10 Insanely Detailed Comic Book Worlds That Blew Fans' Minds

2. The Hellboy Universe - Dark Horse

The world of Mike Mignola's Hellboy is, by all means, one of the greatest ever conceived. The fact it's been the subject of so many adaptations since only being introduced 25 years ago is impressive in itself, but it's the fact the material in question is consistently fascinating that distinguishes the 'Mignolaverse' of titles over others in the medium.

Hellboy and its surrounding comics are quintessentially gothic. They also operate under a fixed, linear timeline; characters age, history progresses, and there's a beginning, middle and an end. Compared to the sliding timelines of the Marvel and DC universes it ends up being a major breath of fresh air, with that element of finality reiterating the importance of each story.

Mignola is by no means the only creator to have produced great things in the Hellboy universe, but his work laid the visual and narrative foundations of what would follow. So much of Hellboy's story is told through visuals alone, and the writer/artist's understanding of old myth and legend ensures it remains authentic.

Add to that the deluge of wonderful supporting characters - many of whom have gone on to lead various spin-off books over the years - and you're left with one of the richest comic book worlds ever published.