Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others

Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others
Trade Paperback Cover
Publication information
Publisher	Dark Horse Comics
Format	Trade Paperback
Genre	Action/adventure,horror
Publication date	August 5,1998
Main character(s)	Hellboy Kate Corrigan Roger Abe Sapien Liz Sherman
Creative team
Created by	Mike Mignola
Written by	Mike Mignola
Artist(s)	Mike Mignola
Letterer(s)	Pat Brosseau
Colorist(s)	Dave Stewart Matt Hollingsworth James Sinclair
Editor(s)	Scott Allie
Collected editions
'Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others'	ISBN978-1-59307-091-5

Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Othersis the thirdtrade paperbackcollection in theHellboyseries created byMike Mignola,published byDark Horse Comicson August 5,1998.The book collects various mini-series, one-shots and back-up features featuring the fictional paranormal detectiveHellboy.

Contents

The Corpse

Cover by Mignola

This story by Mike Mignola based on theIrish folktaleTeig O'Kane and the Corpsewas originally serialized in two-page instalments in Capital City'sAdvance Comics#75-#82 and was reprinted in full for the first time in the one-shotThe Corpse and the Iron Shoes(January 1,1996) along with back-up featureIron Shoes.Mignola has stated that when he first completed the story he thought that the limitations of the two-page format meant that it was the worst he had ever written, but feedback from people he respects has caused him to change his mind and he now believes it is one of the best.The story introduced Alice Monaghan and Gruagach, who would play a larger role in later storylines.

The story was later reprinted in the one-shotHellboy: The Corpse(March 24,2004) published to tie-in with the release of the firstHellboyfilm with behind-the-scenes art from a sequence it inspired.

In 1959Ireland,Hellboy is enlisted by the Monaghan couple to deal with their daughter Alice who was stolen by fairies and replaced with a changeling named Gruagach. After exposing Gruagach by burning him with iron, Hellboy learns that Alice will be returned on the condition that he gives the body of Tam O'Clannie aChristian burialbefore dawn. While Dagda sees Hellboy will honor the deal, a revenge-driven Gruagach attempts to stop him with the aid ofJenny Greenteethbefore being swallowed by the released boar-headed giant Grom. Hellboy fights and defeats Grom, whose shrunken hide had bonded with Gruagach, and buried Tam. While Alice is returned to her parents, Hellboy learns that the fairies' child abduction was motivated by their need to avert their eventual extinction as they can no longer have children of their own.

Iron Shoes

This story by Mike Mignola was created as a back-up feature for the one-shot release ofThe Corpseas according to Mignola he didn't want to expand that story any further and he liked the sound of the titleThe Corpse and the Iron Shoes(January 1,1996).

In the story Hellboy is in Ireland in 1961 for a story introduced byfolkloristsEdwin D. Wolf and Katherine Boggs in which he battles with the demonicIron Shoesand delivers it to a local parish church for its destruction.

The story was adapted into the20073-min animated shortHellboy Animated: Iron Shoes,directed byTad Stonesand starringRon PerlmanandDan Castellaneta,as part of theHellboy Animatedfranchise and included as an extra on theHellboy Animated: Blood and IronDVD.

The Baba Yaga

This story by Mike Mignola was planned as a back-up feature for theMonkeyman and O'Brienmini-series byArt Adamsbut delays to that title meant that in premiered in this collection.The storyline of the incident was originally mentioned inHellboy: Wake the Devil.

In 1964 Russia, Hellboy travels to a cemetery near Bereznik, where the Russian witchBaba Yagavisits once a year to count dead men's fingers, to end her child abduction. The battle ends with Hellboy shooting out Baba Yaha's left eye, forcing her to retreat to her realm though her connection with Russia renders her immortal.

A Christmas Underground

This story by Mike Mignola based on an old folktale that he gave a more sinister twist to was first published in theHellboy Christmas Specialhe created with Gary Gianni.

In the story Hellboy travels toEnglandonChristmas Eve1989 where he descends through a passage in a graveyard in search of the daughter of a dying woman who is married to a prince of the underworld.

The Chained Coffin

This story by Mike Mignola based on an old folktale was first published inDark Horse Present 100issue 2.

In the story Hellboy travels back toEast Bromwichwhere he has a vision of a priest and a nun standing vigil over the chained coffin of their mother to protect her soul but when the demon arrives to collect it they are defeated and he turns to Hellboy referring to him as "my favourite son".

The Wolves of Saint August

Cover forThe Wolves of Saint Augustby Mignola.

This story by Mike Mignola was his first Hellboy story written without the scripting assistance of John Byrne and was originally serialised in eight-page installments as a back-up feature inDark Horse Presents(issues 88-91, August–November1994) and was collected in trade paperbackHellboy: The Wolves of Saint August(November1995) with some additional pages to smooth out the rough edges.

Mignola has stated that the story, based on anIrish folktaleaboutSt. Patrickcursing a group of pagans, was written on the advice of editorBarbara Keselto prove to the audience that the creator was committed to turning Hellboy into an ongoing franchise.

In the story, Hellboy and Corrigan travel to Griart,Balkansin 1994 to find the town decimated by the angry ghosts ofwerewolvesand their associate Father Kelly murdered by a living werewolf.

The trade paperback won the1996"Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work"Harvey Award.

Almost Colossus

This story by Mike Mignola was originally published in two-issue mini-seriesHellboy: Almost Colossus(June–July1997) with back-up featureAutopsy in B-flatbyGary Gianni.Mignola won the1998"Best Writer/Artist: Drama"Eisner Awardin part for his work on this mini-series.

Taking place a week after the events ofHellboy: Wake the Devil,Hellboy and Corrigan search for therogue homunculusthat Elizabeth Sherman's group discovered in the Ruins of Czege Castle as she is dying from her pyrokinesis powers being absorbed by the homunculus when he came to life. When Hellboy and Corrigan learn of someone who has been recently robbing graves, they follow the trail to an abandoned castle where are ambushed by the creations of a crude homunculus who is revealed to be 'older brother' to the rogue homunculus. The elder homunculus, having killed his alchemist 'father' to acquire his secrets, is creating a new colossus body for him using metal and human fat and captures Corrigan to add her into its composition. But the rogue homunculus sides with Hellboy and protect Corrigan, using Liz's pyrokinesis to destroy the colossus after his brother merged into it. The homunculus is named "Roger" as he returns to his lifeless state after restoring Liza, Manning have the body brought to the B.P.R.D. base.

Gallery

This collection includes a pinup gallery featuring art by B. C. Boyer,Duncan Fegredo,Dave Johnson,Kevin Nowlan,Thierry Robin, andMatt Smith.