While the iconicHellboyhas been a beloved mascot for Dark Horse Comics since his debut in 1993, the world he inhabits is protected by another master of the macabre: Sir Edward Grey. And in a world without Hellboy, the Witchfinder Ed Grey must step up to the plate forThe Serpent in the Garden: Ed Grey and the Last Battle of England.
The new series is set to begin on November 27, uniting the creative team of Mike Mignola, Ben Stenbeck, Dave Stewart, and Clem Robins. While details of this “battle” (and Grey’s role) are being kept under wraps for now, Screen Rant is pleased to share an exclusive preview of the three-part miniseries below:
Nineteenth-century paranormal investigator Ed Grey’s illustrious and otherworldly career has been a pivotal part of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy Universe. From his first appearance inHellboy: Wake the Devilto his unforgettable roles inHellboy in HellandSirEdward Grey: Witchfinder, Grey has always been one of the most important and enigmatic figures in the Hellboy Universe.
Taking place after the events ofB.P.R.D.: The Devil You Knowand Mignola and Stenbeck’sKoshchei in Hell,The Serpent in the Gardenfollows Grey after he’s summoned away from Hell by Alice, queen of the last standing realm on Earth, to help defend England from King Arthur’s half-sister Morgan Le Fay and her fearsome champion.
Ed Grey Returns To The Adoring Spotlight of Hellboy Fans
The Serpent in the Garden: Ed Grey and the Last Battle of Englandby Mike Mignola, Ben Stenbeck, Dave Stewart, and Clem Robins
As seen above, the opening pages ofThe Serpent in the Garden: Ed Grey and the Last Battle of England#1 recap the death of Hellboy before digging into the next journey that Ed Grey will embark upon. For the unfamiliar,Sir Edward Grey first made his on-panel debut inHellboy: Wake the Devil,a five-part miniseries from back in 1996. After killing his first werewolf at age 12, Grey commits to investigating the supernatural full-time in the West Sussex area. Mike Mignola has been anxious to get back to the detective character, as he voices his excitement in the official press release:
“Ed Grey feels to me like he took off like a rocket. He was my ‘regular guy’ occult detective but then just kept going. Being dismembered and stitched back together didn’t even slow him down. He became a magician and flew around doing stuff. He decided to take on some of Hellboy’s curse and everything just kept beating him and he just kept getting up, and before too long, I just felt bad for him and wanted to give him a quiet place to sit down – retire in peace. BUT he had just one more (I hope) thing to do and then not only could he retire but he could retire another of my favorite characters. Let’s hope both of them can finally relax after this one last battle for England.”
In addition to Mignola once again returning to his"regular guy"for another adventure,artist Ben Stenbeck confirms this will be the lastHellboy universestory he will be contributing to"for some time.“Even more reasons to view this series as a special sendoff.
Sir Edward Grey is Keeping Hellboy’s Universe Safe (Without Him)
His Potential Leading Dark Horse into the Future
The continued stories in theHellboyuniverse without Hellboy are a welcome chance, in a medium too often anchored on its title characters. Sure, it’s not the first time Hellboy has been taken off the playing board. But in his universe, it’s unwise to expect the death to be permanent. However, if Ed Grey could be positioned as fighting demons in Hellboy’s place, thentheHellboyuniverse is in good hands.
Not just because Mignola and even the departing Stenbeck carry such a hefty appreciation for the Ed Grey character, but Grey is just as infinitely interesting asHellboyalways has been on the page.
The Serpent in the Garden: Ed Grey and the Last Battle of Englandgoes on sale from Dark Horse Comics on June 15, 2025
