B.P.R.D., Vol. 1: Hollow Earth & Other Stories

After Hellboy leaves the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, the remaining agents must operate without their strongest asset. The narrative follows Liz Sherman, who has retreated to an underground monastery to control her pyrokinetic abilities, and the team sent to rescue her when she is abducted by subterranean entities. Abe Sapien, the homunculus Roger, and the ectoplasmic Johann Kraus navigate a hollow earth populated by clockwork machinery and ancient, hostile civilizations. The collection includes shorter investigations involving graveyard hauntings and chemical weapons from the Victorian era.

Fans of the Mignolaverse read this volume to see how the Bureau functions as an ensemble unit rather than a supporting cast. It appeals to readers interested in folklore, occult history, and speculative biology. The book provides a technical look at the logistics of supernatural containment and the psychological weight of being a non-human operative. Readers finish the collection with a foundation for the larger Bureau story arc and a clearer understanding of the origin stories for Johann Kraus and Roger.