Hellboy: The Bones of Giants

By: Christopher Golden

Narrated by: Wayne Mitchell

Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

On the frozen shores of Sweden, a freak lightning storm reveals the skeleton of a giant man, his bony fist gripped tight to the shaft of an ancient iron hammer. It's not every day that the remains of a Norse god and his war hammer appear on a beach, and the occult detective called Hellboy knows that whatever is coming next won't be pleasant.

Acclaimed horror writer Christopher Golden crafts this stunning and suspenseful prose addition to the Hellboy saga.

©2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

The narrator is so good!

He really made the story. I will be listening to the others, with this amazing narrator! Enjoyed the ride.

Its Hellboy

If you like the Hellboy comics and movies (liveaction and animated) this books are for you. This Book has great world building utilizing Norse mythology as the medium. The story has a great formula if you like the comics and movies which is "Unexplained phenomena, giant monster, world ending event, HB beats the crap out of it". Its a fun action pact story with all the HB magic.

Happy Reading...

Awesome

Even better than the first book. I hope that audible gets the third one soon.

A GREAT adaptation!

I read this novel several years ago and always thought it had a great cinematic quality to it- something I'd have loved to see a movie made of instead of..well...what we got.
This is the next best thing.

excellent Golden!

Christopher Golden always takes us for an excellent ride. this is a great listen and great story!

Hellboy Becomes Thor

Another Hellboy adventure where Hellboy is cursed to carrie Thor's hammer and fight frost giants. It was a nice take on the Hellboy mythos and the narrator has Hellboy's voice down really well

A lukewarm tale from the bowels of hell

When it comes to the realm of paranormal detectives, few characters are as iconic as Hellboy. Created by the visionary Mike Mignola, Hellboy has carved his own unique niche in the world of comics, captivating readers with his enigmatic persona and supernatural adventures. Naturally, when I stumbled upon "Hellboy: The Bones of Giants," authored by Christopher Golden and narrated by Wayne Mitchell, I was filled with both anticipation and skepticism. After all, Hellboy's transition to other media has been a mixed bag, and it's not always easy to capture the essence of Mignola's creation.

At the outset, it became apparent that this audiobook didn't quite manage to capture the signature Hellboy vibe. While it's not fair to expect every Hellboy story to be a slam dunk, "The Bones of Giants" fell somewhat short of the mark. This tale unfolds on the icy shores of Sweden, where a bizarre lightning storm reveals the skeletal remains of a giant man clutching an ancient iron hammer. It's a premise dripping with potential, but the execution left me wanting more.

One of the primary issues I encountered was the pacing. The narrative progression felt sluggish, dragging its feet through stretches that should have crackled with tension and intrigue. It's not that Hellboy tales need to be non-stop action, but this story meandered more than it engaged. The pacing issue was especially noticeable in the so-called "fight scenes," which often amounted to little more than Hellboy hitting and smashing things. These lackluster skirmishes failed to deliver the excitement and complexity that Hellboy fans have come to expect.

Moreover, there was a puzzling inclusion of characters that felt more like hangers-on than integral parts of the story. Abe Sapien, for instance, appeared to serve little purpose beyond accompanying the daughter of the story's adversary. Their interactions failed to contribute meaningfully to the plot, leaving me questioning why they were even there in the first place.

As for the villains, they lacked the charismatic malevolence that often characterizes Hellboy's rogues' gallery. The central antagonist, the king of the frost giants, failed to strike fear into my heart. Instead, he came across as a somewhat generic foe, lacking the depth and nuance that makes Hellboy's adversaries memorable.

One of the more irksome aspects of "The Bones of Giants" was the frequent insertion of Thor flashbacks. While Norse mythology and Hellboy's world may seem like a match made in Valhalla, these interludes quickly grew tiresome. Rather than adding depth to the story, they became an annoying distraction, disrupting the flow and cohesion of the narrative.

A fundamental issue that often plagues Hellboy adaptations is the difficulty of translating the character's essence into other media. Be it prose, cinema, or animation, Hellboy frequently loses some of his Mignola-crafted magic. "The Bones of Giants" is no exception. While it's not entirely devoid of Hellboy's charm, it fails to capture the full spectrum of his character. Hellboy's internal struggle, as he grapples with the visions of another life he never lived, feels somewhat superficial and underexplored.

Furthermore, the integration of Norse mythology into Hellboy's world doesn't meld as seamlessly as one might hope. While the potential for epic storytelling is evident, it often feels forced and incongruent with the established Hellboy lore. It's as if two distinct narratives are clashing rather than harmonizing.

Turning my attention to the narration, Wayne Mitchell's performance left me with mixed feelings. Having also narrated the Buymort books, it's clear that Mitchell possesses some vocal talent. However, his portrayal of female characters still leaves much to be desired. While he makes a commendable effort with the character Pernilla, there are moments when his female voices falter, detracting from the overall immersion. One notable aspect that deserves mention is the narrator's inability to handle accents effectively. In a story so deeply rooted in Nordic mythology and set in Sweden, one might reasonably expect some attempt at Scandinavian accents to enhance the immersion. However, Wayne Mitchell's narration lacks any semblance of authentic accents, which is a missed opportunity to enrich the storytelling experience. This absence of regional accents further detracted from the audiobook's ability to transport listeners into the world of Norse legends and left me wishing for a more authentic vocal portrayal of the characters and setting.

Mitchell's narration isn't without other blemishes either. There were instances of mispronounced words and moments where it seemed like he read a sentence verbatim despite it potentially being a typo. In audiobooks, these issues can be particularly jarring and disrupt the listener's engagement with the story.

One of the most crucial aspects of Mitchell's performance, Hellboy's voice, also fell short of expectations. Hellboy is known for his gruff, tough demeanor, but Mitchell's rendition lacked the deep, gravelly quality that defines the character. This discrepancy made it challenging to fully connect with Hellboy's persona, further diminishing the audiobook's appeal.

Perhaps the most significant letdown was the anticlimactic ending. After slogging through the audiobook, I had hoped for a payoff that would justify the journey. Unfortunately, the resolution left me underwhelmed, as it failed to deliver the kind of explosive finale that should accompany a Hellboy adventure.

As an ardent Hellboy fan, I must admit that "The Bones of Giants" was a struggle to get through. It lacks the compelling elements and depth that have made Hellboy a beloved character in the world of comics. There's simply not enough here to entice me back into the series. However, I remain open to exploring other Hellboy stories by different writers and narrators, hoping to find a more satisfying experience.

"Hellboy: The Bones of Giants" may hold some appeal for die-hard fans of the character, but it falls short of capturing the essence and excitement that makes Hellboy such a compelling figure in the world of comics. The pacing, character dynamics, and narration all contribute to a less-than-stellar experience. While Hellboy's foray into Nordic mythology could have been a thrilling adventure, it ultimately left me yearning for more.

I just couldn't get into this book

It isn't that bad, it just didn't draw me it. Listening to it almost felt like a chore, and I would have definitely preferred to move on to something else, but I tend to be a completionist once I'm so far into a book. The Narration was great, and I really enjoy the voice Mitchell uses for Hellboy. The story was neat that it brought in the Norse gods and their struggles, but it just dragged and felt forced. I just didn't care thru most of this book.

Sorry, but not recommended unless you are a MASSIVE Hellboy fan.