Dark Horse Presents Annual #1998

Mike Mignola's cover for this 64-page 1998 Dark Horse anthology sets a brooding, atmospheric tone — Hellboy's massive red stone fist reaches forward amid shadowy demonic figures, stone statues, and an unsettling framed portrait of a bespectacled man, while a swastika-emblazoned artifact lurks in the foreground. The issue promises an impressive lineup that includes Hellboy in "The Right Hand of Doom" alongside Buffy the Vampire Slayer and five additional features. At under five dollars, this annual offered a generous helping of Dark Horse's finest 1998 storytelling in a single package.