The Ghoul

The Ghoul or Reflections on Death and The Poetry of Worms
Written by	Mike Mignola
Illustrated by	Mike Mignola
Colored by	Dave Stewart
Lettered by	Clem Robins
Edited by	Scott Allie
OriginallyPublished in	The Dark Horse Book of The Dead
Date Published	June 2005
Collected In
Trade Collection	Hellboy - Volume 7: The Troll Witch and Others
Library Edition	Hellboy - Volume 4

Hellboy confronts a poetry spouting Ghoul

Publication History

“The Ghoul” was first published as part of the anthology The Dark Horse Book of The Dead in June 2005. The volume is part of "The Dark Horse Book of" series of horror anthologies. The story was reprinted in Hellboy: vol. 7 The Troll Witch and Others in October 2007.

Synopsis

One night in 1992, an old woman, Mrs. Stokes sits watching a puppet show of Shakespeare's Hamlet. The B.P.R.D. sends agent Pauline Raskin to speak with an old woman, Mrs. Stokes. Her husband Edward is out late that night, and Raskin shows her a number of photographs taken in a cemetery. Mrs. Stokes identifies her husband in the picture, but is confused by it.

The action cuts to Hammersmith Cemetery where Edward Stokes is reciting poetry, as he walks around. Hellboy startles Stokes and asks if he will come in quietly. Stokes runs and Hellboy follows. Stokes begins to reveal his true form, and bears his large inhuman teeth. Stokes continues to recite his poem as Hellboy beats him around the cemetery. Stokes rips off his shirt and dives down into a tomb. Images of Stokes being devoured my maggots are interspersed with scenes of Hamlet talking about the fact that in the end maggots eat all people, king and beggar alike.

Hellboy Publication Order
Preceded by The Troll-Witch	The Ghoul	Followed by The Island

Hellboy Trade Paperback Order
Vol. 7 The Troll Witch and Others
Preceded by Dr. Carp's Experiment	The Ghoul	Followed by Makoma

Hellboy Story Chronology
Preceded by Dr. Carp's Experiment	The Ghoul Same time as In The Chapel of Moloch	Followed by Makoma