It’s amazing how whenever you read quick story by Mike Mignola, you really find so much enjoyment out of it. One-shots from other writers and companies don’t have near this much creativity and talent involved like the Hellboy one’s. Granted this is a quick, two issue mini, but it still has a lot of things going for it. For example:

1) Mignola once again proves why European monsters, this time vampires, are better then any other nationality. These vampires are scary, powerful, and apparently they can control zombies. Which is badass.

2) Also, there is a good amount of humor and action into this book. Mainly it’s Hellboy beating the crap out of this little girl monster (don’t ask). But you also get some BPRD action with agents actually doing something instead of being fodder. There is a hilarious moment in this issue with a vampire getting his head ‘popped’ off. Not ripped off mind you, which is also brutal, but literally squeezed until it’s popped. That just made me laugh and laugh and laugh.

3) Scott Hampton’s pencils and Dave Stewart’s colors really make this a beauitful looking issue. Hampton seems to have a knack for drawing tight, and creepy settings for Hellboy and others to be in. Add in some mood lighting with Stewart’s colors and you got a place I never want to visit. I did tend to notice the continuity of with the Hellboy scenes be in either in Orange or Red, while the rest of the issue has a light blue tone to it. Little things like that really sets the tone of the book and shows how much care there is put into the art.

Again, while it’s not the best thing Mignola has ever done, it’s still pretty damn entertaining to read. Mignola puts a lot of creepy things into this issue but also brings some dark humor into it as well. Mix in some brilliant art by Hampton and Stewart and you got yourself another great Hellboy short story to read. Once again proving my point that I think the Hellboy short stories are far more entertaining then the ongoing adventures.