By Mike Mignola (writer) Richard Corben (art) Dave Stewart (colors) Clem Robins (letters)
I can’t say enough about Mike Mignola’s work. Not only are his characters among the best in comics today, but the world they live in is so rich, and deep. Something that always impresses me about Mignola’s writing is his word-choice. The characters’ dialogue sound unique, and their words reflect their personality, showcasing the kind of writing that executes character development at its finest. Furthermore, Mignola’s storytelling is solid as usual, as he provides a lot of really engaging history that many can easily love.
With such unique writing to follow, the art is required to deliver just as well. Richard Corben proves once again, without a doubt that he’s up to the task. It’s a treat to see his work since he and Mignola compliment each other so well. Each panel shines, slick with detail,the Crooked Man in particular. He’s a man of a thousand faces, and Corben does a good job showing that by providing a different look for each phase of his temptation. When appealing to fairness, he looks sympathetic, hiding his nastier features. When making a point or threat, you see every awful detail. He’s always thinking, and changing his approach physically and verbally.
It’s rare in comics to have an arc maintain such high quality from start to finish. Initially, I was expecting more of a direct confrontation with Hellboy, Tom and The Crooked Man. I’m glad I didn’t get it, this isn’t that kind of story, and that is enough reason to pick this up.(Grade: A)
- Ben Berger
Filed under: Dark Horse Comics, Reviews Tagged: | Clem Robins, Dark Horse Comics, Dave Stewart, Hellboy, Hellboy: The Crooked Man #3, Mike Mignola, Richard Corben
