Rasputin: The Voice Of The Dragon
Written by Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson
Art by Christopher Mitten
Colors by Dave Stewart
Cover by Mike Huddleston
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: November 15, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

Nothing brings to mind evil like the idea of Nazis. The righteous anger that flows at the mere mention of the name is true, especially in the world of Hellboy. But alongside that is another name that conjures up similar ire and fear: Rasputin. In Mike Mignola‘s Rasputin: The Voice Of The Dragon #1, we witness an allegiance form of the most diabolical sorts.

B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth, Volume 9: The Reign of the Black Flame
Paperback | Kindle Edition
Story by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Art by James Harren
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Clem Robins
Cover by Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: September 10, 2014
Cover Price: $19.99

I’ve always felt that I could count on Dark Horse Comics to give me unparalleled supernatural stories. I mean, no matter what is going on, they always have some of the greatest (and darkest) writers around. Hell, Lovecraft would have read these comics! My one gripe, though, is that it’s sometimes difficult to jump into a series because of all the back story and history that goes into their long running books. Take this one, for instance: B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth, Volume 9: The Reign of the Black Flame doesn’t just have a lengthy title, it’s also got a metric ton of plot lines that have preceded this one. Which leads me to my problem…

Hellboy: The First 20 Years
Hardcover | Kindle
Art by Mike Mignola
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Cover Price: $19.99

It has been more than two decades since Mike Mignola‘s demon-spawned defender of humanity Hellboy first debuted in the pages of San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2. Since then the character has endured into countless comic book miniseries, specials, one-shots, spin-offs, direct-to-video animated features, and two big-budget Hollywood adventures that have only furthered enhanced and expanded Mignola’s rich, mysterious, and often terrifying mythology.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of their most beloved characters Dark Horse Comics has assembled Hellboy: The First 20 Years, a lavish hardcover volume (also available for Kindle) of original and vintage artwork chronicling Hellboy’s rise from his auspicious beginnings as a cult favorite horror comic hero to an icon of pop culture.

B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth, Vol. 6
Written by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Illustrated by Tyler Crook
Colored by Dave Stewart
Lettered by Clem Robins
Covers by Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart
Chapter break art by Ryan Sook
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: August 7, 2013
Cover Price: $19.99

Regardless of how well versed a comic book reader might be in the various comic book universes (DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, etc.), jumping into a new series can be a daunting challenge. Picking up an issue in the middle of a story arc can be just as challenging, if not outright frustrating. Mike Mignola, the creator of the Hellboy universe, has partially solved that problem by clearly demarcating the beginning, middle, and end of particular story arcs. It’s a major selling point Mignola and Dark Horse exploit smartly, but even then, the Hellboy universe can pose a significant challenge to hopeful new readers or casual readers. B.P.R.D. (Bureau of Paranormal Research and Development), Mignola’s long-running Hellboy spinoff unfortunately falls into this category.

Mignola first spun off the B.P.R.D. into a standalone series more than a decade ago. Short story arcs and self-contained miniseries were the norm at first, but they’ve grown increasingly more complex and, some might suggest convoluted, since then. The latest standalone story arc scripted by Mignola and John Arcudi, B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth, began with the New World miniseries three years ago and shows no signs of wrapping up anytime soon. The latest trade collection, The Return of the Master, is far from a jumping-on point for new or casual readers (they should begin at, well, the beginning and work their way up). As the title implies, The Return of the Master involves the return of a familiar B.P.R.D. and Hellboy villain, possibly Rasputin, but possibly another villain (or villains) altogether.

Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem #1
Written by Steve Niles
Illustrated by Dave Watcher
Lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 12, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Fans of Hellboy, B.P.R.D. Secret Origins, and FUBAR should definitely straighten up and pay attention! The latest addition to the horror-and-mythology-meet-WW2 family – and arguably the most beautifully rendered of the lot – is Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem from Dark Horse Comics.

Set in Poland just before the German invasion, the story unfolds around a Jewish boy named Noah who watches all of the men in his village — including his own father — march off to join the Allied forces in an attempt to hold back the enemy. Noah stays behind with his grandparents and has only the regular radio broadcasts to keep him informed of the battles that are drawing closer every day to the peaceful countryside he calls home.

After the long wait for his father’s return to the village with no word of his condition, Noah and his grandfather brace themselves for news of his death. This moment of emotional bonding between the boy and the old man quickly takes a turn when an Allied fighter plane roars overhead and crashes just outside the boundaries of their village.

B.P.R.D.: Vampire #3
Written by Mike Mignola, Gabriel Ba, and Fabio Moon
Art by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon
Color by Dave Stewart
Letters by Clem Robins
Cover by Fabio Moon
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: May 29, 2013
Cover Price: $3.50

Mike Mignola is the man. His Hellboy comics have brought me unbelievable amounts of joy over the years. Not to mention the multitude of spin off comics that he’s had a hand in during is all. And B.P.R.D.: Vampire #3 is just such a book. Rich history and well developed, though somewhat enigmatic, characters really bring this mini-series to life and capture the reader’s attention from start to finish.

Taking place directly after B.P.R.D.:1948, we bear witness to a tragic tale of a tormented field agent and the harrowing journey he must undertake to regain his fast-disappearing sanity and exact revenge upon the undead who’s dreams haunt him nightly. Agent Simon Anders finds himself in a Czech hamlet, following a lead that hopefully will take him to the Hecate worshiping vampires from his dream…or is it a memory, so vivid are the details. But as the saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.”

The deal of the day over at Things From Another World today is DHorse Deluxe Stationery Exotique: Mike Mignola’s B.P.R.D. for only $2.49 (that’s 50% off the list price of $4.99).

Note – This deal is valid only for today, Saturday, May 26, 2012, til 11:59PM EST while supplies last (and they usually don’t!).

If the deal on the DHorse Deluxe Stationery Exotique: Mike Mignola’s B.P.R.D. set does sell out before the end of the day, it’s also available at Amazon for $4.99.

Comes with 8 letter sheets (four different styles), 6 envelopes (4 different styles), and a set of stickers. (Approved for ages 8 and up.)

Dark Horse Presents #8
Stories by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, Evan Dorkin, Tony Puryear, Neal Adams, Howard Chaykin, Alan Gordon, Brian Wood, Martin Conaghan, Rich Johnston, M. J. Butler

Back Cover and Spot Illustrations by Geof Darrow
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: February 1, 2012
Cover Price: $7.99

Dark Horse brings out their best and brightest talent for the 8th installment of their legendary anthology Dark Horse Presents. For anyone new to Dark Horse’s line of titles this anthology is a perfect jumping-on point. Dark Horse Presents #8 collects both new and old titles that accurately showcase the publisher’s diverse line of comics. Not every comic featured in the anthology is a hit, though. However, with stories from Mike Mignola and Brain Wood, Dark Horse Presents #8 is a collection worth picking up.

B.P.R.D.: Being Human TPB
Written by Mike Mignola, Scott Allie, John Arcudi
Art by Karl Moline, Richard Corben, Ben Stenbeck, Guy Davis, Andy Owens, Jo Chen
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Clem Robins
Cover by Mike Mignola
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: November 30, 2011
Cover Price: $17.99

Mike Mignola and John Arcudi have crafted the Hellboy and B.P.R.D. universe in a way that is continually referencing the past. In a world in which the dead rarely stay dead and old enemies rise to cause havoc again, it is important to know the history of most B.P.R.D. books. In B.P.R.D.: Being Human Mignola and Arcudi tackle the often brought up but seldom detailed pasts of B.P.R.D. agents Abe Sapien, Roger, Liz, and Johann. In this collection of backstories we are introduced to the dark and often devastating pasts of each character as they go on their first field mission or struggle with life as a B.P.R.D. field agent. Some stories are stronger then others in this trade paperback, but the introduction of each character’s past is all wonderfully developed and a must-read for any B.P.R.D. fan.

Put on your coats and caps, everybody! There’s pine needles on the living room floor, snow on the ground, and a scent of cinnamon in the air. Your dogs and cats are tearing apart wrapping paper, your family’s in town and you can’t stop drinking eggnog for some reason. That could only mean one thing, folks, it’s the nondescript religious holiday season! And that means that it’s time to go into credit card debt so that you can show those closest to you that you care, you know? And to make it a little bit easier on you guys, we here at Geeks of Doom have been shoveling our driveways so that we can deliver to you this, The Holiday Geek Gift Guide 2011! The best gifts possible for the geeks on you gift-giving list! Last week we brought you Comic Books – Part 1, so check out Part 2 here below!