Gruagach (Hellboy)
Encyclopedia
Gruagach is a fictional character
, created by writer-artist Mike Mignola
. He first appeared as the main antagonist in the short story Hellboy: The Corpse, and then reappeared in Hellboy: Strange Places
, developing into a major antagonist similar to Prince Nuada, the antagonist of the film Hellboy II: The Golden Army.
Gruagach was once a powerful warrior with shape-changing abilities, who was esteemed highly enough that he rode with the princes of the Daoine Sidhe, a race of fairy
folk similar to elves into battle against the giants. However, he fell in love with a mortal woman who wished to see his most terrible form, a request he almost did not grant because if she screamed, he would be lost. He did, however, grant her request. Ironically, she did not scream when he turned into a monster, but to warn him of the presence of a cat when he turned into a songbird to soothe her. In that fashion, he was lost, transported to a netherwordly spirit realm.
After the passage of centuries, he was able to summon enough of his old powers to allow him to impersonate
a baby kidnapped by the Daoine Sidhe in order to repopulate their dying race, and takes delight in tormenting the infant's parents with glimpses of his true nature. Since the authorities refuse to believe that their baby has been taken, the parents call on the B.P.R.D., who send Hellboy
to investigate, exposing Gruagach by seizing him with iron
tongs which burn him and reveal his true form.
Hellboy makes a deal with the Daoine Sidhe: if he interrs the corpse of a recently deceased human friend of theirs in an acceptable churchyard, they will return the baby. Furious over his humiliation, Gruagach defies the King of the Daoine Sidhe and tries to stop Hellboy, giving Jenny Greenteeth
the key to release Grom
, a demon wild boar
. However, once released, Grom snatches Gruagach out of the air and eats him. Hellboy uses an amulet on Grom to shrink him, allowing him to defeat the demon.
Gruagach survived in a fashion, eventually managing to force Grom's spirit out of his body. Fuelled by his obsession for revenge, Gruagach refuses to let their people gradually go extinct as a result of encroachment by the mortal world, and declares war on humanity. He assassinates the King, Dagda
and then recruits others of his people to release the incredibly powerful Queen Of Blood
in order to gain his previous form and restore his people.
He soon finds out, however, that the Queen of Blood has killed Queen Mab, essentially dooming his people. He is then cursed with immortality by Merlin, to see the events Gruagach set in motion until the end of the world.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, created by writer-artist Mike Mignola
Mike Mignola
Michael Joseph "Mike" Mignola is an American comic book artist and writer who created the comic book series Hellboy for Dark Horse Comics. He has worked for animation projects such as Atlantis: The Lost Empire and the adaptation of his one shot comic book, The Amazing Screw-On Head.-Career:Mignola...
. He first appeared as the main antagonist in the short story Hellboy: The Corpse, and then reappeared in Hellboy: Strange Places
Hellboy: Strange Places
Hellboy: Strange Places is the sixth trade paperback collection in the Hellboy series created by Mike Mignola published by Dark Horse Comics on April 26, 2006 which collects the mini-series The Third Wish and The Island featuring fictional paranormal detective Hellboy.-The Third Wish:This story by...
, developing into a major antagonist similar to Prince Nuada, the antagonist of the film Hellboy II: The Golden Army.
Gruagach was once a powerful warrior with shape-changing abilities, who was esteemed highly enough that he rode with the princes of the Daoine Sidhe, a race of fairy
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
folk similar to elves into battle against the giants. However, he fell in love with a mortal woman who wished to see his most terrible form, a request he almost did not grant because if she screamed, he would be lost. He did, however, grant her request. Ironically, she did not scream when he turned into a monster, but to warn him of the presence of a cat when he turned into a songbird to soothe her. In that fashion, he was lost, transported to a netherwordly spirit realm.
After the passage of centuries, he was able to summon enough of his old powers to allow him to impersonate
Changeling
A changeling is a creature found in Western European folklore and folk religion. It is typically described as being the offspring of a fairy, troll, elf or other legendary creature that has been secretly left in the place of a human child. Sometimes the term is also used to refer to the child who...
a baby kidnapped by the Daoine Sidhe in order to repopulate their dying race, and takes delight in tormenting the infant's parents with glimpses of his true nature. Since the authorities refuse to believe that their baby has been taken, the parents call on the B.P.R.D., who send Hellboy
Hellboy
Hellboy is a comic book superhero created by writer-artist Mike Mignola. The character first appeared in San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2 , and has since appeared in various eponymous miniseries, one-shots and intercompany crossovers...
to investigate, exposing Gruagach by seizing him with iron
Iron in mythology
Iron has a long and varied tradition in the mythology and folklore of the world. As human blood smells of the iron which its cells contain, and blood in many traditions is equated with the life-force, so iron and minerals have been considered to be the blood or life-force of the Earth. This...
tongs which burn him and reveal his true form.
Hellboy makes a deal with the Daoine Sidhe: if he interrs the corpse of a recently deceased human friend of theirs in an acceptable churchyard, they will return the baby. Furious over his humiliation, Gruagach defies the King of the Daoine Sidhe and tries to stop Hellboy, giving Jenny Greenteeth
Jenny Greenteeth
Jenny Greenteeth is a figure in English folklore. A river hag, similar to Peg Powler, she would pull children or the elderly into the water and drown them. She was often described as green-skinned, with long hair, and sharp teeth...
the key to release Grom
Grom
Grom, meaning 'thunder' in several Slavic languages, may refer to:-Military:* GROM, a Polish special forces unit* ORP Grom - several ships of the Polish Navy.* Grom , a Polish anti-aircraft missile...
, a demon wild boar
Boar
Wild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...
. However, once released, Grom snatches Gruagach out of the air and eats him. Hellboy uses an amulet on Grom to shrink him, allowing him to defeat the demon.
Gruagach survived in a fashion, eventually managing to force Grom's spirit out of his body. Fuelled by his obsession for revenge, Gruagach refuses to let their people gradually go extinct as a result of encroachment by the mortal world, and declares war on humanity. He assassinates the King, Dagda
Dagda
The Dagda is an important god of Irish mythology.Dagda can also refer to:*Dagda, Latvia, a city in eastern Latvia*Dagda , an Irish New Age band...
and then recruits others of his people to release the incredibly powerful Queen Of Blood
Lady of the Lake
The Lady of the Lake is the name of several related characters who play parts in the Arthurian legend. These characters' roles include giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, enchanting Merlin, and raising Lancelot after the death of his father...
in order to gain his previous form and restore his people.
He soon finds out, however, that the Queen of Blood has killed Queen Mab, essentially dooming his people. He is then cursed with immortality by Merlin, to see the events Gruagach set in motion until the end of the world.