5 out of 5

Odds and ends affairs are generally rather scattered reads, but it’s a style that typically works really well for HB.

Collecting some shorter series from his ongoing as well as some DHP bits, ‘The Chained Coffin’ doesn’t necessarily add to the world view like volume 2 does, but simply by reaching out into deeper folklore (and following up on eventual fan-favorite Roger the homunculus), Mignola again waves a magic wand that doubly and triply enriches his characters and setting.  Ghosts; vampires; werewolves; the template – introduce a myth, Hellboy investigates and punches something – remains pretty consistent, and yet it never feels repetitive.  While Mike’s visuals certainly have their influences, in the tales here I feel we really start to see the Mignola style emerge: the cutaway panels; the contemplative shots; the precision of framing and pacing.  In a way, by shifting momentarily back to a smaller focus, the audience was being trained to accept the slow and steady plotting that would define the Mignolaverse, as well as being more directly shown how the title holds up even when not hanging on cliffhangers or open threads.

What’s most impressive, to me, about this collection is how one could make the argument for any particular story to be a highlight.  Mike’s introductory notes to each tale are massively appreciated and show the thought and consideration he gives to even ‘simple’ bits, while underselling his organic sense of creation; entering into the stories with his thoughts as precursor prevents them from feeling like the asides they could be.  So maybe Roger’s tale is the best; maybe The Chained Coffin is.  They’re all fantastic.  And with the coloring mostly split between James Sinclair and Dave Stewart, both of whom seem to share similar sensibilities, we’re again really establishing the “language” of the series.

No Ogdru Jahad, so you could get by understanding the overall mythology without this trade, but for its contribution to the tone and simply its cover-to-cover goodness, it really shouldn’t be skipped.