Strange Places

Hellboy faces a sea hag and an ancient mystic on a forgotten island.

Hellboy: Strange Places is the sixth trade paperback collection in the Hellboy series created by Mike Mignola, published by Dark Horse Comics on April 26, 2006. It collects the mini-series The Third Wish and The Island, featuring fictional paranormal detective Hellboy.

Quick Facts

Format: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Date: April 26, 2006
Writers: Mike Mignola
Letterers: Clem Robins
Editors: Scott Allie

Lore & Background

In The Third Wish, Hellboy's apparent destiny as the harbinger of the Apocalypse continues to attract supernatural attention. After seeking advice from a fabled African witch doctor, Hellboy dives to the treacherous ocean bottom. The Bog Roosh, a sinister sea hag, captures him using an enchanted nail and a trio of flighty mermaids. She plans to prevent the end of the world by dismembering Hellboy and sending his Right Hand to the deepest depths, robbing the Ogdru Jahad of their key into this world.

With the help of the third mermaid, Hellboy defeats the hag but is lost beneath the sea for two years. In The Island, Hellboy washes up on an unknown island and inadvertently resurrects an ancient mystic who holds the secret history of the universe, including the origins of God, angels, the Earth, the Ogdru Jahad, and the exact source of the Right Hand of Doom. The mystic is driven insane by Hellboy's demonic blood. Hellboy defeats the mystic and destroys the gargantuan Urgo-Hem, an Ogdru Jahad spawn.

These struggles are watched by the Daoine Sidh, especially Gruagach the changeling, who holds an old grudge. Hecate seems content to wait for the end of the world, but Gruagach will not bow out peacefully.

Reader's Guide

The Third Wish was originally published in a two-issue mini-series, Hellboy: The Third Wish (July–August 2002). Due to Mignola's involvement in the first Hellboy film and other projects, this was the last comic-book mini-series featuring Hellboy by the character's creator until Hellboy: The Island in 2005. The Island was originally published in a two-issue mini-series, Hellboy: The Island (June–July 2005), and was the first by the character's creator since The Third Wish in 2002. The trade paperback collection was nominated for the 2007 'Favourite Foreign Comic Book or Graphic Novel of the Year' Ledger Award.

Did You Know?

Hellboy in The Third Wish was runner-up for the 2002 'Favourite Hero' Wizard Fan Award.
Dave Stewart won the 2003 'Best Colorist/Coloring' Eisner Award in part for his work on The Third Wish.