The Hellboy Winter Special: The Yule Cat 2023 NM

The Hellboy Winter Special: The Yule Cat, released on December 6, 2023, is a one-shot comic that sends Hellboy to Iceland to investigate the disappearance of children. The story is a standalone mystery rooted in Icelandic folklore. 

• The Setting: The story is set in Iceland in 1990, close to the events of Hellboy: Bones of Giants, and focuses on the local legend of the Yule Cat.
• The Investigation: Hellboy is called to Reykjavik by a professor to investigate missing children and the sighting of a giant beast. After gathering initial information in a tavern, Hellboy quickly locates the cat.
• A Mystical Battle: Hellboy's confrontation with the Yule Cat (a spectral entity) transports him to a barren, otherworldly landscape. He fights the cat and summoned trolls in a brutal, pulpy action sequence.
• Resolution and Reflection: After the fight, Hellboy returns to the B.P.R.D. in Connecticut. The story ends with a quiet moment of Hellboy and a colleague following the Icelandic tradition of exchanging books on Christmas Eve, providing a rare "softer side" to the character. 
• Creative Team: Written and illustrated by Matt Smith, with colors by Chris O'Halloran and letters by Clem Robins.
• Publisher: Dark Horse Comics.
• Format: A 32-page one-shot comic book.
• Significance: This issue marks Hellboy's first visit to Iceland in the character's publication history and is praised for blending action, mythology, and the Mignolaverse's unique tone.