Review by Frank Plowright

In Mike Mignola’s Hellboy mythology the Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin persistently attempts to evoke the older gods and bring about the end of the world as we know it. Here Mignola and co-writer Chris Roberson investigate his past machinations.

They address the historical inconvenience of his real world death in 1916 by evoking vague mystical circumstances connected to the dragon of the title, which is fine, as there’s no need to become hung up on that when there’s a bigger story to be told. However, Mignola involves deception himself as Rasputin’s participation is minimal for much of Voice of the Dragon, largely because it wouldn’t be as good were he the star. The better story involves Trevor Bruttenholm investigating mysterious circumstances prompted by Rasputin’s own search, but Bruttenholm’s isn’t an alluring title name despite this revealing the beginnings of the B.P.R.D.

Much of the early story occurs in an English country village during World War II. Despite monsters and atrocities, the setting lends a pastoral quality, especially as so attractively provided by Christopher Mitten, and has ties to Mignola’s Witchfinder series as the Heliopic Brotherhood feature. More prominently, though, the use of the same creative team and the appearance of significant characters, renders this a sequel to Rise of the Black Flame. For readers of those other series the connections will be clever, and it’s always fun catching up on beloved personalities.

Mitten’s art is again exemplary. There seems to be nothing he can’t draw phenomenally well. His people shine, the movement is natural, the period details are convincing, the monsters appal, and when the big set piece is revealed the spread is stunning.

It’s only in a thrilling final chapter that the paths of Bruttenholm and Rasputin connect, and that, in hindsight, sets so much of Hellboy’s story in motion.

Perhaps it’s the case that Mignola’s supernatural series have stretched so far and wide that their connections make diving in anywhere an intimidating choice. In that case Voice of the Devil makes for an ideal sampler. It’s well written, well drawn and unpredictable while carrying the mood of the entire selection.