4) Guillermo del Toro – Hellboy, Hellboy II
It’s difficult to think of a more idiosyncratic modern comic book movie property than Hellboy. Though created for print by writer-artist Mike Mignola, Hellboy on film could be mistaken for del Toro’s own, as a dark, operatic, devilishly humorous (fairy)tale about monsters living among us and fighting for our survival in secret. The plots for Hellboy and Hellboy II are thin – they’re placeholders for del Toro’s designs, as is his usual wont – and, typical for the director, the films are fun, eccentric and visually resplendent.
Hellboy II in particular is a feast for the eyes, favoring practical effects and lavish, detailed sets, as seen in the troll market and the magnificent temple of the Golden Army. Those are the visual trademarks of del Toro, but the Hellboy films’ most del Toro-esque aspect concerns the idea of what makes a monster, what constitutes evil, and the place of nature in a world controlled by man.
Indeed, it would appear Hellboy has more sympathy for its band of outcasts and misunderstood villains than for its human characters.