HELLBOY

I LOVE HELLBOY

THE CHARACTER

Hellboy is a creature summoned in the final months of World War II by a fictional version of Grigori Rasputin, on a small island just off the coast of Scotland ('Tarmagent Island'), having been commissioned by the Nazis to change the tide of war ("Project Ragna Rok"). Hellboy appeared in a fireball in a ruined church in East Bromwich, England, December 23, 1944. He proved not to be a devil, but a little boy-like creature (with red skin, horns, a tail, and a large stone right hand)—hence the name given by Professor Trevor Bruttenholm (shortened to Broom).
Taken by the U.S. forces to an Air Force base somewhere in New Mexico, Hellboy was raised by the United States Army and by the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, a U.S. agency dedicated to combating occult threats. He was granted honorary human status by the United Nations in 1952.
As an adult, Hellboy became the primary agent for the B.P.R.D., alongside several other human and quasi-human agents. His fellow agents include Abe Sapien, an amphibian humanoid ("ichthyo sapien"); Liz Sherman, a pyrokinetic; Roger, an unusually large homunculus; and Johann Kraus, a disembodied spiritualist.
Hellboy's adventures in the comics span the 1940s to the present day and involve elements such as sorcerers, Nazis, the Thule Society, hollow earth explorers, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and other oddities such as the Ogdru Jahad.
Several of the storylines deal with Hellboy's Right Hand of Doom and its purpose in initiating the Apocalypse. Much in the same vein as fellow comic-book superheroes Batman, Blade and Wolverine, Hellboy is a hero constantly haunted by the knowledge of his past.

POWERS AND ABILITIES

Hellboy's superhuman abilities stem from his demonic nature. While his specific powers and abilities have never been explicitly described in the comics, Hellboy is much stronger and tougher than an ordinary human being.
Hellboy is not invulnerable, but he is extremely tough. He has been savagely beaten by large monsters on several occasions and survived, often with relatively few injuries. On one occasion, he directly charged an MG-42 machine gun and took numerous bullets to the chest before destroying the gun.
The extent of Hellboy's strength is unclear, but on at least one occasion he has torn down a large tree and hurled it at an opponent. He has also thrown opponents weighing at least four hundred to five hundred pounds. The Hellboy Sourcebook and Roleplaying Game, which was produced with input from Mignola, states that with two hands, Hellboy can lift approximately 750 pounds (340 kg). However, the comics suggest that Hellboy is stronger than this.
Hellboy's right hand, referred to as the Right Hand of Doom, consists of a large forearm and hand that seem to be made from red stone. The Hand is effectively invulnerable and feels no pain, and is much like a sledgehammer when used to punch an enemy. Of course, being far larger than an ordinary human hand, the Right Hand of Doom is not very suitable for use with most objects, so he relies on his average-sized left hand to operate weapons and devices.
In addition to his natural gifts, Hellboy carries a variety of items--such as holy relics, horseshoes, and herbs--in his utility belt. These often come in handy when fighting supernatural beasts.
Somehow, Hellboy interacts regularly with normal humans, with little to no attention given to the fact that he is bright red and has a tail. In the film version, however, he is kept under lock and key and considered simply an "urban legend" by the general populace.
Hellboy usually carries a large pistol. In the film adaptation, the gun is called the "Samaritan," and Hellboy states that he uses special bullets containing silver shavings, holy water, and other materials to ensure the weapon's effectiveness against supernatural creatures.
Additionally, in the film adaptation, Hellboy is shown to be entirely invulnerable to heat and flame, including that which is generated by electrocution.