It's a mature follow-up to an utterly entertaining franchise...

Even more enjoyable than the last Hellboy animated encounter. This time adding Hurt's Professor Broom and further establishing their own continuity adds a more heartfelt undertone to all the proceedings. It's also nice to see every character get to play the hero for a little while. The monsters look great and we get a better sense of the mythic world in conjunction with our own. It's sad that some of these ideas wont be seen in live action as their are some wonderful ideas that I would love to see Del Toro interpret. Again this is one for the fans who want to see an extra Hellboy adventure as I doubt it will appeal to the skeptics.

Hellboy: Destiny is overrated! The second animated feature about the comic character Hellboy actually succeeds at being even better than the first. It's darker, better voiced, and overall more entertaining. This time, Hellboy and his team head to a haunted house, which is occupied by among other things, a vampire with history with one of Hellboy's team members, Prof. Bloom, who fought the creature years ago. [Erzsebet confronts Broom after 60 years - he an old man, she a dessicated, skeletal vampire] Erzsebet Ondrushko: The years have not been kind to you. Professor Trevor 'Broom' Bruttenholm: Nor you. [she strikes him to the ground] Erzsebet Ondrushko: So frail. Time has turned you to glass. I pity you. Professor Trevor 'Broom' Bruttenholm: And I you. Growing old is not the worst fate that can befall a person... but you ceased to a be a person long ago. The team must deal with this creature, as well as the goddess Hectate, who challenges Hellboy's role in society vs. his true nature. There is also a very well crafted series of flashbacks that work in the way they are presented. Once again, Ron Perlman is great in his role, but the other actors step up this time around as well. Selma Blair, who has been pretty passive, works very well here. John Hurt is also a welcome addition, really embracing his role in this story. As mentioned, this flick is very dark as well. One of the main things I like about these animated Hellboy films is that its not tailor made for kids, there is a lot of blood in this one, as well as more natural dialog, that involves swearing and obscure jokes. The action is also great. A battle near the end goes on and on, while remaining fun and well animated. Very good follow up flick and good preparation for the upcoming live-action sequel. Hellboy: Hecate, seen your statue - aren't you missing a couple of heads? Hecate: Why do you walk this lesser world? Mortals they don't know you. We are greater beings than they could ever dream!" Hellboy: Yeah, well I'm doing just fine. Now ah, I'm kinda busy - I gotta go... Hecate: Why, to save them? They're nothing to us! Only a few remain that observe the old rituals so I give them back the priestess and they give me sacrifices of blood. Now accept what you are and come and walk with me! Hellboy: Lady, I was going to cut you some slack because you're a major mythological figure - but that? That's crazy talk. Now leave me alone!