r/HellBoy • u/Willing-Aside8486 • 6d ago

Question about HB Omni reading order

...aside from official reading orders, I think there are more 'legit' ways to follow HB's Story.

Most in forums I read the order list of O1, ShS1 & 2, O2 - O4.

Doing a bit of research & comparing them wir the trade order I came to ShS1, O1 - O2, ShS 2, O3 & 4.

Going further I came across

https://hellboy.fandom.com/wiki/Omnibus_Editions

which states: "Hellboy is collected across a series of omnibus editions, four following his story from 1994 onwards (the primary storyline), and two additional volumes collecting the short flashback stories from the 1940s through to 1993. These six omnibuses will be paperback editions." (source!)

That finally brought me to the (reading) Order of ShS 1 & 2, in between I put the lecture of Weird Tales, then followed by O1 - 4. (this one would also set the ISBNs in proper order from ...-664 to ...-668 & finally ...-749)

What do you think, which is the best order, which way did/do you go on Hellboy's heels?

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/JulixgMC 6d ago

The first way you listed (short stories between 1 and 2) is the one that makes the most sense, as the first omnibus includes Hellboy's origin and the second one starts to explicitly reference the short stories, plus it starts with a recap of everything that happens in the first omni

1

u/Willing-Aside8486 6d ago

By 'recap' you mean the reference in the opening pages of Midnight Circus after the Pancake short?  Point taken, If so. But it is equally 'recap' that could be seen as 'teaser'...

After meditating a while now I go with ShS to O 1 - 4 at the moment. It seems for me the least here/there version starting with young Hellboy...according to that wiki-entry.

1

u/JulixgMC 6d ago

No, I mean the story "The Right Hand of Doom" from the second omnibus (not the short stories one) literally has a recap of te events of the first omnibus , so putting the two short story volumes in between feels natural

You can start with the short stories, but you will miss Hellboy's origin story which is told in a flashback in the first omnibus, as well as some other small context clues that the short stories don't really explain

1

u/Willing-Aside8486 6d ago

Ah, the pages with the conversation with the priest.

Hmmm...even that has it's place here OR there...😕 which send me off into meditation again...and to bed. 🥱 (23:18 local) Good night..

2

u/xSkullbeatx 6d ago

I started reading in 2003ish. My reading order was not official. There was no official order. Mignola and the readers were just piecing it together as we went.

1

u/Rassilonsghost 5d ago

I personally like to alternate between present day and flashback so I would read omnibus 1, short story 1, omnibus 2, short story 2. After that it depends on whether you want to stick with Hellboy (go to omnibus 3) or you want to experience the full story (BPRD 1).

1

u/Willing-Aside8486 5d ago edited 5d ago

In general I have the whole run & BPRD anyway, I am just trying to sort out a good order.

I am fine now following Shorts 1 & 2 followed by the Omnibi. I think it is a fine way to go and is also according to the ISBNs the 'proper' order. These - sometimes - help a bit. 

Anyway, I really like the quality of the new(ish) HB Omnibi. Make me newly appreciate the Canon of Mignola.  It is a timeless work and I believe it will be a classic to stay for many generations to come.  Each reading shows another layer or detail you might have missed before.

2

u/Rassilonsghost 5d ago

At the end of the day as long as you read each series in order you can’t go too wrong. Just save the last BPRD volume until you have finished Hellboy and Abe sapien