Hellboy: The Midnight Circus

By Mike Mignola

BPRD 1948, it's late, and little Hellboy is sneaking past the security desk, and overhears Trevor, and Malcolm chatting about HB, and the danger he poses, but Malc giving HB the benefit of the doubt as HB leaves the building by open balcony. HB has a matchbook and ciggies he'd taken from to agents earlier whilst hanging out in the mess. Now, he uses his arm to light the match for ciggie, he hearing a parade of clowns drumming in the night, and posters being nailed to trees about the only til dawn circus. HB runs right for it, impressed with its spread.

HB sees what's in the circus tent as the host says an incantation welcome, a group of varying performers coming in, and marching in a circle, it looking more sinister, bursting in flame, the chat continuing, but then HB being distracted by another attraction, hearing his name called. Before seeing anything in the Gentlemen Only spot, a man walks him out, HB saying his parents wouldn't be missing him for not having either, when q'd. The man next asks what attraction he'd want to see, the wooden boy capturing his interest for reading Pinocchio. The man leads HB to where he thought the wooden boy was, but instead, he's washed out to where he sees 2 wrecked ships, 1 larger.

HB then hears a scraggly Prof in a boat calling for him, HB trying to comfort him, but Prof needing warmth. Then the man comes back to remind HB how he could help by using his hand. HB doesn't though, and runs away from the bleating Prof. He runs out of the mirror fun house as the lady tells the man she knew the plan would fail. HB is about to be attacked by chimps when a lion comes out of his cage interrupting before HB could finish cursing.

The man stops the animals who say the lady told them to kill HB, who escapes, seeing 2 guys sitting next to a moving train and making franks and beans. They offer him some, but HB states he had to get back, but the 2 end up overpowering him, taking him into the woods with a lynch rope in hand. Meanwhile, Prof is searching nearby with a party, they going to Hobo Jungle to search, it known to have housed to kiddie killers, the 2 being hung in the woods. HB breaks free of the 2, but only for a mo, they stringing him up in a tree, the lady, Gamori watching, til the man stops the whole scene, HB being let down.

Then Prof locates HB as the man reminds Gamori who they both were, and she not to go against him. Meanwhile, HB apologizes for running off, and how he must've imagined the 2 men, the Prof comforting him as he begins to snooze as he carries him back to HQ. Cute side-story, doesn't ruin anything or give anything of importance away from the start of the actual series! Definitely worth the read.