As if there could ever be any question about who the number 1 character from the Hellboy universe might possibly be. Sure, there are definitely some series of comics out there where the title character is a solid figure around whom a much more interesting supporting cast gathers, but, however great the other characters are, it's Hellboy that's the star. All of Hellboy's colourful universe has grown from Mignola's genius moment of inspiration to take a creature, the big red demon, that is one of western culture's most defining images of "evil" and flip him round to being the hero. Visually there's something very striking about that design. The pages of the comics are filled with the muted colours and big swathes of jet black shadow that define Mignola's work. Against that, our hero's scarlet form stands out as something brash, bold and attention grabbing. Often seen in a trench coat, puffing on a cigarette or cigar and packing an increasingly massive series of guns, Hellboy's appearance combines the grandiosely mythical with the mundane and workmanlike in a way that perfectly fits the comic. He has the great force of destiny always weighing down on him and must deal with the expectations of his various parental figures. However, his tendency to take much of the weird and wonderful, tragic and terrifying in his stride with an "all in a day's work" attitude makes him truly appealing. For all that he is an apocalyptic demon turned monster slayer, there's something defiantly blue collar about Hellboy, an ordinary guy just doing his job. And that's why we love him. Who do you think is the greatest ever Hellboy Universe character? Share your own picks below in the comments thread.
