Hellboy Returns Next Week for a New Post-Guillermo del Toro Era

Most Hellboy fans will agree that the Guillermo del Toro era was a golden age for the franchise, with Ron Perlman bringing Red to life in a way that few actors can or ever will be able to rival. However, while nostalgia for the Guillermo del Toro era will always remain strong, fans now have a new Hellboy chapter to look forward to, with Screen Rant offering an exclusive first-look preview of the new era that begins next week.

The wait is nearly over for Dark Horse Comics’ upcoming Giant Robot Hellboy Returns series, which, as the title suggests, will see the return of the fan-favorite mechanized version of the Red Devil. This two-part series will be spearheaded by the creative team of creator and writer Mike Mignola, artist Duncan Fegredo, and colorist Dave Stewart, with the first issue arriving in just one week on July 22, 2026.

While some Hellboy fans may only be familiar with Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of the character, true die-hards of the franchise are more than familiar with Giant Robot Hellboy, which originally appeared in a three-part comic series written by Mike Mignola and illustrated by Duncan Fegredo.

The original series was inspired by Mignola’s viral hit pencil drawings from Mike Mignola: The Quarantine Sketchbook, which became such a massive hit among fans that Dark Horse Comics gave this alternate take on Hellboy its own series. Now, this iconic version of the character is making a comeback in Giant Robot Hellboy Returns, and fans can check out a first look at the six-page preview provided by Dark Horse Comics below.

Giant Robot Hellboy Returns July 22 for a Brand-New Adventure

Comic Pages Come from Mike Mignola’s Giant Robot Hellboy Returns #1 (2026)- Art by Duncan Fegredo

While fans should be able to jump right into Giant Robot Hellboy Returns without any prior reading, Screen Rant recommends catching up on Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo’s original Giant Robot Hellboy series for the best possible experience. Not only is it a fantastic read, but it also provides helpful context for the new story. And with the original series consisting of only three 28-page issues, it makes for a quick and easy catch-up.

However, for those who want to jump straight into Giant Robot Hellboy Returns on July 22, all you need to know is that the original story saw Hellboy kidnapped and connected to a massive mecha-Hellboy (built by a secret group of Japanese scientists in the 1950s) for a mission to a mysterious, faraway island. Giant Robot Hellboy Returns continues the story of this mechanical counterpart, with fans able to find the official synopsis for issue #1 below:

Hellboy’s robot counterpart is back — but he’s not alone! Scientists comb the deep sea for any sign of Giant Robot Hellboy after his disappearance, but find more than they bargained for when an interdimensional portal threatens to pull them in — or let monsters of unknown origin out.

Thanks to the official preview, we also know that the story will take place in 1967. It's immediately clear that these opening pages focus on the search for Giant Robot Hellboy, while also laying the groundwork for the mysterious interdimensional portal. The preview builds suspense right away and makes it clear that this new story is destined to be another epic addition to Hellboy’s ever-growing bibliography.

Giant Robot Hellboy Returns #1 from Dark Horse Comics will be available to read on July 22, 2026!