Arctic Circle

Lore & Background

In *Hellboy: Seed of Destruction*, the Arctic Circle is the location where the Cavendish expedition discovered Sadu Hem, a many-tentacled creature imprisoned in stone. Rasputin, who had been resurrected by the Ogdru Jahad after his murder in 1916, had previously journeyed to the Arctic to find Sadu Hem and communed with it mentally while in an extended trance. Many years later, the Cavendish expedition accidentally awakened both Rasputin and Sadu Hem. By reading the minds of the expedition members, Rasputin learned of Hellboy's existence and realized he could use Hellboy to complete a ritual to summon the Ogdru Jahad to Earth. Rasputin then transformed Olafssen and the Cavendish brothers into frog-monsters to serve him, and hypnotically instructed Bruttenholm to take Sadu Hem back to Cavendish Hall before killing him to lure Hellboy into a trap.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled like a dying beast across the white expanse. Agent Kael adjusted his thermal goggles, breath pluming in the sub-zero air. Beside him, the radar dish spun silently, picking up vibrations from deep beneath the permafrost. It wasn't geology making that sound; it was something breathing. The ice shifted under their boots, groaning as if waking from a long sleep. There were no footprints behind them, only the endless snow and the shadow of something massive rising slowly from the glacier's heart.

Reader's Guide

The Arctic Circle is a key setting in *Hellboy: Seed of Destruction*, serving as the origin point for the story's central conflict. It is where the Cavendish expedition, including Trevor Bruttenholm, discovered the imprisoned Sadu Hem and the immortal Rasputin. This event led to Bruttenholm's death and Hellboy's journey to Cavendish Hall. The region is also tied to the history of the Cavendish family, as every male Cavendish for nine generations had died exploring the Arctic, beginning with Elihu Cavendish, who vanished during an attempt to find a temple deep in the Arctic. For fans, the Arctic Circle represents a place where ancient, primordial forces lie dormant, waiting to be awakened by human exploration.

Did You Know?

• The Cavendish expedition to the Arctic Circle accidentally awakened both the imprisoned Sadu Hem and the immortal sorcerer Grigori Rasputin.
• Rasputin had previously journeyed to the Arctic to find Sadu Hem and communed with it mentally while in an extended trance.
• Every male Cavendish for nine generations had died exploring the Arctic, beginning with Elihu Cavendish, a prosperous whaler who vanished during an attempt to find a temple there.
• Rasputin used the Arctic expedition to learn of Hellboy's existence by reading the minds of the Cavendish brothers and Olafssen.