5. Hellboy In Hell #5 by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
It's been 9 months since Hellboy in Hell #4 but Mike Mignola finally returns after a well-earned rest with the next in the series. This issue actually turns out to be a standalone story, so don't be put off by the #5 numbering if you missed the first four comics and jump straight in with this one! The Three Gold Whips opens with Hellboy still in Hell encountering a human called Jules Dulot who's trying to find a way out of his deal with a demon for his soul. In exchange he received a whip that produced gold coins on impact and made him a wealthy man but as the end of his life nears, he fears for his immortal soul - so Hellboy helps him cheat a demon. The Hellboy in Hell series is notable for being both written and drawn entirely by Mike Mignola, a rare treat these days after years of Mignola writing the stories or consulting on them, and drawing only the covers. Issue #5 reminds us what we all loved about Mignola's art and it's really something seeing it again. Ruined stone staircases, archs, chapels, and statues, terrifyingly amorphous demons with piercing eyes, and some of the most hauntingly stark and gothic imagery you'll ever see in comics - the atmosphere of the book is spooky as hell which is pretty appropriate given its setting! Part of what makes Mignola's comics so good is the way he works in humour among all of the horror and drama. The two skeleton soldiers are a very Mignola touch and the boozy demonic grandma is an excellent character. The story feels like an old fairy tale or folk myth which is how the best Hellboy comics read like. If you're a Mignola/Hellboy fan, you'll adore this reunion between creator and character, and if you want to read a beautifully written and drawn horror comic, Hellboy in Hell #5 is for you.