The one-shot is a type of comic book story that only lasts for one issue. Sometimes there isn’t enough story to tell in just a few pages that they are OK at best. Sometimes a one-shot can surprise readers and offer something truly entertaining. The newest one-shot by the legendary Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson is “Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1957: Fearful Symmetry” with artists Alison Sampson and Lee Loughridge.
In Madhya Pradesh, India, Hellboy is called to the University of Sagar to investigate a rash of animal attacks in a small village. Virginia Payne joins Hellboy on this adventure and they discover that there is a lot more to this mystery than just animals randomly attacking people.
For a one-shot, the story is quite entertaining. While the “something is attacking a village” plot is used for almost all these one-shots, this one has a great plot twist that most “Hellboy” fans won’t see coming. It’s that twist and what happens during this twist that makes this one-shot stand out.
This one-shot continues the trend of moder “Hellboy” comics having amazing art. The character designs have this charm to them that makes them look more like real people than comic book characters. Combine this with the colors and shading and you get some eye-popping panels. Of course, the backgrounds are still mediocre and some people will have issues with Hellboy looking too “cute” and “young” like a model. Nothing wrong with pretty boy Hellboy since he’s still technically a teenager in the 1950s.
“Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1957: Fearful Symmetry” may have the typical “Hellboy” one-shot plot, but it is executed in a matter that’s outside the norm with art that continues to amaze even though the backgrounds aren’t amazing and “pretty boy Hellboy” will be an issue for some.
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