Hellboy: The Bones of Giants

By Mike Mignola

Jan-Olaf Kjell hears thunder, he currently at the secret spot of a river his pop'd shown him before he died, it always good for fish, due to not being abused. Then, lightning struck multiple times nearby, the snow feeling like it was shifting. Kjell sees on the bank a corpse holding a weapon.

An officer Bruckner is answering a call about a big, red, scary freak scaring kids at an amusement park, it looking like a demon to him. He's ready to shoot til his cap. Wilkie tells him of HB's rep, the man himself asking about who had seen the monster. HB has a walkabout to see if he could find the red creature scaring and choking kids. He finally glimpses the nekkid fella on a carousel, ugly as sin.

HB recognizes it as Caypór, once it started speaking ancient Portuguese. HB didn't quite speak it, but got the idea of what the Caypór was trying to tell him. HB tries to make clear the Caypór had done its job and then some, so should leave, Caypór taking offense and growing a tree which picks up HB. He squeezes the branches loose of him, Caypór and he going hand to foot combat, but HB unable to hit him, yet.

When HB does, he makes it count, the end occurring by Caypór getting electrocuted, and being consumed by inner flame. It doesn't go out though, so HB returns to the cops standing vigil, or guarding outside, and let them know, he then returning to the limo with doc Manning, the director of BPRD inside. HB is told he'd be going to Sweden rather than testifying in front of US Senate for BPRD funding.

Abe is in the hotel worrying about the US Senate, so he grabs minibar nut snack and coke. When HB comes in, he eventually shares of going to Sweden and if Abe wanted to join, he was welcome, but he doesn't. At least not til HB reminds he wouldn't have to testify. The 2 reach Stockholm, and are ushered onto a ship taking them to a small village.

Meanwhile, Karl Aronsson and team are attempting to study the lightning-drawing weapon without getting hit or moving it, since the gov't had decided to step in for safety measures. This prevents Karl from being able to test the material and ID the body or determine what the weapon is made of. Kjell is waiting in his truck to be rewarded by the gov't, Karl thinking it wouldn't be what the fella was expecting. Karl sees Abe, and HB walking toward him from far off, impressed by their looks when they approach.

They're shown the corpse, and huge sledgehammer-looking weapon down in the riverbank. When HB picks it up despite everyone unable to move it, Karl is urging him to put it down when lightning hits him, and the hammer fuses to his hand. A 1st-person of the 1 who carries the hammer is shown, he being bitten by Jormungand and the poison blinding him as Allfather's great hall collapses. He dies after battering Jormungand; HB wakes underwater, feeling like the people touching him are maybe trying to keep him down, and when he surfaces, threatening whoever. It takes him a min to recognize Abe, which is worrisome.

Then Abe mentions he isn't speaking English, HB feeling tired, and then slowly returning to himself, a few of the people having been injured. Then HB remembers about getting hit by lightning, his hand still fused to the hammer, and they now stuck in Sweden til he could separate his hand from the hammer. As they're being driven back, HB and Abe are napping when HB wakes and notices they were headed in the wrong direction, it feeling wrong to him. Soon, they're walking and the closer they get to the right spot, HB feels the thrum of the hammer.

Abe feels it as well, as they reach a mtn face with signs of explosives marring the front. They see inside etches and paintings of runes on the walls. HB requests for a photographer to get shots of the runes, then next actually having to go to Stockholm to speak with someone he knew, but wasn't a buddy.

Pernilla Aikman likes listening to the music inside the cathedral, but can't handle the crowd, so is sitting across the way, when she hears hooves, but the rhythm unlike horse. Afterward, a half block away she sees 2 figures under a streetlamp, she thinking the tall 1 looks almost red, they moving toward the church, and the sound of hooves drowned out by the swelling music. When Pernilla sees the tail her tummy drops, and she bolts to lock her door quickly, the knock making her squee, then say in 2 languages to leave, adding in English she wouldn't allow the demon to kill her pop. HB attempts poorly to confess his reasons for being there, Abe taking over witho result, but when HB mentions Mjollnir, the door is opened by her pop, Edmund, the 2 allowed to enter.

In the living room, HB unbags his hammer hand, and pop and daughter excitedly research books, and speak in Swedish til Ed shares of hoping to also see the body, Abe agreeing they could meet him at the uni. After HB mentions knowing the symbols on the hammer related to Yggdrasil, Ed becomes tired, and offers they stay so they could hit the uni early next morning, HB reluctant, but the 2 ultimately agreeing. HB is niggled awake by clock sounds, then a squirrel god, he realizing Ed had left them high and dry. HB catches sight of him running hella quick for an old fella, and when he's about to follow, an assailant begins throwing sharp objects at him, winged creatures body slamming him back indoors.

Abe hears HB's call and is met by Pernilla in the hall, she following him downstairs as HB chucks 1 of the weapon-wielding demons out a window, but resorts to using Mjolnir when the others start sticking him with their weapons, and it actually hurts. HB gives Abe one of the creatures weapons before going after Ed, 1 of the creatures disintegrating after Abe sticks it in the chest. HB chases Ed to where he senses he'd gone, the subway station. When he comes to a 2nd wave of demons, he smashes them, and sees Ed up ahead.

As Ed is going down the long flight of stairs, HB gets piled on with a 3rd wave of demons, and when he gets to the platform, demons and Ed are gone. HB is met by 2 dwarves who confess to helping the thunder-bearer, he now having an entourage. The city of Gamla Stan in Stockholm is bright and cheery as people shop during normal hours, but at the time HB is in its silence, it feels ancient with the gods. He then blurting out Twilight Zone, these being his 1st words spoken in front of Brokk and Eitri, the 2 following a healthy 6 ft away, so HB could process his thoughts.

Soon, HB qs the 2 on what the shadow weasels were, the 2 not knowing why HB is asking or how to answer, til HB says it straight about the 2 claiming to be helpful, and he needed as much info as he could get, so start talking, right? Brokk gets the picture first, and explains where they come from and are called Svartalves. HB next qs of why Ed is getting help from the creatures, Brokk saying Thrym, which at 1st HB doesn't know, then does, getting a flashback of someone else's past. Thrym is king of the Frost Giants, and Allfather has sent him to get rid of him for all the havoc he is making his followers wreak.

The thunder-bearer goes after Thrym, being allowed to enter the cave without fight from the guards, they no longer caring for the fallen king. He passes others who should stop him, and don't, so once he gets to the back chamber, and sees the king, mad, and frozen into the mtn, snotsicles and teardrops frozen lining, as well. Thrym babbles of his terrible plans for his opposers, and then the thunderer, struck (ha!), killing the old biddy. HB comes out of his flashback in defense stance, worrying the Nidavellim.

HB qs them on how it could be Thrym, Brokk most likely explaining (gave both cred, despite Eitri only repeating Brokk's words in agreement). Pernilla and Abe chat about different subjects, starting with her wonder of Abe being buddies with HB to Abe pointing out her ignorance about HB wanting her pop dead rather than his being only rightfully annoyed her pop'd almost gotten him killed. After she admits her bad, Abe feels guilty, and asks about her work, she wanting to get a job at uni, but her pop wanting her to assist him, which frustrates her. Abe suggests she chat with Aronsson and maybe she'd get lucky, this idea seeming to touch her.

After, Abe snippily responds, and apologizes due to it being a knee-jerk response when she asks after his background. He honestly recounts what he knew and how he'd received his first name, which he resents. Then, HB returns explains the Nidavellim, which Pernilla recognizes immediately, inflating their egos from defense when seeing Abe. HB has Brokk and Eitri stand guard, and indoors states they'd get rest, and get the help of Aronsson tmw to locate her pop. Unfortunately, Aronsson is killed by the Svartalves, but he having translated the symbols in the cave.

HB tries to sleep as long as he can, but is repeatedly woken by the sun, he getting up in late morning, and not seeing the Nidavellim outside. He discovers Pernilla cooking breakies, and crying so HB obliges her request to have him tell Abe of food being ready. HB startles him in the tub, before withdrawing, and all 3 sit as HB recounts the memory of Thrym (Someone didn't purchase a decent editor, "don't meant to make light", huh? Can't even decide on if Eitri's name is with a 'y' at the end.). Pernilla suspects her pop is who had dug up the corpse, HB believing this.

They get to the uni, and are led to Aronsson's office, where Klar waits, and spurs quite a fun chat regarding locating the killers, but dismissing it is Svartalves. They walk outside, and HB sees ravens flying overhead which disappear when he attempts to point them out. He then chats with Mist, who also is only seen by HB, but when he calls for Ratatosk, Abe and Pernilla can see and hear it talking to him, but not able to comprehend. Pernilla realizes the instructions Ratatosk had delivered regarded looking for male deer, harts.

So, they go to a forest, HB seeing the strengthening thrum off the hammer, til they see deer running away form the same direction. They reach chanting, the Svartalves and Ed in a mini clearing, and cutting their hands, using the tankard of Thrym to reanimate the fella, it working as HB feels the ground tremor, and split with Thrym unearthing himself. The Nidavellim show up with a handful more to fight the Svartalves as HB has to deal with the gigantic Thrym. As he hold onto 1 of the dead trees stuck in the skeleton's chest as he sat up, HB calls to Abe to get ahold of Thrym's tankard, Abe and Pernilla attempting to get close enough to Ed to do so.

Pernilla is struggling with her pop as Abe fights off more Svartalves, and Nidavellim help him, and afterward he attends Pernilla when she gets backhanded by papa. Abe grabs her before Thrym grabs Ed, he dying by vomiting ice from his mouth and eyes. HB isn't able to stop Thrym from wandering off, unable to convince him to stay and fight, which annoys him.

Pernilla held her broken pop. trying to comfort him, as he lay dying, Abe pressing her shoulder in support. He gives her the needed mo alone when he breathes his last breath, she walking back toward HB and Abe, the 2 Nidavellim going off to track Thrym. Pernilla requests HB carry her pop so she could bury him, before they followed Thrym, the trio walking out of the forest. Meanwhile, Klar is in the basement of a hospital watching an autopsy which defies religious belief, sort of.

The body which carries the hammer had to have the legs supported by a gurney, due to the autopsy table being too short. Klar is annoyed at still having to wait there despite no one needing or asking him to stay, the corpse sitting up and scaring the shit out of everyone. He watches as the corpse realizes the hammer's gone, then kills both docs, horribly.

Klar hears the distant shouts and knocks outside the door to help, Klar not paying attn, til the corpse heads for him, he unlocking the door, and the corpse breaking through the viewing glass. Klar shrieks for his men to "destroy it", though is 1st to shoot, his men following suit, and the corpse's bits shattering. Klar decides he needs to manage the details to the Prime Minister on this 1, so makes up the story of the docs killing each other, and the corpse being damaged in the process, but before he can spread his lies, Mist kills him with a spear through his chest.

Abe and HB see Ed for the last time before the funeral, the 2 waiting in the limo for the service to be over, and Abe looking like he wished he could be there for Pernilla. HB defends himself from the next asst to the PM, and shares their next stop once Pernilla is ready. Next norming, the trio is in a helicopter to search for the ghost village. They find it after noon, and the helicopter pilot sets them in the courtyard of the semi-damaged village before leaving them there, the place quiet.

HB decides they'd make a bit to eat and see if the Nidavellim shows up before they drove on, a convenient truck nearby for them to utilize. They load the truck with their equipment, then HB decides they should go, the Nidavellim able to catch up. They see them blocking the way out of town, surprised they hadn't met Garm. Pernilla can't get her mind around this despite all she's been through, explaining Garm is a wolf-hound which killed Tyr, and so HB has the Nidavellim join them as they go back to deal with him.

Abe parks them where they'd started, HB planning to leave a couple Nidavellim with Pernilla, in case she is assaulted, but she decides to join them, HB lending the gun he'd been issued by the Swedish gov't. They go inside the building and see the huge pile of bodies, Garm lying at the top of the mound, the Nidavellim shouting distractions at it whilst Abe lined up a shot per HB's urging he kill it. The bullets do nothing, Pernilla also taking a couple shots, HB next advising Abe leave with Pernilla. Garm kills Brokk, Eitri goes after the wolf, but his attack unphases him. HB finally bashes the wolf with his hammer, it crippled, he informing Abe and Pernilla when the group walk out, and ready for Abe to drive them onward.

Manning just gets into the office to find Kate admitting she's pulled an all-nighter, after learning of the now missing corpse, and the PM calls for Manning right after Kate announces he would. Abe drives them toward Norway, HB feeling like they were getting closer to where Thrym'd be comfiest. HB has Abe stop, seeing faces in the forest, and recognizing the as the Valkyries, and Mist among them. They go on from there on foot, HB feeling they must go up the mtn.

HB doesn't explain seeing Mist, since they were there to collect his soul. They start the climb and discover their 1st body, finding more than a dozen before cresting the last hill and seeing a village, the ghost of Utgard on top of it, this village another dead 1. They spend the night nearby on an outcropping of surace to get relief from the wind. They start a small fire, and game plan their move once they get to the village, but they're interrupted by a fiery creature, Pernilla figuring out Logi could be defeating by tamping the source of his flame, so Abe kicks the insta-fire log into the crevasse, Logi falling with it.

After, the snow conveniently stops, so they could implement their plan. HB feels guilty for Pernilla and Abe suffering through this, but is also glad he isn't alone. When they reach the last of the hills leading to the gate of Utgard, Abe points out to HB of Pernilla seeing another giant unburying itself. They watch it being allowed to enter before HB chooses a spot on the wall to break through, Abe and Pernilla getting the 1st glimpse inside.

Abe sees why Thrym had eaten humans, other giants becoming more whole as they consumed corpses. They make it to the largest human building which'd fused with 1 of the ghost buildings, the duo helping a girl, lady, and old man escape, but Abe sees a giant wake up as they're coming out a window. HB hammers the gate open, and he with Nidavellim start taking down frost giants. The giants are egged on by Thor and they circle HB, he making a hit with the hammer and the accompanying lightning electrocutes a few of the giants, HB focusing on a 2-headed boi next.

HB ends up having to climb out of the fella's chest by making a hole with the hammer and climbing up through his back. The Nidavellim hatch through another giant as HB spies Mist, and the Valkyries watching on top of the walls of Utgard. He kills Thor's sis after she asks if what was happening was real. Back with Abe being punched at by the giant, he goes back inside to lead Pernilla and the trio a different way, he shooting the giants eye before they make it back to the opening in the wall, and wait for HB to meet them.

HB meanwhile, watches the Nidavellim kill the last frost giant, also seeing the dead, and shades of Utgard watching as Thrym finally shows himself, again. The 2 fight, and HB withdraws the last of huge trunk stuck in Thrym's chest, breaking more bones and finishing Thrym off per his request, Eitri and Lit the only 2 Nidavellim, now. They are next approached by Mist, again, she releasing HB from the hammer by touching his 3rd eye. The remaining Nidavellim take the hammer per HB's request, and they leave.

HB rejoins Abe and Pernilla, the 3 agreeing to rest til daytime, then get to the nearest town with the survivors. HB is ready to go home for bad Chinese takeout, Abe making sure the next time somewhere cold is offered to them HB would respond agreeably. His answer this time being of hitting Bali, instead.

Story is good enough, but the barely imagined connection between Pernilla and Abe is definitely difficult to empathize with. Overall it is easy, and fun, and I'm glad I read it. Definitely better than Odd Jobs.