The Pull List – Hellboy vs. Lobster Johnson: The Ring of Death One Shot
Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson revisit two strange tales from Hellboy’s past in this one-shot comic. In the 1950s Hellboy secretly costarred in a movie with the luchador Lobster Johnson in Ring of Death. Hellboy stumbles on a screening of the film and gets uncomfortable on the couch for a horror movie night. In a follow-up story, the Visitor gets his own story that silently observes Hellboy in Down Mexico Way. The Visitor is an assassin that has yet to fulfill his contract to eliminate Hellboy. He journeys to Mexico to monitor Hellboy’s activity. Hellboy’s adventure in Mexico was crazier than he remembered in these two never before seen stories!
Ring of Death features art by Mike Norton and colors by Dave Stewart. A luchador named Lobster Johnson, a homage to the masked vigilante of the same name. Lobster Johnson stars in a movie called Lobster Johnson in the Ring of Death that is utilizing its low budget to the full extent. The story follows in the tradition of campy luchador movies where a hero luchador takes on a villainous evil. The villain in this movie is the devil, which is hilariously played by Hellboy. If Hellboy’s demonic looks weren’t convincing enough, someone decided to dress up in a bad Halloween costume of the devil to add to the cheesy factor. Dave Stewart colors for the movie scene flashbacks are presented in black and white, mimicking the classic movie serials of the 1950s. Mike Norton draws the luchadors the larger than life proportions and adds some cartoony violence for fun.
Down Mexico Way has art from Paul Grist and colors by Bill Crabtree. In this side story to Ring of Death, the Visitor arrives to witness Hellboy film his role for Lobster Johnson in the Ring of Death. This story follows a behind the scenes look of Hellboy’s acting technique (or the lack of it), and lets assassin reflect upon his decision of sparing Hellboy was still the right choice. Paul Grist and Bill Crabtree cartoonish visuals play up the reality of Hellboy’s mysterious acting career. This bite-size story brings back one of Hellboy’s silent watchers and gives some insight into the history of Hellboy’s time on Earth.