Deron Generally
Deron Generally
Hellboy and the BPRD: The Secret of Chesbro House #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden
Art by Shawn McManus
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Clem Robins
The Rundown: Hellboy is summoned to a haunted house to help break a generational curse.
Hellboy is called to a manor home in 1983 to investigate a family curse that must be broken as the dying wish of the family matriarch. He discovers quickly that he’s not the only one in the house when the psychic hired to connect with the spirits reveals herself along with the dying woman’s grandson who will inherit the home when she dies. The man’s girlfriend is also in tow and the stories about what happened in the house are revealed.
When the caretaker offers them dinner, the group decides to forgo it and immediately begin a séance designed to cleanse the home. Unfortunately, the spirits have their own ideas and the group will discover that the story that brought them to the manor is not the full one.
The Story: I love haunted house and ghost stories and this does a great job of hitting all the markers for both. Mignola and Golden bring the energy and personality of Hellboy to life in this issue as he exudes both confidence and humor in ways that are infectious to the reader. The plot is fun with some interesting twists and turns throughout and a really engaging story that will have you hooked all the way to its well crafted and surprising cliffhanger.
The Art: McManus does a brilliant job with the art in this issue. The characters are lively and filled with detail and the backgrounds are stunning. You get a real sense of this place and its menace.
Hellboy and the BPRD: The Secret of Chesbro House #1
