Hellboy: House of the Living Dead

By Mike Mignola

In 1956, HB goes missing for a handful of days when investigating mass murders in Mexico. In '82, HB mentions a trio of bros in Mexico who were ex-wrestlers turned fighters to Abe Sapien, the bros having decided to change their calling because Mother Mary told them. The 3 bros joined forces with HB for a month, 1 of the bros getting turned into a vamp, and HB having to kill him, with regret. The months after, HB becomes a wrestler.

During HB's work as a wrestler contractor, a man tells of his boss paying a suspicious amount for HB to wrestle his champ or he'd kill a young lady the man shows him a photo of, so HB reluctantly joining the man as he drives back to the secluded manse through a desert trail. The 2 enter a house, HB led below to where he sees a Frankenstein's monster-type hooked up and standing in a boxing ring, the doc boss happy to see him, and bringing the young lady in, he coaxing HB to fight. He tries to make the monster fall so they could be done, but fool takes a few punches til catching HB's hand as it approaches his face, again. HB has now met a fair rival.

The doc tells of how his monster had been noticed by the devil, his minions suggesting HB fight the monster to finish HB by whip, he turning on his assistant and him, the place going up in flame, and Sonia, the young lady convinces her guard, Raul to help her home, since they had history, and he cared for her. HB had to make his own way out as the place explodes a few times. Sonia and Raul stop for a moment, then she must leave him as he turns into a wolf. He chases her to a mausoleum, and HB comes right after Raul shoots her with one of his silver bullets. HB shoots him, and then a corpse starts waking, HB handling it.

As HB brings out Sonia's body, he's accosted by lady ghosts on how many times he'd recently failed to save people, like the bro, Esteban who had become his good buddy. Then, the ghost ladies change, and HB attempts to get them to back off. Fortunately, Esteban saves him, the ghosts bursting into flames with the powers of Jesus Christ. Raul tells HB he and Sonia knew he'd meant to save them. The downside being HB couldn't recover Sonia's body for another building collapse, so he returns to town, and the bar.

He buys himself, and "the monster" a drink when he comes in. He tells how the doc had bought him out of a carnival. Then, HB is reminded by the man from HB: The Midnight Circus, of not ever dying like a man despite choosing to live like one. Another great side-story! I already know this series is worth the read.