Hellboy in Hell, Vol 1: The Descent

By Mike Mignola

Directly after HB is claimed by the underworld, BY confesses HB had died with honor. Sir Edward wishes to help HB out, despite the future holding some horrible scenarios should HB choose to fulfill them. He agrees to take the blame and requests to see HB, who is currently on the outskirts of hell. Soon, he's recognized and he must defend himself.

Sir Edward steps in to help the enemy stating he'd kill him too if he goes against him. Before he can retaliate, Sir Edward teleports them elsewhere, stating his plan to capture the fella if he stalks them there. When the fella does, Sir Edward throws HB out of conflict with him, and states he wouldn't be able to help fight the enemy, yet. HB next is made to fly with an ethereal white hooded fella, HB not bothered but curious of where they were headed.

They go to Pandemonium, and Sir Edward tells of all the demons and leaders of hell having run away, knowing he was coming, and then showing HB his throne, sword, ring, and crown. Sir Edward then reveals the only 1 who had stayed was Satan, because he was asleep, and let the lesser devils run hell. He offers HB the option to kill Satan which HB declines. Lastly, he sees when he'd been bestowed the hand as a baby.

Then, Sir Edward speaks of HB's bros coming to fight him for his hand, the 2 arguing over who'd get it. HB learns Azzael is imprisoned for creating him. As the bros fight between themselves, their unc Astaroth cuts 1 bro's head off, and he and the other get swallowed by Leviathan. HB then learns someone had already kilt Satan, so chaos could ensue.

HB chats with Sir Edward further, he reminding HB he'd kilt Satan despite not recollecting. HB next learns how Sir Edward had ended up where he is, it having happened in 1916. Sir Edward had been attempting to disband a dangerous long named blah-blah of Ra, and he'd been reversing a spell where they'd conjured a duke of hell, but Sir Edward got dragged back down to hell with him. He'd been torn apart, but was sewn together by creatures who no longer resided on the rocks.

After this, Sir Edward states of HB technically now having freedom, despite still having the hand, so he's left in a city of ruins, as SE chats to others of helping HB with at least 1 of the 3 tasks he is still technically beholden to fulfill. HB is interrupted from his smoke from a respectful old chat looking for a church, HB offering to help look. They do run into fellas buddies who'd taken a bad deal with the devil, and HB opts to handle the lady g/ma responsible. G/ma decides to see if she can help and has them hide before her g/son comes back.

Fortunately, the g/son spills the answers so the man could save his own soul, and HB chills with the fellas 2 buddies, looking for a drink. Strong continuation, and I'm nearly through the 2nd part of the main series! I love these stories, and I feel like I'm rushing through them, but they're so easy to get through, since the dialogue isn't massive and the art is stellar!