Dark Horse Comics/Curious Objects; $4.99  

Some stories don't need dozens of pages to leave an impression. Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. The Monster of Nivola #1 proves that a well-crafted one-shot can tell a complete, emotional story in a surprisingly short amount of time. 

Set in Sardinia during 1963, the issue sends Hellboy to investigate rumors of a mysterious creature haunting a nearly abandoned village. Like many of the best Hellboy stories, the mystery isn't as simple as it first appears, and what begins as a monster hunt gradually becomes something far more tragic. 

What I appreciated most is how quickly the creative team establishes the mood. Writers Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden don't waste a single page. The story is lean, focused, and lets its emotional moments speak for themselves. 

The real standout, however, is Daniele Serra. His artwork is absolutely gorgeous. The watercolor-inspired style, built around blacks, grays, and splashes of red, gives every page a haunting, dreamlike quality. It's gothic, moody, and unlike almost anything else on comic shelves right now. 

What starts as a classic monster story slowly transforms into something much more heartbreaking. That's always been one of Hellboy's greatest strengths. The monsters are memorable, but it's often the human stories behind them that stay with you long after you've closed the book. 

Released by Dark Horse Comics/Curious Objects on June 24, 2026, Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. The Monster of Nivola #1 is a fantastic standalone tale. It's beautifully illustrated, emotionally satisfying, and another reminder that the Hellboy universe continues to produce some of the best one-shot stories in comics. 

–Scott Schlazer