Title: B.R.P.D.: 1946-1948
Author: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi
Series: B.R.P.D. #9, 13, 16
Pages: 472
In the wake of WWII, Professor Trevor Bruttenholm, is establishing the B.R.P.D. and raising Hellboy. With a group of war-weary veterans, Professor Bruttenholm investigates Hitler’s top secret Project Vampir Sturm, and discovers the history of vampires.
This was a jump back in time to see the beginning of the B.R.P.D. before they had policies and practices in place or a large force of officers. We see Bruttenholm make mistakes, loose people, and fall a little in love. We actually get to see him and his feelings, rather than him being just a figurehead of the B.R.P.D. like in future stories.
This book also shows a glimpse of what Hellboy’s childhood was like, with his rapid aging, being raised by other agents, the jokes and self-doubt, and Bruttenholm’s constant fluctuations of participating in his life. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug Hellboy, especially at the end, because he just felt so alone sometimes.
Overall, I enjoyed seeing this glimpse of the Professor, young Hellboy, and the early stages of the B.R.P.D..
Red-Haired Ash Reads 