Finally got hold of this after it being on order for months. Thoroughly enjoyable. At times Mignola’s writing reads poetically, with a smooth easy rhythm. I found the beginning pages a little confusing as the narration seemed to switch. Once Hellboy became the sole narrator (not a phrase I thought I’d ever write!) the story flowed. There is a degree of the abstract within the artwork. Faces and backgrounds not clearly defined. Instead there is an emphasis on shadow and light; dark backgrounds throwing the glorious bright red of Hellboy almost off the page at times. It is artwork that works well within the nature of the story. ( )

Summary:
This movie is an adaptation from the graphic novel by Mike Mignolia. It is during the end of World War II when the Nazis out of desperation attempt to use black magic to help their dying cause. It is during the last ritual using black magic that Hellboy comes into this world as a baby Hellboy. He grows to adulthood and fights evil along with other weird creatures.

I'm very glad to say that I liked this a lot. Even the art, which up until now I thought I would totally hate, was pretty cool. The characters were cool and original, the bad guy was really evil and evil looking and his masters are cthulhu-like monsters. What more could you ask for? I can't say it's as good as -Top 10- or -Transmetropolitan- but I'll definitely be reading the next couple graphic novels. ( )

Mike Mignola's first collection of his Hellboy series, Seed of Destruction sets the tone and feel for the rest of the series. With a story and art by Mike Mignola and a script by John Byrne, Seed of Destruction introduces us to Hellboy, a demon brought over to our dimension by Rasputin in an effort by the Nazis to gain supernatural help during WWII. Hellboy is brought to our dimension as a young child, hence the name that sticks, and when we are introduced to him as an adult, Hellboy is working for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, or BPRD, where he investigates supernatural phenomena. Truth be told, I don't think there was too much to this story, but it was a well-crafted introduction to the mythos and characters of Hellboy. ( )

The good news is that this graphic novel offers exactly what I loved about the movie. HellBoy is a devil summoned by a mysterious Nazi who wants to unleash cthulhu-like elder gods upon the world. He's got an anger problem, he's a smart ass, and he calls himself the World's Best Paranormal Investigator. The art is dark, yet HellBoy's attitude adds some levity to the atmosphere.
The bad news is that there isn't much in this first volume that you don't know from watching the first movie. Having started with the movie that's to be expected, but it did make the short promo strips included at the back of the volume the most interesting bits. Because I really enjoyed those, I believe if this had been my first HellBoy experience I'd have been won over. (In other words, if I wasn't already a fan, I would be after reading Seed of Destruction.)
Not only is HellBoy a paranormal tale, and intriguingly so, but it is also carried by an anti-hero of sorts (as the impression readers are given is that HellBoy isn't supposed to be the hero, he's supposed to end the world) and one of my favorite character types, the intelligent, more-human-than-humans monstrous creature(Abe). It's a combination that, when it works, will always get my interest and likely my dollar. ( )

The birth of a legend: This is a truly magnificent graphic novel. Mike Mignola has created something wonderfully different and original... The artwork is excellent- a unique style that fits the 'dark' nature of the story. I recommend this novel to anyone fascinated by the occult, by fairy tales, by aliens and witches and goblins.

Awesome, well-done comic---and great if you're new to the Hellboy series. ( )

Although the story line is hard to follow at times, once you understand the premise you will appreciate the deep and fascinating book. ( )

I'm not a fan of spooky/paranormal stories, but Hellboy's such a great character, it's lots fun to read. And the book and movie are different enough that one doesn't lose anything after you've seen/read the other (unlike certain other comic books starting "Sin" and ending in "ity"). ( )

The first TPB in the Hellboy series contains all of the elements that drew me to the series in the first place—amazing art coupled with themes and storylines that could have rivaled those of Gaiman's Sandman series had Mignola fleshed them out more instead of cutting straight to the chase. Still, it's creepy good fun and well worth the read if you're a fan of either graphic novels or pulp fiction in general.

This book was reviewed in Episode #59 of Nuketown Radio Active ( )

Link to a review on my personal website (might be in Swedish). ( )

Mike Mignola's art in this series rocks of course (as usual).

The story also relatively interesting, however I found that I'd read enough hype about it that I was expecting more somehow. Still it wasn't bad.

- Peter K. ( )

The Seed of Destruction starts with the origin of big red, but does include a couple of other short stories.

A group of soldiers, with the support of some paranormal researchers raid an operation by some nazis and a sorcerer. Things blow up, and a baby Hellboy is found.

Skip to later, and some frog monsters are menacing Hellboy's human father, Bruttenholm. He dies, leaving Hellboy and the organisation to stop what is happening. Events tie in to his coming to our world.

http://graphicsf.blogspot.com/2007/02... ( )

The hellboy books are really quite a fine example of graphic design and a singular vision of comedic horror. Or should I say gothic comedy? ( )

Excellent storytelling and artwork! ( )