Hellboy: An Assortment of Horrors is a prose anthology consisting of a written word collection of 16 different stories from various authors who are lending their own twist to the Hellboy universe. Authors such as Chelsea Cain (Heartsick), Chris Priestley (Tales of Terror), and Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger) all make appearances alongside series creators Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden, making up a truly awesome anthology.
As for content, Hellboy: An Assortment of Horrors is a collection of stories that are from either Hellboy himself, people from the B.P.R.D (Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense), and even some new characters that interact with the red, horned giant in varying capacities.
Overall, Hellboy: An Assortment of Horrors is a great read that allows you to travel within the Hellboy universe as enjoyably as a casual fan or even one who has loved the series for a long time. While each of the stories have slightly different tones and perspectives, each is enjoyable in its own right, as they ultimately create an outside perspective of Hellboy in a variety of situations that are fantastical, but also surprisingly realistic.
For instance, some of the more realistic situations include telecommunicating with an autistic girl, helping female victims of domestic assault, and even dealing with a cult that is Brach Dividian-esque (Waco, Texas Siege). Putting Hellboy in these circumstances that are more relatable than taking down a giant corpse monster (another tale included) bridges the gap for casual fans, while being just as exciting for diehards because it opens up the possibility for Hellboy adventures.
Hellboy: An Assortment of Horrors is an excellent read and flawlessly translates a comic book character into novel work. I found myself looking forward to each new story and twist on the character of Hellboy as well as Kate, Abe, and Liz. So, while I may not have a Hellboy tattoo or own every issue (yet), Hellboy: An Assortment of Horrors has left such an impression on me as a fan that I am going to purchase it for my own horror anthology collection. If that isn’t a glowing recommendation, I don’t know what is.
Pick up Hellboy: An Assortment of Horrors when it is published from Dark Horse books on August 16, 2017
