With his Right Hand Of Doom, Good Samaritan revolver, and a love for cats, Hellboy is the ultimate monster hunter. Being a monster himself, he is the epitome of fighting fire with fire. In some cases in the Dark Horse comics, that is a more literal phrase.
Over the course of three movies by Guillermo Del Toro and Neil Marshall, Hellboy has introduced audiences to many monsters of all shapes and sizes. All from different lores as well: from ancient Eldritch horror-like to hellish demons like himself. Some are destructive villains, some are neutral, some are even his allies, but which ones are the best?
The Gruagach
A giant bipedal boar monster, the Gruagach was introduced in the 2019 reboot. The Gruagach is an old enemy of Hellboy's who desires revenge, so he allies with Nimue The Blood Queen. Brought to life through impressive CGI, Gruagach is a standout due to his more personal rivalry with Hellboy.
In most cases, the monsters are just beasts or villains that Hellboy just happens to be fighting. So, it was refreshing to have a villain that hated Hellboy. Also, Gruagach is a very brutal villain that murders in many vicious and gory ways which makes him even more imposing.
Tooth Fairies
Rather than the cute pixies that leave money under pillows, these Tooth Fairies are pests. They survive on calcium in the bones and obviously teeth; so they will murder to constantly eat. Similar to the scarabs in 1999's The Mummy, the Tooth Fairies swarm victims and devour them in seconds until nothing remains.
Even Hellboy and the other Bureau agents had difficulty defeating them until Liz unleashed her fiery powers upon them. Combined with their deceptively adorable design, the Tooth Fairies were a terrifying threat in Hellboy II: The Golden Army.
The Last Elemental
When Hellboy got on his bad side, Prince Nuada unleashed a monster that began as no bigger than a grape. In minutes, it transformed into a plant-based kaiju, similar to Godzilla's Biollante but more mystical, known as The Last Elemental. Its goal was to kill Hellboy by any means necessary, but it was the last of its kind, making its death a tax on Hellboy.
That's part of why it's such a great monster. Sure, the design and execution of the forest god are exquisite with many great details to spot. But the fact that it was just a slave to Nuada and a victim of humanity made it a more tragic monster. Its death is nothing short of unfair.
Baba Yaga
This monster is more disturbing than tragic. Baba Yaga is a witch that lives in a walking house. Portrayed by a real contortionist, Baba Yaga appeared in the reboot to make a deal that would cost Hellboy dearly. The practical effects are easily some of the best in the movie.
Baba Yaga is portrayed as a disgusting witch that might churn the bellies of those with weaker gag reflexes. It's only a shame that she appeared and left the movie so quickly, because she could have been a great villain on her own.
Karl Ruprecht Kroenen
Technically, Kroenen is a human, but his undead-like appearance, sadistic nature, and immortality say otherwise. Kroenen was a brilliant scientist in the Nazi regime who helped Rasputin in his attempt to unleash the Seven Gods Of Chaos. Other than his signature mask, Kroenen also has bladed tonfas which he uses to kill in brutal ways.
Kroenen features inhuman flexibility, and his insides have been replaced with clockwork to keep his deformed body alive. Everything about the character is executed in such a unique way that it's impossible to not be equal parts frightened and intrigued by him.
Mr. Wink
The friend and servant of Prince Nuada, Mr. Wink is a troll with a chained mechanical hand that can launch great distances a la Scorpion from Mortal Kombat. Other than a few action portions, nearly all of Wink's scenes are portrayed through practical effects, which are admirable for such a huge monster.
On top of that, Mr. Wink was also more than just a typical thug that worked for the villain. He actually dealt damage to anyone in his path, including Hellboy and Abe Sapien. He was also Nuada's friend which is different than most villain/servant relationships seen in movies.
Angel of Death
Unlike Baba Yaga, the Angel Of Death delivers just enough in such a small time on-screen. To save Hellboy, he is brought to the Angel Of Death, who is more than willing to save him. However, Death warns Liz of Hellboy's destiny as the ruler of a new Hell on Earth.
The Angel Of Death is portrayed through an intricate practical effect with CGI enhancement. There are so many details to find that even after all these years, viewers could probably find more. Similar to Kroenen, Death is a creature that is terrifying but oddly beautiful at the same time.
Sammael The Desolate One
It's hard for audiences to forget their first monster, and this was the first monster audiences saw Hellboy fight. Sammael is a demonic canine-like monster with a design straight out of H.P. Lovecraft's universe. Portrayed through CGI and practical effects alike, Sammael was a perfect threat to suck viewers into the crazy yet fun world of Hellboy.
Sammael was also a constant threat because every time he died, two more clones would be born. Each victory was also a failure in a way, making Sammael one of the more deadly monsters Hellboy ever fought. The parasites that would lay eggs in his victims were just icing on the cake.
The Golden Army
The titular antagonists of the second Hellboy movie do not even appear on-screen until the third act. That shows how effective they are when they do activate and battle Hellboy and his companions. They are an indestructible army of robots created by science and magic, meant to conquer worlds for their master.
When destroyed, they would resurrect and repair themselves. It was only when the crown that controlled them was destroyed that they were finally stopped for good. Portrayed through CGI, these robots are beautifully designed that show off how effective steampunk can be when used correctly.
Abe Sapien
Played by Doug Jones, who also played Kroenen and the Angel Of Death, Abe Sapien is Hellboy's best friend. Clearly inspired by The Creature From The Black Lagoon, Abe is a helpful agent of the Bureau due to his telepathic and psychometric abilities. Abe is also far from a sidekick: he is Hellboy's most trusted partner.
Despite what his appearance might suggest, he is a calm, intelligent, and mild-mannered man. In both movies, Abe Sapien proves to be a jack of all trades: he can fight, he's charming, he's clever, and has a warm heart. Much like Hellboy, he's more human than most humans.