Dark Horse Comics has announced the release of three new titles in Mike Mignola’s Hellboy universe later this year, shining a light into some brand-new corners of the monster-filled world.
The first book to arrive is a five-issue Crimson Lotus miniseries, showcasing Lobster Johnson’s biggest foe in her first solo title. Written by Mignola and John Arcudi, with art by Mindy Lee and covers by Michelle Madsen and Tonci Zonjic, Crimson Lotus explores the infamous spy’s childhood as a young girl caught up in the Russo-Japanese war. The series spans 30 years as Yumiko Daimio escapes through China after a vengeance-filled scheme results in international consequences and a couple of spies gunning for her.
Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: 1956, another five-issue miniseries, is written by Mignola and Chris Roberson, with art by Yishan Li, Mike Norton and Michael Avon Oeming, with covers by Dave Stewart and Dave Johnson. A synopsis of the series reads:
“Pressure is mounting within the bureau to uncover the Soviets’ secret plans, but a suspicious cover-up leads one agent off the radar in search of answers. Meanwhile, demonic Soviet occult leader Varvara pushes her team to follow her own whims, and Hellboy is sent on the mission that would lead to his infamous misadventures in Mexico. But even more clandestine plots are at work—both inside the B.P.R.D. and out. Three different storylines are interwoven in this espionage saga.”
The one-off Hellboy Winter Special 2018 features three winter-themed tales, including a Mignola and Ben Stenbeck story about Hellboy and “a New Year’s Eve séance gone wrong.” Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá return to B.P.R.D.: Vampire with a new tie-in story, while Tonci Zonjic writes and draws a story about Lobster Johnson. Dave Stewart supplies the cover.
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“From the beginning I knew Hellboy was going to be a book about monsters fighting monsters,” Mignola said in a press release. “I started off with a 4-page teaser about a shabby dog at a gas station turning into the Egypian god Anubis, and since I got away with that I just kept going — the Baba Yaga, the Penanggalan, demonic Mexican wrestlers, Irish goblins, flying Japanese heads — there’s a whole world of monsters out there, so still plenty of work for Hellboy to do.”
Crimson Lotus arrives on Nov. 21, with Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: 1956 following on Nov. 28. The Hellboy Winter Special 2018 is set for Dec. 12.