Hellboy in Love #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Christopher Golden
Art by Matt Smith
Colors by Chris O’Halloran
Letters by Clem Robins
The Rundown: On a mission to stop a group of goblins, Hellboy meets an interesting new companion.
It’s 1979 and a train is racing through the North of England when it is attacked by a gang of trolls. Trolls that are after a very specific piece of loot. Archaeologist Anastacia Banfield is transporting artifacts through the country and becomes the target of the goblin attack. Lucky for her, Hellboy is also on the train and immediately goes after the creatures with Anastacia in tow.
As they chase the creatures from the train to the country, Hellboy is surprised by his new companion’s tenacity as well as her flirting. They manage to track the goblins to, of all places, a punk club where they discover that the robbery wasn’t random when a mysterious man arrives to collect.
The Story: Fun, fast paced and action packed, Golden crafts an entertaining ride for Hellboy with the addition of an equally interesting character in Anastacia.Their dynamic is engaging and their interactions make me interested in seeing where this story goes. The mystery at the center of the story is intriguing, but the characters are definitely what compel me to read on.
The Art: Smith delivers some beautifully detailed art throughout the issue. The visuals craft a wonderfully lush and engaging environment for the characters.