MANILA, Philippines - The quintessential heroic demon is back. Comic book characters Hellboy and his cohorts return to the big screen in the colorful action-fantasy flick ?Hellboy II: The Golden Army.?

Director-screenwriter Guillermo Del Toro also returns after the success of his universally lauded ?Pan?s Labyrinth,? so audiences expect him to cut loose with surreal imagery and storytelling. Working within the parameters of a popcorn movie still allows him free rein and creativity, but this movie is still pretty simple, story-wise.

?The Golden Army? introduces the villain Prince Nuada (Luke Goss), an elf-like being who detests mankind?s reign on Earth. He gathers fragments of an object that will control the mighty Golden Army, artificial beings capable of subjugating humans.

But the prince underestimates the super-powered good guys?Hellboy (Ron Perlman), the pyrokinetic Liz Sherman, the amphibious Abe Sapien and the gaseous specter Johann Krauss.

This sequel only skirts Hellboy?s history but there are references to the past and his being a non-human misfit.

The humor?s intact; funny moments are smoothly injected into the script. Krauss dealing with Hellboy?s insubordination, for instance, is enjoyable. Abe?s crush on the princess also amuses.

?The Golden Army? is effects-heavy and fancy-looking, but the plot?s just okay. The climactic battle doesn?t show enough of the magnificent-looking automatons as a truly imposing threat to the outside world.

The team?s new status as non-covert agents makes sense in the age of camera phones and digital wonders?this would?ve been a great development, but this angle isn?t mined enough, and fades quietly.

Still, the oddly shaped creatures and monsters are designed exceptionally well, like the inhabitants of ?Star Wars,? ?Lord of the Rings? and ?Pan?s Labyrinth.? There?s gorgeous artistry in those otherworldly beings. Their loud, slam-bang encounters with Hellboy, while often brief, are nonetheless cool and visually engaging enough.

?Hellboy II: The Golden Army? is currently screening in Metro Manila cinemas.