Grigori Rasputin (Hellboy)

Grigori Rasputin is a fictional character based on the real life Russian mystic of the same name. This fictional version of the so-called Mad Monk is the primary villain in the comic book series Hellboy. The character was created by Mike Mignola and John Byrne.

Hellboy: Seed of Destruction

Rasputin first appeared as he summoned the Beast of the Apocalypse for the Nazis during World War II. When the summoning accidentally placed the creature (Hellboy) in the hands of the Allies, Rasputin retreated to the Arctic Circle.

He returned in 1994 with Sadu-Hem, a monstrous spawn of the Ogdru Jahad, in tow. Rasputin's goal was to use Hellboy's stone right hand to free the Ogdru Jahad from their crystal prisons and permit them to raze the earth. However, Rasputin's plans were foiled by the timely intervention of Hellboy's associates from the BPRD, Liz Sherman and Abe Sapien. Rasputin was killed and Sadu-Hem was burned to death.

Hellboy: Wake the Devil

Rasputin re-appeared as a ghost while his pawns attempted to restore the vampire Vladimir Giurescu to life. Rasputin directed Ilsa Haupstein, a loyal member of Project Ragna Rok, to abandon her efforts to revive Giurescu and instead place herself within an enchanted iron maiden. Haupstein did so, dying in the process, but her blood allowed the goddess Hecate to use the iron maiden as a permanent and indestructible body. Hecate's mortal form, like that of Rasputin himself, had been destroyed.

Hellboy: Conqueror Worm

Rasputin appeared lastly in his ghostly form as a counsel to Inger von Klempt. He persuaded her that she was to be the first of a final race of men, but she was murdered by Lobster Johnson and the end of the world was averted with the destruction of the Conqueror Worm. Rasputin retreated to the roots of the World Tree, where the Baba Yaga took what was left of his soul and placed it in an acorn.

B.P.R.D.: Plague of Frogs

When the BPRD investigated the disappearance of a regenerated Sadu Hem from a Bureau facility in New Jersey, they found a doomsday cult led by an acolyte of Rasputin. The acolyte, who had exhibited a chest wound the day that Rasputin was speared to death, fulfilled Rasputin's prophecy regarding his murderer. Abe Sapien, the agent that slew Rasputin, was himself speared to death by the acolyte. Sapien, however, was soon revived and both the acolyte and Sadu Hem were killed.

Rasputin did not appear in the story.

The Hellboy motion picture

Actor Karel Roden played Rasputin, the primary antagonist, in the 2004 film version. He was seen working with the Nazis in the film and demonstrated great occult abilities linked with the underworld. He was depicted as being nearly immortal as every time he died, he was resurrected with a part of his god within his body. The thematics of this power seem to originate from the real-life Rasputin's numerous near-death experiences.

The film version of Rasputin nearly succeeded in freeing the Ogdru Jahad, but the apocalyptic Hellboy rejected him and stabbed Rasputin with one of Hellboy's severed horns. Rasputin's 'god', a giant wriggling beast, emerged from his body and grew to a gigantic size before Hellboy succeeded in destroying it.