Hellboy: Weird Tales is a Dark Horse Comics bimonthly eight-issue comic book limited series that offered a variety of guest writers and artists the chance to give their own take on the Hellboy characters created by Mike Mignola whilst he was in Prague working on the first Hellboy movie. The issues were published bi-monthly to alternate with a series of B.P.R.D. one-shots and were collected in two trade paperback volumes.
Issues Issue #1 Published February 26, 2003. Cover by John Cassaday.
Title Creators Big-Top Hellboy Story & Art: John Cassaday Hellboy, Sherman and Sapien go to the site of a spectral circus in Marktleuthen, Germany, 1994 that has been abducting children in revenge for its destruction at the hand of the local villagers at the turn of the 20th century. Sugar Coated Wire feat. Dr. Karl Ruprect Kroenen Art: TyRuben Ellingson The first comic book pinup by Ellingson who worked alongside Mignola as designer on the movies Blade II and Hellboy. Party Pooper Story & Art: Andi Watson Corrigan distracts Hellboy whilst Sherman, Sapien and Roger prepare a surprise birthday party complete with pancakes but reflected in the candle Hellboy sees a demonic presence and the Crown of Destruction. Children of the Black Mound An Orthodox priest in Tbilisi, Georgia, 1898, relates the cautionary tale of Staynivolk, which fell victim to Baba Yaga in 1788 for renouncing its faith, to a seminary student Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili who goes on to face the Russian witch. Doc Hollow's Grand Vibro-Destructo Machine: Episode 1 Story & Art: John Cassaday Johnson attempts to apprehend the Crimson Hood but he uses trickery to escape.
Issue #2 Published April 23, 2003. Cover by Jason Pearson.
Title Creators Lloyd McCay in Flight Risk Hellboy accompanies Lloyd McCay to Nevada, U.S.A. where an attempt to regain his freestyle jet-packing altitude record leads to an encounter with legion of giant desert bats. Hot Hellboy and Hennessey travel to Shuzenji, Japan, 1967 to rid the Fukushima hot spring of a Tengu infestation that has been devouring tourists. Curse of the Haunted Doily A family heirloom brings back the ghost of Corrigan’s mother to nag her from beyond the grave. Midnight Cowboy A young Hellboy and his dog Mac penetrate the forbidden Hangar 7 at their airforce base home in New Mexico, U.S.A., 1947 to make a transforming discovery. Doc Hollow's Grand Vibro-Destructo Machine: Episode 2 Story & Art: John Cassaday Johnson interrogates one of the Crimson Hood’s henchman to reveal the villains location.
Issue #3 Published June 25, 2003. Cover by Alex Maleev.
Title Creators Still Born Hellboy, Sapien and Sherman rush to hospital to preside over a demonic birth. Down Time Story & Art: Bob Fingerman Hellboy suffers from technical difficulties after insulting the B.R.P.D’s new intern demon, Irving Goblinski. Hellboy v. Rasputin Art: Galen Showman Full page pin-up. Family Story Hellboy finds himself in the midst of a domestic disturbance whilst researching in the library of a stately home. Hellboy at the Mountains of Madness Art: William Stout Full page pin-up. Doc Hollow's Grand Vibro-Destructo Machine: Episode 3 Story & Art: John Cassaday Johnson tracks down his kidnapped assistant to a mansion in upstate New York.
Issue #4 Published August 27, 2003. Cover by Leinil Francis Yu.
Title Creators The Dread Within Story & Art: Jason Pearson Sherman, Ipswich and Apon go to confront the ghosts in a haunted house in Portland, Oregon, on the anniversary of the death of Sherman’s parents. Abe Sapien: Star of the B.P.R.D. A day dreaming Sapien imagines an alternate universe where he has taken Hellboy’s place as the B.P.R.D’s top agent. Haunted Hellboy goes to the Ravenschild Estate to investigate a reported haunting. Shred Art: Rick Cortes Full page pin-up. Doc Hollow's Grand Vibro-Destructo Machine: Episode 4 Story & Art: John Cassaday Johnson bust up a meeting between the Crimson Hood and his Nazi contacts.
Issue #5 Published October 15, 2003. Cover by J.H. Williams III.
Title Creators Love is Scarier Than Monsters Hellboy and FBI Agent Emma Granger go on stakeout in Prince George's County, Maryland to capture the Goatman. Cool Your Head Story & Art: Scott Morse Hellboy goes on holiday to Yosemite National Park, California where he runs in to an aging beatnik. Shattered Hellboy travels to Guatemala, 1979 to recover a mysterious Mayan ruins artifact known as the Xul Chalak, After gripping with a madman and a giant frog creature. Pinup Art: Cameron Stewart Full page pin-up. Doc Hollow's Grand Vibro-Destructo Machine: Episode 5 Story & Art: John Cassaday Johnson unmasks the true identity of the villainous Crimson Hood.
Issue #6 Published December 10, 2003, Cover by Frank Cho.
Title Creators Command Performance Hellboy travels to Paris 1991 to end the murderous run of the Grand Guignol Theater Troupe. Friday Sherman and Sapien go after a demon in an aquarium. My Vacation in Hell Story & Art: Craig Thompson Hellboy introduces a slideshow of his holiday in Hell. Pinup Art: Steve Purcell Full page pin-up. Doc Hollow's Grand Vibro-Destructo Machine: Episode 6 Story & Art: John Cassaday Johnson battles the Nazis but in the ensuing chaos the vibration machine starts-up.
Issue #7 Published February 11, 2004 cover by Phil Noto.
Title Creators A Love Story Story & Art: Tommy Lee Edwards Hellboy travels to India, 1964 to investigate a restored World War II era P-40 plane that appears haunted. Theater of the Dead Hellboy and Sapien face a gun toting headless corpse, a zombie orchestra, and a bunch of gangsters. Long Distance Caller Story & Art: Kev Walker Krauss deals with the alien takeover of an Australian SETI station whilst on an insomnia-driven astral journey. Pinup Art: Dave Stevens Full page pin-up. Doc Hollow's Grand Vibro-Destructo Machine: Episode 7 Story & Art: John Cassaday The vibration machine brings the building crashing down around Johnson and his assistant.
Issue #8 Published April 14, 2004 cover by Michael William Kaluta.
Title Creators Fifteen Minutes... Story & Art: Jill Thompson A group of living skeletons sign-up to be set decoration for Hellboy’s battle with a giant rat in order to get their S.A.G. cards. Toy Soldier Hellboy and Sasaki attempt to rid the Dai Bang toy company of the child spirits in its warehouse. Professional Help Story & Art: Evan Dorkin A mission to Oslo, Norway with Agent Izzy Kemper leaves Roger seeking the services of psychiatrist Dr. Ramsey. Pinup Art: Gary Fields Full page pin-up. Doc Hollow's Grand Vibro-Destructo Machine: Episode 8 Story & Art: John Cassaday Johnson and his assistant escape the collapsing building but the Nazis get away. Johnson vows to pursue them to Hunte Castle, Austria.
Collected editions The series has been collected into two trade paperbacks and one hardcover / trade paperback edition:
Volume 1 (collects Hellboy: Weird Tales #1-4, December 17, 2003, ) Volume 2 (collects Hellboy: Weird Tales #5-8, October 27, 2004, ) Hellboy: Weird Tales (Hardcover, collects Hellboy: Weird Tales #1-8 (Volume 1 & 2) and the "How Koshchei Became Deathless" and "Baba Yaga's Feast" back-ups from Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #2-4, December 26, 2014, ) Hellboy: Weird Tales (Trade paperback, collects Hellboy: Weird Tales #1-8 (Volume 1 & 2, except "Toy Soldier") and the "How Koshchei Became Deathless" and "Baba Yaga's Feast" back-ups from Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #2-4, December 20, 2022, )
Awards
The character Hellboy in Hellboy: Weird Tales was nominated for the 2003 "Favourite Hero" Wizard Fan Award. John Cassady won the 2004 "Best Artist/Penciller/Inker" Eisner Award in part for his work on this title.
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