HELLBOY versus CAMAZOTZ
Hellboy in Mexico or, a Drunken Blur (Dark Horse)
Where: Hellboy in Mexico When: May 2010
Why: Mike Mignola How: Richard Corben
The Story So Far...
On mission in Mexico in 1982; Hellboy and Abe Sapien take shelter from the heat in an abandoned villa. Inside, a wall of photographs and news clippings tell the weaving tale of various superstars of lucha libre, surprisingly, including a trio photographed in the company of Hellboy!
HB shares the story of a grim experience he had in 1956, when he and two rookie BPRD agents -- Hendricks and Murphy -- were sent to Mexico to make a dent in the dense supernatural activity troubling the desert. It was in one of these small towns that Hellboy first encountered the triplets on a tour of the wrestling circuit, where they earned food and money for alcohol.
The trios path changed when before a match they visited a local church, only to find the priest murdered by undead horrors that plagued the area. The brothers saw a vision of the Virgin Mary that told them to leave their life of wrestling, and turn their powers to the vanquishing of monsters. Thus, they teamed up with Hellboy, who had been abandoned by his BPRD colleagues, who were too disturbed by what they'd seen to remain with the organization.
The monster-hunting foursome made merry times as they dealt defeat to the devilish fiends lurking the desert, but their drinking would leave one of the brothers unstuck. Stumbling into the night, Esteban was attacked and abducted by the dark vengeful forces that lurked in the gloom. Hellboy and the remaining two enmascarados interrogated and tortured the night creatures for information, but turn up nothing until a poster of a horrific new wrestler emerges. A bloody challenge is painted in red over a photograph of an ancient temple: El le espera Hellboy. ¡Venga solo! He waits for you, Hellboy. Come alone!
Thus, Hellboy enters the ring to meet the challenge of his lost friend. Esteban is no more. Now there is only -- ¡Camazotz!
Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Hellboy 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Hellboy 5 (Professor)
Speed: Hellboy 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Hellboy 6 (Generator)
Agility: Hellboy 2 (Average)
Fighting: Hellboy 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Hellboy 3 (Explosives)
Total: Hellboy 31 (Super)
By now you probably know the story: Hellboy is the half-demon Anung Un Rama, born to a human witch, Sarah Hughes, and the demon Duke of Hell, Azzael. As his past unraveled, it revealed dueling destinies that would deem him the beastly bringer of the Apocalypse, or the rightful holder of Excalibur.
Summoned to Earth during World War II by Rasputin and the Nazis, Hellboy was found & raised by American Allies. He's not much for destiny, instead lending his stony Right Hand of Doom, and incredible strength, to pummeling monsters, righting wrongs, and investigating the strange as a parnaormal investigator.
Hellboy's been sorely underrepresented in The Comic Book Fight Club, but his lone appearance from The Corpse and The Iron Shoes, demonstrated impressive strength and fighting prowess as he vanquished the war monster Grom!
Esteban had once been one of three wrestling brothers who travelled Mexico, but when they discovered a murdered priest before a match, the trio were greeted by a vision of the Virgin Mary. She encouraged them to leave wrestling and become monster hunters, and so, they teamed with Hellboy, who had been sent by the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD) to investigate and combat rampant evil activity prevalent during the 1950s.
Baring a tattoo on his chest of a flaming heart wrapped in thorns, Esteban was the brother that befriended Hellboy the closest. After a night of drinking with the demon and his brothers, Esteban left the safety of their villa. Ambushed by the creatures of the night, he was transformed into a vengeful luchador beast with the head of a bat, and a serpent wrapped black heart where his tattoo had once been. He became Camazotz -- a corrupted beast clad in black, with the power to grow great bat wings during his battle in the demonic squared circle.
There are clearly emotional stakes behind this fight, but Hellboy knows when it's time to get down to business. He's more brawler than catch as catch can, and 1956 is reasonably early in his monster battling career, but he should be up to the test of the grappling Camaztoz. Let's see how it went...
The Tape: Hellboy Ranking: Hellboy (#228)
What Went Down...
With an audience of the undead watching in decayed anticipation, Hellboy enters the eerie arena without the company of Esteban's brothers - as ordered.
Green flames spew from the four turnbuckles of a ring already occupied by Camazotz. Hellboy enters, reaching out to his friend, probably knowing some of the truth that lurks beneath his new black fanged mask, "How you doing, kid?" Camazotz announces himself in response, rising with a muscled physique from beneath his black cape.
Where: Hellboy in Mexico When: May 2010
Why: Mike Mignola How: Richard Corben
The Story So Far...
On mission in Mexico in 1982; Hellboy and Abe Sapien take shelter from the heat in an abandoned villa. Inside, a wall of photographs and news clippings tell the weaving tale of various superstars of lucha libre, surprisingly, including a trio photographed in the company of Hellboy!
HB shares the story of a grim experience he had in 1956, when he and two rookie BPRD agents -- Hendricks and Murphy -- were sent to Mexico to make a dent in the dense supernatural activity troubling the desert. It was in one of these small towns that Hellboy first encountered the triplets on a tour of the wrestling circuit, where they earned food and money for alcohol.
The trios path changed when before a match they visited a local church, only to find the priest murdered by undead horrors that plagued the area. The brothers saw a vision of the Virgin Mary that told them to leave their life of wrestling, and turn their powers to the vanquishing of monsters. Thus, they teamed up with Hellboy, who had been abandoned by his BPRD colleagues, who were too disturbed by what they'd seen to remain with the organization.
The monster-hunting foursome made merry times as they dealt defeat to the devilish fiends lurking the desert, but their drinking would leave one of the brothers unstuck. Stumbling into the night, Esteban was attacked and abducted by the dark vengeful forces that lurked in the gloom. Hellboy and the remaining two enmascarados interrogated and tortured the night creatures for information, but turn up nothing until a poster of a horrific new wrestler emerges. A bloody challenge is painted in red over a photograph of an ancient temple: El le espera Hellboy. ¡Venga solo! He waits for you, Hellboy. Come alone!
Thus, Hellboy enters the ring to meet the challenge of his lost friend. Esteban is no more. Now there is only -- ¡Camazotz!
Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Hellboy 6 (Invincible)Intelligence: Hellboy 5 (Professor)
Speed: Hellboy 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Hellboy 6 (Generator)
Agility: Hellboy 2 (Average)
Fighting: Hellboy 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Hellboy 3 (Explosives)
Total: Hellboy 31 (Super)
By now you probably know the story: Hellboy is the half-demon Anung Un Rama, born to a human witch, Sarah Hughes, and the demon Duke of Hell, Azzael. As his past unraveled, it revealed dueling destinies that would deem him the beastly bringer of the Apocalypse, or the rightful holder of Excalibur.
Summoned to Earth during World War II by Rasputin and the Nazis, Hellboy was found & raised by American Allies. He's not much for destiny, instead lending his stony Right Hand of Doom, and incredible strength, to pummeling monsters, righting wrongs, and investigating the strange as a parnaormal investigator.
Hellboy's been sorely underrepresented in The Comic Book Fight Club, but his lone appearance from The Corpse and The Iron Shoes, demonstrated impressive strength and fighting prowess as he vanquished the war monster Grom!
Esteban had once been one of three wrestling brothers who travelled Mexico, but when they discovered a murdered priest before a match, the trio were greeted by a vision of the Virgin Mary. She encouraged them to leave wrestling and become monster hunters, and so, they teamed with Hellboy, who had been sent by the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD) to investigate and combat rampant evil activity prevalent during the 1950s.
Baring a tattoo on his chest of a flaming heart wrapped in thorns, Esteban was the brother that befriended Hellboy the closest. After a night of drinking with the demon and his brothers, Esteban left the safety of their villa. Ambushed by the creatures of the night, he was transformed into a vengeful luchador beast with the head of a bat, and a serpent wrapped black heart where his tattoo had once been. He became Camazotz -- a corrupted beast clad in black, with the power to grow great bat wings during his battle in the demonic squared circle.
There are clearly emotional stakes behind this fight, but Hellboy knows when it's time to get down to business. He's more brawler than catch as catch can, and 1956 is reasonably early in his monster battling career, but he should be up to the test of the grappling Camaztoz. Let's see how it went...
The Tape: Hellboy Ranking: Hellboy (#228)
What Went Down...
With an audience of the undead watching in decayed anticipation, Hellboy enters the eerie arena without the company of Esteban's brothers - as ordered.
Green flames spew from the four turnbuckles of a ring already occupied by Camazotz. Hellboy enters, reaching out to his friend, probably knowing some of the truth that lurks beneath his new black fanged mask, "How you doing, kid?" Camazotz announces himself in response, rising with a muscled physique from beneath his black cape.
The bell rings, sounding the beginning of the match! Camazotz wastes no time launching himself at Hellboy's corner, giving HB only a hair's breadth to maneuver out of his way! Camazotz' powerful fist shatters the flaming ornament atop the turnbuckle behind him -- a fact that will have grim significance later.
Hellboy strikes Camazotz in the back with his right hand of doom, but the lucha shows great grappling skill, turning Hellboy's momentum against him with a toss to the ropes.
HB charges angrily off the ropes, but catches an elbow to the brow for his trouble! The point of the elbow busts him wide open!
A seated senton bomb furthers the punishment to a floored Hellboy!
A seated senton bomb furthers the punishment to a floored Hellboy!
Hellboy staggers to his feet and tries to reach out to his friend with words, but they are again met with contempt. Camazotz takes HB unawares with a head scissor leg lock from behind that flows smoothly into a modified frankensteiner!
Hellboy lies on a mat garnished with his own demon blood, struggling to rise to his feet. While does, Camazotz peels away his black mask to reveal the snarling head of a bat! It is a fate that twists the spirit of Esteban into a vengeful creature without mercy for a friend who failed to save him!
A single bodyslam is not enough to satisfy Camazotz' misery, resulting in a second punishing slam that returns HB to the mat an instant later!
Camazotz poses for the decrepit crowd that chants his name. He sprouts the wings of a bat in place of human arms. It is a decision that turns the bout, giving Hellboy the space he needs to deliver a shocking diving uppercut with the stoney right hand of doom!
A mournful Hellboy takes a boot to the face, accepting responsibility for his absence that fateful drunken night. He grabs a handful of black singlet tights. With the knowledge that there is nothing more he can do to save Esteban, HB uses his leverage to bring Camazotz thundering down over the jagged turnbuckle destroyed at the beginning of their bout!
Impaled on the post, Camazotz reverts to the gentle, but bloodied form of Esteban. The eerie smoke-filled arena goes dark and empty as Esteban utters his final grateful words, "Gracias, mi amigo. Grac--"
Hellboy is there to the final moment, holding his friend's hand through the ropes when the fire and light finally goes out.
The Hammer...The winner of this bout as a result of a knock-out: Hellboy!
It's a somber, emotional finish to an otherwise fun and over-the-top high-concept special from the Hellboy universe! A very nice treat for anyone celebrating Cinco de Mayo [in 2010], which is something I wouldn't usually expect from American comics. Pretty cool, guys!
As a longtime fan of comic books, pro wrestling, and mythology, I was probably always going to have a pretty good time reading this book. Even so, it's as a Hellboy fan that I felt it really triumphed, overcoming some of the displeasing aspects that had led me to shuffle the character down in my priorities by 2010.
I found some of the short episodes of the mid-to-late 2000s a tad souring. It's always exciting when Mike Mignola takes up dual writing and art chores, but at times the 2005 two-parter The Island crossed a threshold beyond his fine, atmospheric stillness, into something that felt a tad under written. Although, I do wonder if I need to go back and give this another look...
Hellboy in Mexico sees Richard Corben assume art duties, and he does a very fine job indeed. I wonder if he's a wrestling fan. The match itself doesn't ask a whole lot of the artist, favouring a more cartoony impression of wrestling, but he has some legitimate moves in there.
Corben's Hellboy looks uncannily consistent with the Mignola model, especially in the journey leading up to the fight. Scenes of quiet menace radiate with a slightly different look to Mignola's, but a very similar energy. It's all good stuff!
You cannot under estimate the importance of colorist Dave Stewart to the Hellboy production. The sense that this story is consistent with earlier volumes can almost certainly be credited with to Stewart's influence. I love the way his colours remain vivid against muted backdrops of faded yellow desert and blue nights. His colours are evocatively textured, but never get too dry. A personal preference. There's a graininess that reminds me of Mexican movies and print.
The world of lucha libre is a rich and colourful mythology unto itself, possessing many of the costumed charms of comic superheroes, as well as the myths and legend that typically populate Hellboy stories. I love the way Hellboy effortlessly visits this world as seamlessly as he does European horrors. It's a lot of fun!
The myth of the giant bat is something I remember reading in a previous Hellboy story, I don't remember which. It doesn't really matter. There's a sense that all of these stories relate to a bigger tapestry of recurring and overlapping ancient traditions, and that's good enough. Sometimes it's better when these stories retain some of their mystique. Sometimes it's nice to learn things along the way. I would say this is true of comics in general, but it can be especially enjoyable in the weird, shadowy realms visited by Hellboy.
You might be interested to know the name Camazotz is drawn from Mayan mythology. It's a bat god, or demon, whose name roughly translates to mean 'death bat'. There's a story of twin heroes who enter the bat's underworld domain, only for one of them to lose their head to Camazotz. It doesn't exactly foretell the fate of Hellboy's Esteban, but lends weight to his possession, enmeshing ancient myth with iconography of vampires, black turkeys, bootleg pop culture, and lucha libre wrestling. The best kind of comic book melting pot!
I particularly liked the little touches, like the wrestling and movie memorabilia that appears at the beginning and end of the twenty-eight page issue. Mexican cinema's version of Lobster Johnson is a real hoot, capturing the pulpy vibe of the region's original and bootleg culture that the masked Camazotz feeds into.
There's just something about discovering this kind of stuff from other cultures that can be fascinating. I dig the way Hellboy accommodates and gravitates toward these sometimes forgotten pulp realms. Indeed, as much as I was excited to read continuing adventures when BPRD became a monthly on-going series; Hellboy in Mexico is a great example of a truly satisfying one-shot that offers variety without the need for any continuity with last month's issue.
Anyone with a fondness for the traditions of the material will probably have a good time, like I did. It's a heartfelt story from Hellboy's past, but I'm reluctant to say that it's an issue for everyone. At the end of the day, it lacks the broad appeal and variety offered by some Hellboy tales. At the same time, as an introduction to all the material, it's also a pretty soft and genuine start point.
For me, this was exactly what I wanted in a big week of comics. Indulgent in all the right ways, but still a very friendly and fun one-shot special. Great stuff!
I'm told Camazotz makes an appearance in the new Hellboy movie - now in theatres. It looks like it's still a far cry from the Hellboy movie I'd like to see, dipped in black Mignola shadow and stylish visuals, but still. It's nice that they seem to be cramming in more of the comic book monsters!
The movie was also a great excuse to exhume today's featured fight, which was mostly salvaged from a draft originally written back in 2010! It's shameful that there's been so little Hellboy on the site to this point. Hopefully we can get back to the Right Hand of Doom a little sooner! Perhaps I'll get a chance to give The Island a second look some time, to see if I need to give it a rethink!
If you'd like to think more about Hellboy's lucha libre adventure in Mexico, you can find today's featured fight included with several other stories in the Hellboy In Mexico or Hellboy Vol. 11: The Bride of Hell and Others collections!
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Winner: Hellboy
#93 (+135) Hellboy [+1 kill]
#880 (new) Camazotz
#93 (+135) Hellboy [+1 kill]
#880 (new) Camazotz
Strength: Captain Marvel 6 (Invincible)
Strength: Captain Marvel 6 (Invincible)
