redhairedashreads's review against another edition
4.0
Series: B.P.R.D. #9, 13, 16
Rating: 4 stars - It was really good
In the wake of WWII, Professor Trevor Bruttenholm, is establishing the B.P.R.D. and raising Hellboy. With a group of war-weary veterans, Professor Bruttenholm investigates Hitler’s top secret Project Vampir Sturm, and discovers the history of vampires.
This was a jump back in time to see the beginning of the B.P.R.D. before they had policies and practices in place or a large force of officers. We see Bruttenholm make mistakes, loose people, and fall a little in love. We actually get to see him and his feelings, rather than him being just a figurehead of the B.P.R.D. like in future stories.
This book also shows a glimpse of what Hellboy’s childhood was like, with his rapid aging, being raised by other agents, the jokes and self-doubt, and Bruttenholm’s constant fluctuations of participating in his life. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug Hellboy, especially at the end, because he just felt so alone sometimes.
Overall, I enjoyed seeing this glimpse of the Professor, young Hellboy, and the early stages of the B.P.R.D.
You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
Rating: 4 stars - It was really good
In the wake of WWII, Professor Trevor Bruttenholm, is establishing the B.P.R.D. and raising Hellboy. With a group of war-weary veterans, Professor Bruttenholm investigates Hitler’s top secret Project Vampir Sturm, and discovers the history of vampires.
This was a jump back in time to see the beginning of the B.P.R.D. before they had policies and practices in place or a large force of officers. We see Bruttenholm make mistakes, loose people, and fall a little in love. We actually get to see him and his feelings, rather than him being just a figurehead of the B.P.R.D. like in future stories.
This book also shows a glimpse of what Hellboy’s childhood was like, with his rapid aging, being raised by other agents, the jokes and self-doubt, and Bruttenholm’s constant fluctuations of participating in his life. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug Hellboy, especially at the end, because he just felt so alone sometimes.
Overall, I enjoyed seeing this glimpse of the Professor, young Hellboy, and the early stages of the B.P.R.D.
You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
ldyliberty's review against another edition
I'd previously read 1946 and 1947 as separate books, but picked this collection up when I couldn't find 1948. I think they read better as a collection. You can see how young Hellboy, Varvara, and general vampire arcs tie together.
1948 was interesting - Anders is losing his humanity after being infected by vampires in the last mini series, an atomic bomb test has somehow released monsters in the desert, and back at headquarters, Hellboy is starting to realize just how different he is. (The last page of him contemplating cutting is horns off is sad) It did feel a bit unfinished at the end though. The monsters seem to be gone after they clean up the testing site, but nothing really gets resolved.
1948 was interesting - Anders is losing his humanity after being infected by vampires in the last mini series, an atomic bomb test has somehow released monsters in the desert, and back at headquarters, Hellboy is starting to realize just how different he is. (The last page of him contemplating cutting is horns off is sad) It did feel a bit unfinished at the end though. The monsters seem to be gone after they clean up the testing site, but nothing really gets resolved.
happyllama47's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
verkisto's review against another edition
5.0
I love that I'm able to read all of the Hellboy-related stories in these big collections, and that they're in chronological order, but I kinda wish I could've read these in publication order. There's a lot of back-and-forth in the series, and there are details missing from some of these collections to give us further insight into some of the relationships or situations, and I'm STILL looking for some of those background stories to fill in some details. Some of the later stories have this feel that they're relying on another story I haven't read yet to tell me more about them, but where the heck are they?
I do have to say, the other writers and artists who picked up Mignola's mythology did a fantastic job of capturing what makes Hellboy Hellboy. That gives me hope for the rest of the series.
I do have to say, the other writers and artists who picked up Mignola's mythology did a fantastic job of capturing what makes Hellboy Hellboy. That gives me hope for the rest of the series.
alexxxxxxxxxx's review against another edition
5.0
This was very fun! For some reason, we haven't gotten almost anything about Professor Bruttenholms origins, or the creating of the B.P.R.D. so it was almost refreshing to jump back to this time period.
A lot of crazy stuff happened in this collection; vampires, mutants, cannibals, giant monsters and alternate universes. But the story very much made sense and followed what are imagine to be the three lost turbulent years for the professor. Who is now raising a demon child and haunted by a little Russian girl who is also actually a demon.
A lot of crazy stuff happened in this collection; vampires, mutants, cannibals, giant monsters and alternate universes. But the story very much made sense and followed what are imagine to be the three lost turbulent years for the professor. Who is now raising a demon child and haunted by a little Russian girl who is also actually a demon.
saif42's review against another edition
3.0
Hellboy is such a fantastic series but also a slightly frustrating one to collect. Still, excited to see the early days of Hellboy growing up. This series is really more about the BPRD and its inception and growth so we'll see where it goes but Hellboy himself is here and there in the background. Honestly this specific book was like a 2.5 stars up until I read the last few pages and felt like I got punched in the gut.
sgalerosen's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lordnikon's review
5.0
Absolutely one of the best books in the Mignolaverse. Just a stunningly crafted set of stories set in the early days of the B.P.R.D.
Damn, I loved this read!
Damn, I loved this read!
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