SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Pearl's & Ruby's
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

April 10, 2017 by Brigid Alverson

Review: ‘Itty Bitty Hellboy’

April 10, 2017 by Brigid Alverson   Leave a Comment

Itty Bitty HellboyItty Bitty Hellboy
By Art Baltazar and Franco
Dark Horse, 2014
Ages 8 and up

You have to give Art and Franco points for boldness: It’s one thing to do Tiny Titans comics about DC superheroes—most kids have heard of Superman. Hellboy, on the other hand, is not exactly a children’s property. Indeed, this book suffers a bit from the same problem as Tiny Titans, with lots of in-jokes, making it feel more like a book for adult fans of the franchise than for children. A simple solution would have been to add a page or two in the front introducing the characters and explaining their powers and characteristics.

That said, many of the gags do hold up. When Johann Kraus, who is basically ectoplasm in a containment suit, sneezes himself out of his suit and can’t catch a baseball, that’s actually pretty funny. Johann’s suit turns into one of the best running gags in the book, in fact. Art and Franco send Hellboy both to Hell (where he is surrounded by mini-Hellboys who want to destroy the earth) and to Heaven (where he has to change his name—duh!)and those sequences are delightful.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The jokes about Roger fall kind of flat, though, because it’s never clear who he is or why he likes to lurk naked in the bushes. Roger definitely needs context; as it is, he’s just icky (although that probably is a plus in the eyes of the eight-year-old readers).

The book, which compiles issues #1-5 of the original comic, is basically a series of short, two- and three-page gag comics, so if one doesn’t work, the reader can quickly move on to the next. In addition, it’s super cute, with the bright colors, rounded character designs, and overall sense of joy that characterize all of Art and Franco’s work—yes, even when they are taking Hellboy to Hell.

Filed under: All Ages, Graphic Novels, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Brigid Alverson

Brigid Alverson, the editor of the Good Comics for Kids blog, has been reading comics since she was 4. She has an MFA in printmaking and has worked as a book editor, a newspaper reporter, and assistant to the mayor of a small city. In addition to editing GC4K, she is a regular columnist for SLJ, a contributing editor at ICv2, an editor at Smash Pages, and a writer for Publishers Weekly. Brigid is married to a physicist and has two daughters. She was a judge for the 2012 Eisner Awards.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#63)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

“If you like my storytelling, this is your jam.” Jason Reynolds Goes All Audio with “Soundtrack”

by Betsy Bird

Heavy Medal

Nine More Titles: May Mock Newbery 2026 Suggestion Titles

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Politics in Practice

When Book Bans are a Form of Discrimination, What is the Path to Justice?

by John Chrastka

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Writing Queer Characters with Warmth, Empathy, and Inclusive Joy, a guest post by Lauren Magaziner

by Amanda MacGregor

The Yarn

Pably Cartaya visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

'Salt Magic,' 'The Legend of Auntie Po,' and 'Run: Book One' Among 2022 Eisner Award Winners

'Himawari House' Wins 2022 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature

Slice-of-Life Stories: Gentle Manga About Daily Living | Mondo Manga

Be Afraid (but not too afraid): Graphic novel horror for middle grade readers

“That’s How I Feel!” Visual Books Help Teens Grapple with Emotions and Mental Health

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books 2024
  • 2024 Stars So Far
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Pearls & Rubys
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • Reasons to Love Libraries
  • 2025 Youth Media Awards
  • Defending the Canon:SLJ & NCTE Review 15 Banned Classics
  • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Read Free Poster
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2025


COPYRIGHT © 2025