Popular Hellboy artist Paulo Rivera is returning to a world of mysticism and magic. He’s uniting with writers Chris Roberson and Mike Mignolia for Hellboy: Burning Season, which kicks off this Wednesday.
As our exclusive preview shows, Hellboy has been called in for an intriguing mystery. Port Orange, in Florida, has been the site of a spate of spontaneous human combustions. It looks as though this has been going on for decades - the story opens with a prologue set in 1955. Curiously, though, local police officers have been reluctant to investigate. Events are about to take a dark twist, as Dark Horse’s solicit warns the fire has “an appetite for Bureau agents.”
It’s only when Hellboy investigates that he discovers strange models of dinosaurs. Again, law enforcers believe these have only been around a few years, but they were actually there back in 1955. It seems likely that this no tourist attraction; this strange, artificial Jurassic Park will no doubt be related to the spontaneous combustions. Check out our exclusive preview to get a sense of the adventure that awaits.
Co-writer Chris Roberson is thrilled to work with Rivera, who has a sterling reputation among Hellboy fans. As he explained in an official statement:
For Rivera, though, Hellboy: Burning Season was a thrilling opportunity. “Drawing Hellboy is always a blast,” he observed, “but drawing him in my hometown is even better.” Rivera asked for a Daytona Beach ghost story, and the result left him delighted.
“It is a thrill to be collaborating with Paolo again. He did such a fantastic job capturing the early Cold War period in Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: 1953, and I’ve been eager for the chance to work with him again ever since. We asked him what kinds of things he wanted to draw this time around, and the script for “Burning Season” was built to suit!”
The best Hellboy stories are a fantastical blend of the real world and dark, sometimes Arthurian, legends. This is certainly an inspired idea; in this case, the plot weaves Hellboy into a place that’s of massive importance to a beloved member of the book’s creative team. But what is the cause of these spontaneous combustions? And why is there a dinosaur exhibit to rival Jurassic Park in the middle of Florida? The answers will begin to be revealed in Hellboy: Burning Season #1, on sale Wednesday 21.
“[Chris] came up with a poignant tale that explores the rather difficult history of a place better known for its beaches (and partying). It was also a great excuse to finally visit a place I had never been to, but always heard about growing up.”
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Hellboy: Burning Season #1 hits local comic shops and digital services on January 21, 2018.
