By Mike Mignola (writer), Richard Corben (art), Dave Stewart (colors), Clem Robins (letters)

It’s almost a shock to go from the Hellboy movies to the comics. It’s not that it’s bad or anything, just different. At the core, he’s the same character, but it’s the little frills that make it different. The Crooked Man has been great so far, and truth be told, I’m really bummed that it’s ending so soon.

Mike Mignola is brilliant, we all know this, but it’s nice to get a reminder now and then. I love The Crooked Man. The idea of a guy who’s “crooked” because he was hung hundreds of years ago and is now working for the devil is a pretty scary thought. I’d love to get more detail on him which will hopefully happen in the next issue. My only complaint about the issue is that it feels a little light on story details. The Crooked Man is the best part and he’s not seen till the end. Even so, I’d like to know more about the witches and the history for the area, which is a credit to the world Mignola’s setup. Instead of getting backstory it’s more of Tom’s trip to bury his Pa.

Richard Corben’s art is amazing. Every panel has just the right mix of horror, fantasy, and mythology. There’s a very clear difference in the pencils between those who are good (or alive) and those who are evil (and dead). This sounds like something easy to do, but Corben renders the evil in a more subtle way than most. At one point Cora refers to the witches as “a special kinda evil” and that’s how each villain is drawn, special. The Crooked Man is the best example of this. He’s that perfect mix of clown creepy, crazy homeless man, and a touch of warped Jim Henson.

Hellboy and his world are amongst the most rich of any comic universe. I’m always left wanting more in a good way. I know Mignola has a long term plan for the character, and I know it’s selfish for me to never want him to get there. If you’re a Hellboy fan, or ever wanted to be, this is a must have book. (Grade: A)

-Ben Berger

A Second Opinion

The second chapter of The Crooked Man continues telling the story of Tom Ferrell’s creepy, supernatural homecoming. It picks up with Hellboy, Tom (carrying his dead father), and Cora making their way to a church so Tom’s father can be put to rest within holy grounds, safe from witchcraft and other dark things. The journey is (as expected) far from smooth as Cora tells of a mining legend that turns out to be not only true, but quite deadly! They eventually make it to the church and the stage is set for Tom to confront The Crooked Man, whether he wants to or not!

Simply put, I’m loving this Hellboy story. The writing and artwork come together to tell a tale of rural horror that is simply top notch. Mignola’s storytelling is extremely tight and his dialogue oozes personality and Appalachian flavor. As for the artwork, Corben and Stewart create some grotesquely beautiful visuals that make a great story even better.

If you are a fan of Hellboy, horror, or just good storytelling (written or visual) make sure to check out Hellboy: The Crooked Man. (Grade: A)

-Kyle Posluszny