I love me some Hellboy, ok? I was on a work trip to Europe about 6 years ago, and before I left, I was raiding the SF library for comics to bring with me (thank you three week check out time, SF library!) and I came across Hellboy. I'd never read anything by Mike Mignola, and although I'd heard of Hellboy, I knew nothing about him. I figured, screw it, might as well grab a couple of volumes and see what the fuss is about.
Man, oh man. The series grabbed me in a way that I hadn't experienced in years. The weird folklore, mythology, humor and out and out strangeness of Hellboy's world got me from page one and wouldn't let go. I drug those three volumes all around Germany, stopping in little cafes, drinking either espresso or beer and completely fell in love with the world of the B.P.R.D. The art is admittedly an acquired taste, but I acquired the MF out of it, and H.B. remains one of my favorite characters. If you haven't given the comics a shot, do it. You won't regret the time spent with Hellboy, Abe Sapien and the rest of the motley crew that makes up the Bureau of Paranormal Research & Development.
Fanboy gushing aside, I was considerably pumped when I learned that Hellboy was coming our way in board game format, if for no other reason than an excuse to pull my buddies into Hellboy's world. I need other people to read the books, so I can have a pal to pour over the lore of Mignola's universe with. The Hellboy board game is currently on kickstarter, and as of this writing, it has raised $962,159 of its $139,000 goal. Apparently, there are plenty of Hellboy fans out there with dough to throw around.
The Hellboy Board Game will be inspired by the legendary tales of horror, myth and folklore by Mike Mignola, and will play out in a fully cooperative experience for 1 to 4 players. You become one of the famous members of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD), ready to investigate occult haters that threaten our very existence. You'll explore gothic locations, hunt down clues, discover artifacts, fight horrific creatures and face off against terrifying bosses.
Check out their kickstarter here, and donate a few bucks if you've got the money. This is shaping up to be something special, and even if it isn't, look at those miniatures!
