Richard Corben - Hellboy in Mexico - Page 3

Great page!  It shows the big influences of Catholicism and Lucha
Libre in the culture they are in to bring hope and inspiration.  Even Abe has to see this powerful connection.  

It is always a pleasure to see pages from this one-shot surface on CAF and even though Hellboy himself is relegated to a cameo – so what? The obvious care and attention to detail – drawing all those posters and leaflets on the wall would have driven me potty – is palpably Corben. I was eyeing this page when it came up for auction but decided in the end to abstain and let someone else have the joy of owning a beautiful page from this classic story (and it was not because Christmas is coming and money is tight in the household  🙄. Okay, it was). 

Three years ago, in the depth of the pandemic, I was on a roadtrip that took my through Santa Fe and its surrounding villages. Ended up visiting a church with walls plastered with photographs of the sick, deceased, and military personnel overseas. This Corben page reminds me of that trip, and it conveys in a few panels the hope, sincerity and desperation of such religious spaces. Of all the pages of Hellboy in Mexico this spread was one that really struck me and stuck with me. Glad it came to auction, really love this page and thank you for abstaining from bidding! Hope the page right after it comes up at some point. 

Wow, what a terrific, touching and eloquently-expressed explanation for why you went for this page. I am now doubly glad I did not bid on this and drive the cost of the page up for you. I have said it before but I can say it again: it is especially gratifying when a page of comic art which is significant to someone winds up in what is its true spiritual home. Congrats. (And if the following page shows up at auction then you will not need to fear that you will be bidding against me as I will be sitting it out, even if I win the lottery in the meantime. Good luck if it ever shows!)