'Hellboy' spinoff arrives in stores

The debut issue of Hellboy spinoff B.P.R.D: King of Fear is now available at retail level.

Written by series creator Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, the five-issue series features artwork from Guy Davis. The book completes the 'Scorched Earth' trilogy, and promises to tie up story threads dating back to Hellboy's earliest appearances.

"In King of Fear, readers will get a pretty clear peek at the big picture - the larger picture, I should say," Arcudi told CBR.

"Memnan Saa, the Frogs and the Lobster threads will get resolved in KoF, but then the larger picture unfolds just a wee bit and readers will see that the stories to come are going to be loaded with action, mystery, tragedy and serious character changes."

The King of Fear character first appeared in the original B.P.R.D spinoff Hollow Earth, in which he was seemingly undefeated. "Hollow Earth was before my time, so I can't be sure what Mike had in mind back then, but it seems to me that this story arc was the result of an evolution of our collaboration over the last few years," the scribe added.

"[The] original King of Fear dude will be showing up again, but he may not be the same King of Fear that the title of this present arc refers to."

B.P.R.D: King of Fear #1 is available in stores now courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.