Thank God for Hellboy!
Hellboy was created by Mike Mignola in the late 90s. All of the backissues are available in trade paperback form. This is one of the few indie books to really grab mainstream attention. It's also the first of several comic book movies to be released this year. The Punisher was the next to follow with everyone's favorite wall-crawler coming in July.

Hellboy has received really good reviews from the critics, which should help it make some bucks and make comics cooler on the mainstream.

From comics to film
The movie is a mixture of several comic book story arcs, but it comes across very cohesive. You get enough background on the characters and what they have to do.

Comic book movies have always had a stigma attached to them of being campy or not living up to the written (and drawn) word. The effects are great on HB! (Abe, you won't be sitting there reviewing the bad make-up jobs in each scene.) We have had several bad CGI creatures appear in recent movies (ex. Last year's Mr. Hyde from League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) but HB holds up and you won't be disappointed in the look or feel of the film.

They do a great job of making things look fathomable. You see Hellboy on the front of The National Enquirer and in comic books as a modern myth like the Yeti or Loch Ness Monster. And then you see the head of the FBI on TV saying they don't have a secret paranormal section in the government. A little bit of conspiracy with HB in the middle helps you to really get to know the character and sympathize for him and the other "freaks" who can't live normal lives yet go out and fight to save mankind from "things that go bump in the night".

The plot is pretty fast paced, but manages to leave you wanting more at the end. Interesting plot twists here and there to keep you guessing and an added love triangle spices things up a bit as well.

$0.25 comics and $50.00 toys
Hellboy is published by Dark Horse Comics. If you need some incentive to try out the comics, Dark Horse did a 25-cent special last month, which would be a great way to get started.

The HB toyline is HELLISH, too! Michael Crawford does the best toy reviews; go check out his site and get his take on all the MESCO produced toys. I have to shell out the bucks and get the 18-inch rotoscope HB figure. He's 50 dollars but the detail is great. Lastly, I'll have to get a Barbie and make her into Liz (yes, once again the female lead got screwed when came to the toys).