Hellboy Vol 5: Conqueror Worm

Hellboy Vol 5: Conqueror Worm (2002) Mike Mignola

I believe I’ve mentioned previously that I prefer Mike Mignola’s shorter Hellboy stories than the longer stories.

The Conqueror Worm is a longer story.

It’s not that the story is bad–it’s not. My problem is that the longer stories tend to wander more and get more confusing as they go. I think his Hellboy stories are simply better when they’re sharply focused.

Hellboy and Roger are sent out to a decrepit Nazi castle to see why a rocket the Nazis shot into space during WWII is trying to return.

That said, the more interesting story is the relationship between Hellboy and Roger. In the series Roger has evolved from a brainless homonculus to a creature not unlike Hellboy. A being of amazing strength and resistance, but one that is quite obviously not human and so is viewed by those as charge as game for the most deadly and dangerous missions. Partially because they’re hard to destroy, and partially because they aren’t human.

It’s a fascinating concept, and one that has interested me for awhile, especially as humans are on the verge of creating artificial life, and so this question may soon become one we will need to consider.

To it has it’s pluses and minuses. Although I prefer the shorter format for these stories, I like the way ideas in this story made me think.

If you aren’t reading Hellboy, you really should be. Yeah, it can be a bit gruesome, and there are lots of supernatural baddies, but he’s a fascinating character, and has lots of amazing adventures.
Rating: 7/10

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