Rating: 4.5/5 – A young Hellboy visits a circus he won’t soon forget.
There have been many stories of Hellboy’s exploits as an adult but his early years are not as deeply explored. A young Hellboy is the focus of Mike Mignola’s latest Hellboy original graphic novel (OGN). Recent Hellboy artist Duncan Fregredo handles the art duties on the book while longtime Hellboy collaborator Dave Stewart is the colorist.
The story opens in 1948 at the B.P.R.D. headquarters with a common act of rebellion for many young people, sneaking off to have a cigarette. While doing so Hellboy finds a flyer for a circus that runs from midnight till dawn. His interest piqued, Hellboy makes his way to the circus and the story truly begins.
One thing that is immediately noticeable and impactful is Fregredo’s use of different art styles, utilizing his familiar Hellboy style for the beginning and switching to an ink washed style when the circus appears. This latter effect frames the circus and its characters in a macabre, almost dreamlike setting and creates a fantastical world where Fregredo and Stewart’s talents are put on full display.
Mignola weaves pieces of the story Pinocchio along with taking inspiration from Ray Bradbury’s novel Something Wicked This Way Comes to bring Hellboy: The Midnight Circus to life. Themes from each are evident as a young Hellboy is tempted, threatened and pushed to the edge throughout the night. Much like other Hellboy stories this book is layered with folklore and symbolism that provide ample chances for rereading in an otherwise short OGN. If I have one complaint, it would have to be the length, not for consideration of the price (it has a cover price of $14.99 but I am not sure who pays cover price for comics anymore) but for the fact that as a reader, you get pulled into this incredible story that you don’t want to end. Hellboy: The Midnight Circus is a great self-contained story that is well paced and hits all the right beats but as a greedy fan of the character and creators, you can’t help but want more.
Page count aside, Hellboy: The Midnight Circus is a prime example of what creators at the top of their game can do with a character and world they are familiar with. It is a beautifully illustrated story that provides a glimpse into the life of a young Hellboy. A great standalone story that fans of Hellboy won’t want to miss; it is an approachable OGN that can be enjoyed by readers not familiar with Hellboy as well.
Reviewed by: Jeff Bouchard – jeff@comicspectrum.com
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