Hellboy as Christ
Mike Mignola's comic book series Hellboy focuses on quite a perplexing character. Mignola has designed a protagonist who looks like the embodiment of evil, so some people may be wondering, how could this be a Christ figure? The series follows this terrifying figure to demonstrate that Hellboy is the incarnation of Christ (I will prove this later). Two major arguments emerge as we read Hellboy’s quests: one, that Christianity is the only way to save the earth (and our souls), and two, that Hellboy eradicates the false idols that plague the earth.
Hellboy first appears on earth on December 23, 1944, in East Bromwich, England. He is not “born” in the ordinary sense but summoned from Hell by Grigori Rasputin, who is working for the Nazis during World War Two. Hellboy is found in a church by American soldiers (see the image) and members of the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. He is taken in by Professor Bruttenholm, who raises Hellboy as a Christian with keen moral judgement. Bruttenholm’s ethical influence plays a crucial role in Hellboy's journey from the darkness. It was Rasputin’s plan that Hellboy would have a major destiny: he would prepare for the coming of the Apocalypse by helping to open the gates of Hell. Instead of following this mission, however, Hellboy does everything to combat this prophetic plan. In doing so he becomes the embodiment of Christ, and fights on behalf of Christian morals. The reader gradually learns through Hellboy’s words and actions that only Christianity can save the world, and that can only happen if people stay true and do not follow false Idols. Hellboy may be red, massive, have horns and a tail, and likes to smoke cigars, but his Christian symbolism is also strong. Mignola makes sure that, through his art, readers can understand Hellboy’s connection to Christ and how he mirrors certain attributes of Christ. Hellboy is almost always depicted with a rosary in all forms of media.(Rosaries, or Roman Catholic prayer beads, were introduced in the early 13th century. Typically they have a crucifix and 5 sets of 10 beads, one each for the prayer “Hail Mary,” and additional beads for other prayers.
Hellboy carries a rosary on his belt at all times; in the picture above captured from a panel of Hellboy volume two, he clutches the rosary that gives him focus and strength, ultimately helping him win again in his battle against evil. Hellboy has taken on the cause of saving everyone from evil. He brings Christianity to people by saving their dammed souls, just as Jesus had done. In volume three, Hellboy is sent by an old dying woman to bring back her daughter. Hellboy does this by finding and freeing the woman from evil and bringing her back to Christianity. In the panels below you see Hellboy handing the rosary to the young woman who was tricked by the devil. In giving her the rosary he brings Christ back into her life and frees her from the devil’s grip as symbolized by the golden wedding ring falling from her finger. As this is happening, Hellboy is physically fighting and destroying the demons who were trapping the young woman.
This episode and so many others are Mignola's way of revamping Christian ideas for contemporary culture. He makes Hellboy an eye-catching reincarnation of Christ who spreads a message of good works for the needy, saying no to evil, and Christian charity. But Mignola plays this in the background; Hellboy goes head-to-head with evil (Christ’s miracles including casting out “devils,” but he preached “turning the other cheek,” not hand-to-hand combat. Hellboy is a militarized or macho Christ.) Another way Mignola tries to convey his Christian ideology is with certain imagery that he incorporates into the comics in subtle ways. For example, in this panel Hellboy is fighting with snakes (in the book of Genesis, Satan disguises himself as a snake to trick Adam and Eve). There are other instances of understated imagery throughout the comic series, a lot of it involving angels and other Christian figures. These elements are always hinting at the presence of Christ and his power to save the earth as well as people’s souls. The slideshow below is a compilation of examples from throughout Hellboy.
Hellboy also has some godly powers at his disposal: he is resistant to fire and has an indestructible arm. Another major godly power is "clairsentience," which is the ability to feel past, present and future physical and emotional states or events. Hellboy displays this power on a few separate occasions, but it is not a power which he can use at will.
Another thing a Christ figure needs is dedicated disciples, In the next blog I examine Hellboy's disciples and the powers they contribute to his fight to save Christianity.
