By Jade Lindley
I walked alone for so long. I thought everything in my life up that point was crystal clear. I saw a direction and that is where I was going, and like a bullet train I had no intention of stopping. And then out of nowhere, I crashed into Hellboy. Hellboy was something I saw from a distance, I was curious but never really explored what it had to offer. Was I too busy? Possibly. Was I writing it off automatically? A little. Was I scared there could be something more emotionally nourishing than anything I had previously experienced with comics? Oh shit yeah.
I started working at a comic book store and I noticed something straight away; so many people picked up Hellboy trades but never bothered to open up and take a look inside them and see what possible treasures they might have to offer.
I walked alone for so long. I thought everything in my life up that point was crystal clear. I saw a direction and that is where I was going, and like a bullet train I had no intention of stopping. And then out of nowhere, I crashed into Hellboy. Hellboy was something I saw from a distance, I was curious but never really explored what it had to offer. Was I too busy? Possibly. Was I writing it off automatically? A little. Was I scared there could be something more emotionally nourishing than anything I had previously experienced with comics? Oh shit yeah.
I started working at a comic book store and I noticed something straight away; so many people picked up Hellboy trades but never bothered to open up and take a look inside them and see what possible treasures they might have to offer.
Then one night while listening to metal that was accompanied with the most comfortable silence you could share with someone, I experienced a Hellboy comic for the very first time. I began to read Midnight Circus, and within moments of reading, I felt the emotional gaps that were lingering around, were slowly being filled. My natural reaction to my guard going down is to freak out, but for the first time the walls came down and it felt perfect. While turning each page, I became more enthralled, more aware and for the first time in my life, I truly fell in love. The artwork looked so much like velvet that it made me want to touch the paper and feel my senses heighten. The colour black that was used just has a depth to it, which I cannot explain, but it’s just there for all to see…and the red…what can I say about the red? The colour red used encapsulates so much more than what you see. When you look at Hellboy, you don’t just see red, you see the physical and emotional manifestation, you see his history, and you see everything; it’s just whether or not you decide to take a closer look, which makes all the difference.
With each story of Hellboy I read, the more I felt like I was sharing special moments with him. When he is caught off guard, angry, confused, or just cracking a joke, I feel as though I am experiencing all those things with him. I feel his presence jump through the pages; the ink comes to life, and the stories seem real. It’s pretty crazy and if not extremely beautiful how comics can mirror your life, and can be used as metaphors for emotions you may be feeling, but can’t quite grasp until you read a comic. Comic book panels are like a relationship you are trying to build; your partner being the protagonist and the story equalling your journey together. And with each panel you see an image, and you are trying to piece it all together to make it flow, and understand the choices that are made and why they are. With each Hellboy story you progress further and further into his depth and while at first he seems to be just a simple dark character, there is far more going on underneath that exterior. That is what is great about the character of Hellboy, not everything is given away about him right off the bat. He is a jigsaw that you have to piece together, that you get to know and that you have to understand. That is how you know creator Mike Mignola created such a wonderful piece of comic book history. He didn’t just break the typical superhero mould with Hellboy, he gave him life, he gave him the different sides of a personality that we as humans have, he didn’t create a two dimensional character who has nothing to offer. The simplest story can create a lasting impression the reader has on the character even if it’s a short story about Hellboy eating pancakes for the first time; they are all moments which add to the reading experience as well as the depth that you crave from reading. A lot of people tend to read things that they know. I guess having something familiar is like a security blanket, it's comfort for them. People fear what they don't know and that's when the judgement sets in; that's just how we as humans work in all aspects of life. There isn't anything wrong with that, I guess that is just how human nature is, but the problem with being comfortable is that you don't appreciate what else is out there, you don't get to experience new, wonderful and unique things, and before you know it, everything is just too vanilla.
Hellboy’s journeys take you on a unique, and interesting ride, and as adventure unfolds, you learn more about his character, as well as his past and his emotions. I have yet to finish reading Hellboy, as well as reading all of the spin-offs such as B.P.R.D. and Abe Sapien, and while a part of me wants to devour every shred of Hellboy in one sitting, the other part of me is just saying “Jade slow down, let it unfold, let it slowly fill your gaps so you feel the benefit”.It takes a special kind of person to show you a comic which you are initially unsure about and then they make you realise what they are showing you has purpose. I have been reading comics since I was old enough to read, and while I have read some amazing stories, it was Midnight Circus that made me realise straight away that this is what I had been missing for so long, this is what I have always wanted and this is what makes sense.
With each story of Hellboy I read, the more I felt like I was sharing special moments with him. When he is caught off guard, angry, confused, or just cracking a joke, I feel as though I am experiencing all those things with him. I feel his presence jump through the pages; the ink comes to life, and the stories seem real. It’s pretty crazy and if not extremely beautiful how comics can mirror your life, and can be used as metaphors for emotions you may be feeling, but can’t quite grasp until you read a comic. Comic book panels are like a relationship you are trying to build; your partner being the protagonist and the story equalling your journey together. And with each panel you see an image, and you are trying to piece it all together to make it flow, and understand the choices that are made and why they are. With each Hellboy story you progress further and further into his depth and while at first he seems to be just a simple dark character, there is far more going on underneath that exterior. That is what is great about the character of Hellboy, not everything is given away about him right off the bat. He is a jigsaw that you have to piece together, that you get to know and that you have to understand. That is how you know creator Mike Mignola created such a wonderful piece of comic book history. He didn’t just break the typical superhero mould with Hellboy, he gave him life, he gave him the different sides of a personality that we as humans have, he didn’t create a two dimensional character who has nothing to offer. The simplest story can create a lasting impression the reader has on the character even if it’s a short story about Hellboy eating pancakes for the first time; they are all moments which add to the reading experience as well as the depth that you crave from reading. A lot of people tend to read things that they know. I guess having something familiar is like a security blanket, it's comfort for them. People fear what they don't know and that's when the judgement sets in; that's just how we as humans work in all aspects of life. There isn't anything wrong with that, I guess that is just how human nature is, but the problem with being comfortable is that you don't appreciate what else is out there, you don't get to experience new, wonderful and unique things, and before you know it, everything is just too vanilla.
Hellboy’s journeys take you on a unique, and interesting ride, and as adventure unfolds, you learn more about his character, as well as his past and his emotions. I have yet to finish reading Hellboy, as well as reading all of the spin-offs such as B.P.R.D. and Abe Sapien, and while a part of me wants to devour every shred of Hellboy in one sitting, the other part of me is just saying “Jade slow down, let it unfold, let it slowly fill your gaps so you feel the benefit”.It takes a special kind of person to show you a comic which you are initially unsure about and then they make you realise what they are showing you has purpose. I have been reading comics since I was old enough to read, and while I have read some amazing stories, it was Midnight Circus that made me realise straight away that this is what I had been missing for so long, this is what I have always wanted and this is what makes sense.
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