s rich with background information essential for understanding the characters, the mythos of the Appalachian region, and introducing the enigmatic figure known as the Crooked Man. A well-crafted tale in any genre needs to establish its world for the audience to follow along in the early stages, and Mignola skillfully does this, piquing the reader’s curiosity about the characters’ backstories.
From my perspective, numerous Hellboy tales often struggle due to an excessive amount of expository information that feels more like cramming for a test than smoothly integrated details. Whether you agree or not with the idea that the exposition in “Hellboy: The Crooked Man” is too detailed, I personally find that the story’s lore and character backgrounds don’t disrupt the flow for me.
After all the initial set-up has passed, the narrative significantly improves in terms of flow due to the chilling mannerisms of the villains, particularly The Crooked Man. Effie Kolb, who is both unsettling and intriguing, adds to this eeriness with her looks and speech, acting as a captivating siren drawing her victims towards her for her master’s benefit. The execution is masterful, with the sense of danger being palpable and the tension remaining persistent throughout the story.
Mike Mignola not only authored and conceived Hellboy, but also illustrated numerous comics where this character and his universe unfolded. Yet, there have been instances when Mignola delegated the drawing tasks to other talented individuals. One of his notable collaborations was with esteemed artist Richard Corben. Known for his expertise in comic books and graphic novels, particularly his horror work, Corben also contributed album covers for musician Meat Loaf. In the story The Crooked Man, it was Corben who assumed the artistic control.
As I delve into this captivating narrative, I can’t help but appreciate Corben’s artistic touch that breathes such depth and intricacy into the story. If his contributions were absent, the tale wouldn’t resonate with me in the same way.
The author believes that even when the Crooked Man isn’t physically present, his influence can still be sensed. This is because Kolb, the horse, and the other associates of the Crooked Man all exhibit similar physical deformities, mannerisms, and speech patterns, heightening the fear and anticipation of actually encountering the Crooked Man himself.
Although some criticisms have been pointed out in this article, Hellboy: The Crooked Man is worthy of all the acclaim it has earned since its publication. If the upcoming movie manages to convey the unsettling atmosphere present in the comic, then viewers can look forward to a satisfying result.
What are your thoughts? Have you come across the comic book titled “Hellboy: The Crooked Man”? If you have, would you say it’s excessively praised, underestimated, or perfectly rated according to you?
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2024-09-27 13:31