Young Hellboy: The Hidden Land #1

After their plane is forced to crash in the ocean by a religious zealot determined to kill Hellboy before he grows up and brings about the apocalypse, Hellboy and Professor Bruttenholm find themselves on an island filled with all manner of monsters including gorillas, giant crabs, and velociraptors. So much for the fun archeological dig they pair had planned (perhaps with mummies!), now they will need to survive.

Young Hellboy: The Hidden Land #1 provides a fun opening to the four-issue mini-series setting the stage for what's to come. There's obviously a strong Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island vibe here, although we've only scratched the surface of what secrets the island may hold as it appears there is something deep calling out the the religious zealot who the Professor and the young Hellboy haven't seen the last of yet.

We're also introduced to Scarlett Santiago, the Sky Devil, a new character who saves Hellboy from quicksand and who I'm looking forward to seeing more of as the mini-series continues.

[Dark Horse, $3.99]

• Title: Young Hellboy: The Hidden Land #1 (of 4)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writers: Mike Mignola, Thomas Sniegoski
• Artist: Craig Rousseau