Koshchei The Deathless is a well known Slavic folk character. He is known for his inability to die, hence that whole “deathless” bit. And as in this comic from Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, Koschcei is a sometimes consort of the Baba Yaga.
This story begins as Hellboy and Koshchei are in battle, but the deathless one is not under his own power. Bewitched by Baba Yaga, Koshchei fights Hellboy against his will. This battle ends with them both in hell, and as former enemies are wont to do, they share a pint.
For this first installment of Koshchei The Deathless, we get a big of backstory as to how he ended up as he is, and how he came to be under the spell of the Baba Yaga. We don’t get much really, more like a tease, but it is enough to whet the appetite of any Mignola fan. The folklore itself is fascinating, so to see it handled deftly by such an outstanding comic writer, is a great pleasure. I had just recently learned of Koshchei through a tv show about myths and monsters, so for this to land in my lap was like a present.
For a first installment it was well paced and leaves enough wanting for me to be eagerly awaiting the next. I look forward to reading more of Koshchei and Baba Yaga, and as always, am a huge fan of anything Hellboy related. A solid 4 stars for this first issue of Koshchei the Deathless from me.
