Hellboy and the BPRD: Saturn Returns #2: What’s a Demon Look Like, Pray Tell?

The second issue of Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: Saturn Returns #2 brings an explosive new development in the mystery surrounding the grisly deaths discovered in New Hampshire, but a sudden phone call threatens to upend their entire investigation. If the first issue didn’t pack enough punches for you, this one should pull you right back in! 

The eventual meeting between Hellboy and Liz may have felt inevitable from the start, but this story embraces the mystery of these characters as individuals, helping it to find its groove as an effective B.P.R.D. book. Told in a dual narrative format, the interwoven structure both provides plenty of Hellboy’s classic detective brawling as well as delves into Liz’s internal struggle with her own abilities. It all takes place in a world that feels alive and thriving, but also under seemingly more threats than the B.P.R.D. can handle. The vivid worldbuilding is at the heart of why this series works so well, building on lore established throughout the years but not forgetting to introduce a new tale to enjoy. 

While it is easy to appreciate the ambitions of a story with this much depth, the pacing could potentially present an issue to some readers simply because of how the story reaches the shocking cliffhanger. It’s meant to be abrupt, but it’s also a development that occurs right after the introduction of the villainous monster tied to all of the deaths. We recount the victim’s stories in brief panels sporadically, finding them scattered through recent, and sometimes not so recent history, all having disappeared into the woods at the hands of this monster. It does such a great job at establishing this mystery that when the phone call comes about Liz going to New Haven, it almost feels like a distraction.

But we should know better.

This creative team, spearheaded by the brilliant Mike Mignola, surely has something even more exciting planned for the final issue. Will it be earned, though? As the story continues to get more dangerous, the first issue grows in importance due to the foundation it set both in tone and consequence. I personally love a story that welcomes multiple readings, and after revisiting the first issue leading into this one, the ending does feel well timed because of it. While issue #1 may not have been the most thrilling, it really did set the rest of the miniseries up for success and issue #2 is an example. It’s intense when you want it to be and insightful when the story demands it. 

The visuals help to deliver powerful moments with some noticeably interesting color choices from Brennan Wagner. The backgrounds and action-packed scenes grant Hellboy’s stories more impact, but Liz’s emotions burn across every panel. The result is a book that is a joy to look at not because of any one moment, but because it offers such a complete experience from drama to action. 

Overall, Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: Saturns Return #2 is a welcome continuation filled with excitement and intrigue, developing critical plot points from the first issue and setting up the finale for something grand. Though it was certainly tasked with much of the heavy lifting narrative-wise, the issue pulls off something uniquely interesting to take this miniseries away from being just “OK” to maybe even something GREAT!