With SDCC on the horizon AND it being the 30th anniversary of Hellboy, it only makes sense we’d get some news from Mike Mignola this week. And now we have, in the form of The Serpent in the Garden: Ed Grey and the Last Battle for England, a new miniseries by Mignola, artist Ben Stenbeck, colorist Dave Stewart and letterer Clem Robins.
The series stars paranormal investigator Ed Grey, who first appeared in Hellboy: Wake the Devil and went on to star in Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder. This new series finds him going up against famed sorceress Morgan Le Fay in a battle for England.
“Ed Grey feels to me like he took off like a rocket,” said Mignola. “He was my ‘regular guy’ occult detective but then just kept going. Being dismembered and stitched back together didn’t even slow him down. He became a magician and flew around doing stuff. He decided to take on some of Hellboy’s curse and everything just kept beating him and he just kept getting up, and before too long, I just felt bad for him and wanted to give him a quiet place to sit down – retire in peace. BUT he had just one more (I hope) thing to do and then not only could he retire but he could retire another of my favorite characters. Let’s hope both of them can finally relax after this one last battle for England.”
Here’s how Dark Horse describes the series:
Taking place after the events of B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know and Mignola and Stenbeck’s Koshchei in Hell, The Serpent in the Garden follows Grey after he’s summoned away from Hell by Alice, queen of the last standing realm on Earth, to help defend England from King Arthur’s half-sister Morgan Le Fay and her fearsome champion.
“This is going to be my last ‘Hellboy universe’ story for some time,” Stenbeck said. “So I’m really happy I finally get to draw one of my favorite characters.”
The Serpent in the Garden: Ed Grey and the Last Battle for England #1, the first issue of three, arrives in stores Nov. 27.
And speaking of San Diego, Dark Horse will have several items at their booth this week featuring Hellboy to celebrate his big 3-0, including:
Hellboy Seed of Destruction #1 30th Anniversary Convention Exclusive Variant
The Goon, Hellboy, and Usagi Yojimbo Anniversary Print painted by Eric Powell:
The Hellboy 30th Anniversary Pinfinity Set:
A Hellboy Letterpress Set:
The Hellboy Seed of Destruction #1 30th Anniversary Convention Exclusive Variant is a limited edition of 1,500 copies for $25 and is limited to five copies per person per day. Limited to 300 copies, The Goon, Hellboy, and Usagi Yojimbo Anniversary Print is $50. The Hellboy 30th Anniversary Pinfinity Set and the Hellboy Letterpress Set are both $40. You’ll be able to find them at the Dark Horse booth.