Grigori Rasputin

Lore & Background

Rasputin's storyline frequently intersects with Hellboy during moments when the B.P.R.D. investigates historical occult anomalies or when an enemy seeks to use Rasputin's power as a weapon. He represents the danger of unchecked ambition and the corrupting nature of forbidden magic. Whether appearing as a ghostly advisor, a reanimated corpse, or a puppet for darker entities like the Ogdru Jahad, Rasputin remains a symbol of the past refusing to stay buried. After his physical destruction in *Hellboy: Seed of Destruction*—where his body was consumed by flames when the Ogdru Jahad's manifestation Sadu-Hem was destroyed—he re-appeared as a ghost in *Hellboy: Wake the Devil*, directing Ilsa Haupstein to place herself in an enchanted iron maiden. He later appeared in *Hellboy: Conqueror Worm* as a ghostly counsel to Hermann von Klempt's head in a jar, and was destroyed by Hecate. In *Darkness Calls*, Baba Yaga gathered what remained of his soul and placed it in an acorn. In *B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know*, Rasputin was resurrected as an avatar of the Ogdru Jahad, and was killed by Hellboy snapping his neck.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled through the abandoned Russian monastery, carrying the scent of wet earth and old blood. Hellboy stepped over a shattered icon, his red hand glowing faintly in the gloom. From the shadows emerged a figure that should have been dust for decades—Rasputin, his eyes burning with unnatural fire. 'The future is written in bone,' the necromancer rasped, his voice echoing from a throat that had long ceased to speak. He raised a hand, and the dead soldiers of centuries past began to stir, their armor clanking as they rose to serve an old master who refused to die.

Reader's Guide

Grigori Rasputin is a unique antagonist in the Hellboy mythos because he bridges history and horror. Originally a real-world mystic, this version is transformed into a supernatural entity capable of necromancy. His role often involves serving as a conduit for larger evil forces or acting as an independent threat who seeks to reshape reality through dark rituals. His primary power lies in his ability to manipulate death itself, raising the dead and binding souls to his will. Unlike physical monsters, Rasputin's danger is metaphysical; he can be difficult to destroy permanently because his existence is tied to spiritual energies rather than just a biological body. He often appears when ancient prophecies are being fulfilled. Defining moments in his arc usually involve clashes with Hellboy and the B.P.R.D., where his schemes force the team to confront the lingering dangers of history. Whether he is resurrected by a cult or manipulated by an elder god, Rasputin remains a persistent reminder that some forces from the past are never truly gone.

Did You Know?

• After his assassination, Baba Yaga hid a fragment of Rasputin's soul within the roots of Yggdrasil to make him immortal.
• He was assassinated by Prince Felix Yusupov on December 16, 1916, before being resurrected by the Ogdru Jahad at an unspecified later time.
• In *Hellboy: Seed of Destruction*, Rasputin was killed when the Ogdru Jahad's manifestation Sadu-Hem was destroyed, and his body was consumed by flames.
• After his ghostly form was destroyed by Hecate, Baba Yaga gathered what remained of his soul and placed it in an acorn.
• In *B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know*, Rasputin was resurrected as an avatar of the Ogdru Jahad and was killed by Hellboy snapping his neck.