Fans of the so-called Hellaverse (named thusly for Helluva Boss and its sister series, Hazbin Hotel, both from creator Vivienne Medrano) have much to celebrate today. Not only are they getting an uncensored version of seasons 1 and 2 of hit YouTube animated show Helluva Boss, but an entirely new version of the pilot episode that started it all.

Landing alongside the first two seasons is a remake of the series’s original pilot episode, now called “Mission: Zero.” The original pilot of Helluva Boss, as fans know, boasted a very different energy from what the show ended up being. While the pilot is still a great episode in its own right, it’s fantastic that the creators got a chance for a re-do. It isn’t something that happens often, and especially not when it’s needed.

“Mission: Zero” introduces us to the hierarchy of underworld of Hell. Imps are not the soul-torturers they are portrayed as in the human world. Rather, they are, essentially, the customer service industry of Hell. They serve whomever is more powerful than them. So with most chances to better themselves unobtainable, there are the few who wish to break out.

Introducing I.M.P., your immediate murder professionals

That is where we meet the imps of I.M.P. Led by Blitzø (Brandon Rogers, who writes alongside Medrano) and featuring married couple Millie (Vivian Nixon) and Moxxie (Richard Horvitz), they’re here to sell the demons of Hell one thing: Revenge. And it’s not just revenge on their fellow demons. Blitzø has a grimoire given to him by Prince Stolas (Bryce Pinkham) that can take them to the human world. There, they can exact whatever revenge is needed, usually in the bloodiest of ways. (And boy, is it bloody at times.)

We also get a new peek at the relationship between Blitzø and Stolas, which starts out as one of a certain convenience. Their dynamic in the original pilot was much different, and it’s very interesting to see what has changed about it in this episode.

It also does more than just set up the world for new viewers. For those who are already fans, it solidifies some of the character stories in a more relevant, tangible way. It’s more polished, too, well-oiled with the humor and storytelling the creators have gotten familiar with over the last five years. In many ways, this new retelling of the pilot fits much better into the universe and, in my opinion, is where people should start. The first episode of season 1, “Murder Family,” does a great job in its own right, but “Mission: Zero” rounds it out nicely.

Come for the laughs, stay for the love

Part of what makes both Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel great are their irreverence. It never takes itself too seriously, but then manages to also create some of the most meaningful and heartbreaking relationships. “Mission: Zero” is only eleven minutes, but it is a well-structured eleven minutes, and it’s so full in every scene that there’s always something more to discover.

If you enjoy the spirit of Hazbin Hotel, or even just want to watch a bunch of imps dismember people in a fountain of cartoon violence, make sure to check it out when it releases. We need all the queer media that we can get right now, and we need to celebrate it as loudly as possible.

You can catch “Mission: Zero” on Prime Video on September 10th, alongside the first 2 seasons of Helluva Boss.

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