Summery: Anders erratic behavior comes to a head as he starts a bar room brawl after skipping someone's turn at a pool hall. He breaks the noses of two other officers, fractures the ribs of another and breaks the arm of a fourth before the MP's show up to break it all up. When the Professor shows up to confront him he asks Anders if how he thinks this kind of behavior is helping anyone to which Anders replies, "The better question is how am I supposed to help anyone with this!" as he points to the mark left over from his exorcism. The Professor is obviously hurt by the exchange but he finally decides to confine Anders to lock down before sending him back to home base in Connecticut. Afterwards the Professor has dinner with Rieu and they discuss her theory in greater depth and the Professor reveals that reason he supports her theory is that he has direct evidence: Hellboy. When he shows Rieu the picture of Hellboy and describes how he came to Earth she immediately asks if the beast is still in confinement, to which the Professor replies no, he isn't confined rather he is being raised as his son. This revelation deeply troubles Rieu and as she is reflecting on this revelation a creature appears at her window but disappears at the sound of her scream. The team is confused as to why the creature would be drawn to her until the Professor notes the glowing piece of enclidite on her desk and they surmise it must be what is drawing the creatures as some was also found in the car that was previously attacked.


Review: This is another issue that suffers slightly from that horrible malady known as the mid-arc slump. After two fast pace issues that despite their brisk paces had found a good balance between action and characterization the story really slams on the breaks here for a much slower issue that is more focused on explaining Rieu's alternate dimension theory and the idea that the Professor is doing more harm than good. And while both those elements are interesting I think they make for much better reading when used as asides rather than a focus.

There  is a slight silver lining though in the scene with the young Hellboy preparing for his visit with Eisenhower. Hellboy clearly admires Archie to the point where he has begun to mimic his speech pattern an mannerisms so when Archie laughs at Hellboy after he puts on Archie's dress uniform hat Hellboy is devastated and runs away. It's such a simple side story, a young boy mimicking his hero and then being crushed by the least failing but it's executed so well that i doesn't feel cliche.


Grade: C+

Summery: This issue begins in the dessert, where the stolen jeep has stalled. Yes, Agent Anders has escaped confinement and is out in the dessert, heavily armed and looking for the creatures. When Bruttenholm learns of the escape he sends Stegner and the rest of his group to out for Anders while he meets with the nuclear scientists to reveal his discoveries. After the previous night's incursion and the belief that it was related to the radiated sand crystal the Professor had a brainstorm and made a call back to BPRD head quarters to confirm his theory which was that the test site was once a shamanistic center where geomancy was once practices. He presents to the scientists that those ancient geomantic properties that once drew shamans to this site in New Mexico long ago have been amplified by the radiation thus making travel between two planes of existence possible; but this idea infuriates Rieu as it has nothing to do with real science and the fact the military takes Bruttenholm's word on this theory over hers causes a rift between her an the Professor. 
Out in the dessert Stegner finds the jeep but Anders is no where to be seen, but his handiwork is evident as they find a trail of dead monsters.

As Stegner and his unit take up position on a bluff to try and find Anders, the wayward agent finds them, coming up behind them and almost getting himself killed by friendly fire in the process. Stegner tells Anders to stand down but as they argue the giant bird creature from the first issue attacks.

Meanwhile back at base, Hellboy has holed himself up in his room for the last day and a half and refuses to see Archie, leaving Archie to learn that although Hellboy looks different he isn't any different than any other little kid and he takes being laughed at very seriously.


Review: What a difference one issue makes, where as the last issue seemed to just be treading water this latest chapter really fires on all cylinders. Watching Anders' decent is really fantastic to see here, that wild look of determination in his eyes says everything you need to know; this is no longer a man but rather a monster, and he's out to put and end to all other monsters. On top of that the conflict that began last issue between Bruttenholm and Rieu in the last issue comes to a head as Rieu lashes out at not only Bruttenholm and his paternalistic tendencies but also the scientific communities chauvinism. It's really powerful stuff, and although it was a conflict that had been subtly present in earlier issues its movement to the forefront here is both surprising and powerful, this is not the kind of interpersonal conflict we're used to seeing in comics but is a definite real world issue and to see it brought up here in such a straight forward and mature way was great to see.

In addition to all that the Professor's theory about the test site being a shamanistic center ties into Witchfinder: Lost and Gone Forever which is a fun connection that we'll see explored further in the not too distant future.

Grade: B+

Summery: As the Professor oversees the destruction of the encledyt field left over from the blast site, Stegner, Anders, Pike and Kyoh engage the other worldly monsters. The giant bird creature swoops out of the sky, sending the BPRD squad spiraling off the bluff, as they pick themselves up off the ground they reach for their weapons to try and drive the creature off...all except for Pike who finds his rifle is missing and sensing the week link the creature swoops down and makes quick work of him as Stegner and Kyoh look on but they're broken from their shock by the sound of fresh gunfire...from Anders who must have stolen Pike's gun. As if this revelation wasn't bad enough a pack of giant rat creatures joins the fray and Kyoh makes a run for the jeep to get the RPGs and though he is able to take out the rats the bird creature attempts to eat the jeep and Kyoh, knowing he's doomed sets off the last grenade killing both the beast and himself. His team now dead, Stegner lets loose on Anders before dragging him back to base where he confronts the Professor telling him it's either Anders or him and with that said they depart for Connecticut. Mean while back at base Hellboy still hasn't come out of his room, though strangely the maintenance guy has reported his tool bag missing which brings us to a frightened looking Hellboy, standing in front of a mirror with the hack saw in his hands...

Review: While this was a fun, action packed issue with great art it was over all slightly troubling on two fronts. For one, once again the supporting cast has been completely decimated, and while this does reinforce that this is a dangerous job it's frustrating as this is the third squad in a row we've seen go belly up, and at this point due to that repetition it lacks any emotional impact; Stegner is mad at the Professor seemingly treating them like disposable tin soldiers while favoring the freaks which should be powerful but it just falls flat as we've seen it already at this point. But perhaps a greater issue is that the story doesn't seem to go anywhere, at the end of the story we're essentially in the same place we were when it began. While there was a definite threat from the beasts a definable conflict never really coalesced and with out that point there is nothing to resolve, no catharsis what so ever which leaves it feeling a little empty.

However,  for all its faults in terms of forward progression, it made up for in character moments. Proffessor Bruttenholm, in particular, really shines in this mini, in this five issue arc he really developed some new and interesting layers which is a true testament to Mignola's craft as its not as if Bruttenholm is a new character so his ability to develop him at this point is amazing.

And that last panel with little Hellboy about to saw off his horns?


Heart breaking.


Still, over all this was a mixed bag that while interesting was no where near as strong a chapter as the preceding ones. 


Issue: B-
Arc: B

Summery: Hot in pursuit of one of the leaders of the Brotherhood of Ra, Lord Glaren, Edward Grey has traveled across the Atlantic and clear across the United States to Reidlynne, Utah. Exiting the stage coach Grey makes his way towards the only inn in town but as he passes a burned out church he hears praying and can't help but investigate. Upon seeing him the Native American woman praying at the ruined alter flees but as she does so she uncovers some curious markings upon the floor which Grey stops to study before heading off to rest. 

After a brief respite Grey heads to the local saloon where he attempts to question the locals about the where abouts of of Glaren, but a group of men take offense at Grey butting in to their business and open fire on him. Grey ducks behind a table and returns fire, killing all the assailants with just eight rounds, but with his ammunition exhausted the rest of the town gangs up on him except for one lone mountain man named Morgan Kaler who had already procured Grey's belongings for him and acquired him a horse to take him out of town. As they trek through the dessert together Kaler answers many of Grey's questions about Glaren and how the church burned down but before anything else can be said the pair finds themselves attacked by a strange Buffalo creature.

Review:  Where as in previous spin offs from Hellboy Mignola had chosen other artists who share a similar stylized look here he chooses comicbook great John Severin to do the art in this second Witchfinder story which makes this one really stand out art wise from every other story. From the very first page, Severin's art draws you in with an incredibly cinematic view of of Reidlynne that captures every blade of grass and and every line in the craggy faces of the forlorn townsfolk which creates a very lived in feel that's very unique. Though Severin is gone now it's amazing to think that even at near the end he was producing such vivid art as this with each towns person having their own unique face and clothing; that level of detail just blows me away and there aren't many who can do that level of detail with out the pages seeming to be cluttered which really makes Severin and this book so special.

On the story side this Western themed penny dreadful tale by Mignola and Arcudi is plenty entertaining on its own right, though it does start off rather slow and with little to connect it with the previous story. However with that huge chunk of exposition delivered here, the story feels poised to get rolling a bit faster in the future episodes. More than tha though is the interesting flavor that the threats in this first issue involve pistols and fists rather than pentagrams and monsters which goes along with establishing a very real world feel that matches Severins art.

So although it's a little exposition heavy Severin really shines.

Grade: A