It is usually hot in the summer, but you know where it’s hotter? Hell.
Dark Horse Comics is prepared to fan the flames in July of 2021 with the release of the perfect starting point for those who haven’t read Mike Mignola’s Hellboy stories, and for those who want to relive the great memories of them. This summer, Dark Horse Books will publish four volumes of essential Hellboy Universe stories, all carefully selected by Mignola, and each featuring all new covers by Mignola and long-time collaborator and colorist Dave Stewart.
Mignola described his selection method by saying that “In some cases—B.P.R.D. and Witchfinder—it was pretty easy to select the one “essential” book. Hellboy was more complicated, as there is so much ground to cover. In the end we chose to go with a collection of short stories rather than a single graphic novel, to give more of an overview of the character. We chose certain stories that say important things about his background, but also some that just show what he does and how he does it. A couple of stories are in there just because they are my favorites.”
The first volume will naturally cover Hellboy and is economically priced at $14.99. Hellboy Universe Essentials Hellboy will contain the following stories: The Chained Coffin, The Third Wish, Pancakes, The Nature of the Beast, The Corpse, The Baba Yaga, A Christmas Underground, The Ghoul, and The Troll Witch.
A volumes focused on the B.P.R.D. will follow in November 2021 and 2020 will see the debut of the Lobster Johnson and Witchfinder editions (in March and July respectively).
Hellboy Universe Essentials: Hellboy will be available in finer comic shops everywhere on July 7, 2021 and in bookstores on July 21, 2021. The trade paperback is currently available for pre-order now.
