Hellboy Animated: Blood & Iron. Starz Media ( 2006)

One of the really striking things about the way that the Hellboy franchise has developed and expanded is the way in which it has allowed different versions of the story grow in different versions, the comic, live action and animated versions all follow different routes. This freedom of action is a great strength for the franchise. Blood & Iron is not an animated Hellboy comic, though it does use some ideas from the comic Wake the Devil, it follows its own path. The character design is distinctive and most importantly Professor Broom is very much alive in the film.

A hotel, due to open soon, reports that it is haunted, its well connected owner has the pull to ensure that the B.P.R.D. (Bureau for Paranormal Research & Defence) are involved. Professor Broom, although retired, joins the team ans seems to have a suspicion regarding the events he is unwilling to share with the others. What Hellboy, Liz Sherman, Abe Sapien and the rest of the team find at the hotel is that someone is trying to resurrect a vampire called Erzsebet Ondrushko. Professor Broom had thought he had destroyed Erzsebt years before and finds himself in conflict with her again. When the goddess Hera shows up things get very difficult for the team.

Threaded through this narrative is the story of Professor Boom’s first encounter with Erzsebet. This is told in a reverse chronological flashback with the story unwinding back from the final encounter to the point where Broom is leaving for the expedition. This is a very effective device, it not only counterpoints the actions in the haunted hotel, it is a gripping piece of story telling in its own right. The whole story is available in straight chronological order among the extras.

This is a super Hellboy story as well as a very well made piece of animation, the cast are very effective, the plot enjoyable and has everything that could be desired, Hellboy thumping monsters, Elizabeth Sherman toasting wolves, Abe Sapien being a really tough opponent, a great set piece fight, smart crisp dialogue and finally release for the innocent victims. Great fun for Hellboy fans and non-fans alike. The voice talent is provided by the actors from the live action films and is excellent.