Hellboy: The Crooked Man # 2
Written by Mike Mignola
Art by Richard Corben & Dave Stewart
Published by Dark Horse Comics
I in no way proclaim to be a master of literature or grammar, or even one in a position to properly critique another’s writing. However, I am a lover of stories in all their forms. My favorite songs are those that usually tell some sort of linear story (my childhood fave? "Billy Don’t Be a Hero." I cried every time I listened to it; and loved it every time.) I love theater, movies, great books. I’ll admit, too, that I’ll watch a movie and proclaim it “good” if I’m enjoying the storyline – despite horrific acting
As a matter of fact, in my real life/work/career, I’ve done a lot of teaching artist work called Literature to Life – which means a variety of things, actually, but I think you can get the idea of it from the name. One of those teaching experiences was helping first graders meet their Language Arts “goals” (as defined by the Board Of Education) by taking a children’s book and making it into a play via dramatic activity. It of course made for great classroom fun, adorable projects – but most importantly introduced them to the very basics, the fundamentals of stories, storytelling, drama, literature, etc. My lesson plans broke down so that by the end of our sessions together, we thoroughly examined and played with the ideas of Setting, Character, Protagonist, Antagonist, Conflict, Resolution, Beginning, Middle and End.
It all seems a lot for a first grader, I know, but they totally got it. Got it all. I'm bringing all this up because I read Hellboy: The Crooked Man, (part two of three!) this week. The reason I chose it was because I enjoyed the first in this series from last month, so much. I hadn’t really pin-pointed why, until now – now that I’ve read this second one.
The first in this series was chock full of all those wonderful elements of story that are listed above, with the wackiest of characters in the most intriguing of circumstances. I mean, I’m like any kid who loves stories – throw in some magic or witchcraft and I’m on BOARD!
Everything about that issue was really well established--it was the setting that first drew me in. Next, this unlikely bunch of characters -- why IS Hellboy here?. And who is this Tom fellow? Where has he been; why did he leave and why is he back? Oh – so many questions!
So, that’s our "Setting" and our "Beginning." Next we move to another scene, with our first of several conflicts – where is Cora? Is she a witch? Why is her skin here? (ew.)
I won’t rehash the entire story this way--But all of that wonderful stuff happened and we’re only up to page 9 out of about 24 pages. So much more happens – flash backs, "more is revealed" about Tom, his father, his history – and most importantly – The Crooked Man! Which now brings me to the comic I’ve read this week. Which, after the first one, pales in comparison.
Basically, I feel like we tread water here. We’ve got, essentially, one long walk in the woods. Not much happens – okay, Cora explodes. That seems big. But I’d lost my connection to her from the last issue. So, I don’t feel very effected by it. All I think is “Oh, hey, she exploded into those critterlike things that I just saw in the beginning of the Hellboy movie. Huh. Eeeewww.”
Then we end up at the church with this blind preacher-dude who talks to dead people, and we’re surrounded by witches. And its one of those experiences that I’m having with comic books that gets me really frustrated. Some times a comic is so meaty – so chock full of interesting scenarios and characters and problems, and fun. So much ground is covered – back story, current story, forward motion to a really interesting cliff hanger….
And then other comic books seem to cover all of five minutes in 25 pages. They just drag it on out.
I realize that this is probably by design. I used to watch a slew of soap operas in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, and after some giant cliff hanger presented on a Friday afternoon, you’d tune in on Monday, and they wouldn’t address it again that day, at all! They’d wait to the end of the episode and you’d finally see the cliff hanger again…but they’d back it up and show it again…maybe a little different this time. Then they’d drag out this one moment, that one story line, for way longer than anyone had patience for. But of course, that’s their ploy – they want you to watch everyday.
Such it is with comic books? Such it is with Hellboy? Maybe not to the same extent. But I finished the book and had all my thoughts about it , and then said to myself “Ooooh. Number two of three.” I mean – it’s the middle. It’s the middle, and they want you to hang on and read number three. Well, I just think it could have been a more interesting middle. I think we’re supposed to feel some sort of dramatic tension with all the characters inside the church, surrounded by witches, and with the appearance of the Crooked Man. See, the last issue was so good – the things that happened were so creepy! – that the middle of the story, where my first grade students learned the main conflict should begin to occur--that needed to have a bigger, and creepier and well, just better conflict. Or apex. Maybe even a crux.
In my opinion--this didn't. One might not even care to read the final story after completing issue two. Although, if there’s one thing that comic book fans are, it is loyal. So, a fan will surely buy the next issue. I’d certainly read it, just to see how it all wraps up. I guess the bar was set pretty high by Mr. Mignola in the first issue, and I’m totally rooting for him to wrap it up, in the final issue with some sort of weird, creepy, interesting and clever method. I’m hoping, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed!
Nina Stone, 2008
Comments