B.P.R.D.: King of Fear #5 – Review

by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi (writers), Guy Davis (art), Dave Stewart (colors), and Clem Robins (letters)

The Story: New giant monsters abound, Liz disappears (again), and the UN makes it’s stance on the frogs, and the BPRD, clear.

What’s Good: As a conclusion to a multi-year epic, this issue is more focused on opening the door for what’s to come than it is on closing the door on the past.  This leaves the series in a very interesting place.  The Mignola-verse finds itself in a very ugly place that’s primed for some seriously epic battles.  On a more intimate level, every single character is also left in a new position, either physically or mentally.  For instance, Devon has gained a newfound fear of Abe, while Panya is told that she may one day walk again.  These are little things and certainly nothing compared to where Abe, Liz, and the BPRD itself are left at the end of King of Fear, but they show Arcudi and Mignola’s dedication.

As usual, Mignola and Arcudi’s script, despite all of these new developments, finds room for the little character moments.  With the world in dire straits, it’s comforting to see these characters happier than they’ve been in a long time.  While everything’s gone to hell, there’s a sense of positivity and hope that’s refreshing.  It’s a nice touch, how despite things being worse than they’ve ever been, our characters are also more empowered and optimistic.  There’s a sense that now that they’ve hit rock bottom, they’re ready to start climbing.

Hellboy in Mexico (Or, A Drunken Blur) – Review

by Mike Mignola (writer), Richard Corben (art), Dave Stewart (colors), and Clem Robins

The Story: Hellboy teams up with a trio of luchadores to fight vampires in 1950s Mexico.

What’s Good: Believe me when I say that Mignola definitely delivers on the insanity of that hook I typed out above.  With all the big powers and heavy talk of destiny that’s been going on in Hellboy lately, it’s sort of satisfying to get a Hellboy issue that kicks back and brings the sort of “out there” nuttiness that’s always been at least a small part of the comic’s appeal.

For the most part, this is a rollicking good time.  Seeing Hellboy party and fight alongside a group of luchadores (who stay in costume at all times) is a blast and when he has a full-on match with a vampire luchador, it’s all kinds of fun.  It’s about as much fun as writing “vampire luchador.”

I also found Mignola’s dialogue between Hellboy and his new friend, Esteban, the youngest of the three luchadors, to be particularly amusing.  Mignola effectively uses the old trick of having two characters converse with each of them exclusively speaking a different language, yet oddly being able to understand each other perfectly.  When Esteban says that Hellboy is his best friend in Spanish, only for Hellboy to respond in kind in English, it’s a guaranteed grin for all by the most stone-hearted of readers.

Despite all the comedy, the ending of the issue is beautifully tragic and a sharp, surprising bit of poignancy after an issue of vampire-wrestling and vampire-slaying.  The fact that such a wacky issue could have such a sad, but honest, ending and still feel completely organic is proof of Mignola’s skill as a writer.

Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #7 – Review

by Mike Mignola (writer), Duncan Fegredo (art), Scott Allie (back-up co-writer), Patric Reynolds (back-up art), Dave Stewart (colors), and Clem Robins (letters)

The Story: Hellboy learns the weighty consequences to wielding Excalibur.

What’s Good: Mignola crafts an issue here that causes the reader’s experience to mirror Hellboy’s own. Specifically, almost to the point of frustration and monotony, every damned thing leads back to the prophecy. No matter how far we go, we’re always pulled back to, or rather pushed into, Hellboy’s supposed destiny. Much as Hellboy can’t escape this, neither can we. Despite this arc taking place in England and focusing on Arthurian legend, we somehow still find ourselves right back on familiar grounds. The grand circularity of it all is both painful and tragic, especially when Mignola at one point has Hellboy literally fight his future, something he’s been doing indirectly for the entire series. If Hellboy cannot escape his destiny, neither can we.

Mignola is also especially skillful this month in having Hellboy essentially be under siege, as influences from across the spectrum attempt to fill his ear with whispers, pushing him towards wielding Excalibur. It’s only so effective due to the two “whisperers” being complete opposites in nature and method. There’s the old enemy talking of demons and prophecies, and then there’s good old Alice, hugging Hellboy and telling him that he needs to save the world and that it’ll all work out. In many ways, Alice is the more dangerous of the two, despite being the “good guy.” She’s so comforting and so affectionate that we readers are perhaps even more convinced by her than Hellboy himself. All the voices filling Hellboy’s head fill our own, and the issue ends up feeling like a swirling mass of manipulation from all angles.

On art, it’s another great issue from Duncan Fegredo. Fantastic shots of Gothic gloom and old horror castles meet our hulking red hero, all set opposed to hellish blazes of fire. Fegredo and Stewart set up continuous dichotomies between pitch black and searing light that are absolutely fantastic, opposing the stark, haunted, and barren with the dense and cataclysmic activity of hell.

Last month, I stated my strong dislike for the back-up. Thankfully, this month’s back-up, now with Mignola at the helm and a new artist, is far superior. It was a fun, comprehensible, self-contained story that didn’t overreach and ultimately satisfied. Witch-hunt based stories are often good, if not ghoulish, fun, and Mignola certainly knows his stuff in this arena. It’s clear though, especially given the retrospective nature of the narrative, that this story is all about the atmosphere, and thanks in no small part to the scratchier, painted feel, it’s a complete and very dark success in this regard.

What’s Not So Good: Given how fast a read Hellboy always is, even though the back-up was enjoyable, I still lamented not getting a full issue of Hellboy.

Some readers may also be disappointed to learn that no decision is reached this month regarding Excalibur. Even with next month being the finale, Mignola seems to be in no rush.

Conclusion: When the reader’s experience mirrors that of an iconic character, you’re doing something right.

Grade: B+

-Alex Evans

Hellboy: In The Chapel of Moloch – Review

By Mike Mignola (Story & Art) and Dave Stewart (Colors)

The Story: Mike Mignola returns to the series he created with this creepy one-shot. In it, Hellboy investigates a chapel in Portugal that seems to be causing the strange behavior of an up-and-coming artist. As it turns out, the chapel has quite a dark history and ties to the Middle-Eastern god-monster, Moloch.

What’s Good: Pretty much everything. You really can’t ask for a whole lot more from a one-shot that proves to be as satisfying as this one. Long story short, Mike Mignola’s return to the Hellboy series manages to live up to all expectations. The atmospheric visuals and creepy, intelligent story make this one-shot one of the best reads of a very good month.

What’s Not So Good: Consider this a minor complaint, but it is worth noting that some of the action is a bit confusing due to the stylish nature of the artwork and the dark color palette used. At worst it is slightly distracting and really only an issue in a few panels.

Conclusion: Hellboy: In the Chapel of Moloch is quite simply, a great comic. I highly recommend it to fans of all types. Whether a new reader just looking for a good story, a casual fan, or a hardcore Hellboy follower, I can almost guarantee that you will find this one well worth the cash.

Grade: A

-Kyle Posluszny

A Second Opinion

Mike Mignola never ceases to amaze me. I think his use of mythology– and more importantly different mythologies, is what makes his stories unique. A lot of writers will pull from the bible, or something else mainstream. How many writers will pull Moloch outta the hat? Part of the reason he’s able to do that is the character of Hellboy and the world he’s created. I do agree with Kyle that parts of the book are hard to follow because of the art style. At the same time most of the people who read Hellboy expect this style and are prepared. Hellboy’s had some really good one-shots and mini-series lately. This book is no exception. Like those other stories, my only problem is that it ends. This is an excellent comic, with great appeal for new and old fans alike.

Grade: A

-Ben Berger

Hellboy II: The Golden Army – Movie Review

Hellboy 2 was definitely better than its predecessor (which is still quite good). While the first one may have more of a root in “real” history with the whole look at the Nazi research into the occult, this sequel has its roots in much older “history.” As the movie opens, we see Hellboy as a young child in the 50s being told a bedtime story by Professor Broom. In the story, men warred with elves and other magical creatures for the dominion of the earth. With mankind poised to win, the elf king had the goblin-smiths create the Golden Army, an unstoppable mechanical horde. The Golden Army was so absolute in its destruction, that the king regretted his decision and decided to make a treaty with man: the elves and magical creatures would live in the forests if mankind would stay in the cities. Mankind agreed, and the Crown of Bethmora, which allowed the rightful owner to control the Golden Army, was split into three parts. Two for elfkind, and one for man, and the Golden Army was stored deep in the earth. The elven prince, who did not agree with his father’s decision, left his father and twin sister to go into exile, swearing to return one day and reclaim the land.

As you can probably guess, in modern times the prince resurfaces and steals mankind’s portion of the Crown, seeking to get the other two pieces from his father and sister. Of course, the only people to stand in his way are the B.P.R.D. While the main storyline concerning the Golden Army is certainly enjoyable, what truly makes the movie memorable is the characters. As all of the B.P.R.D., including new member Ectoplasmic Man, interact with one another we get a lot of great dynamics. Perhaps most amusing is the scene shared by Hellboy and Abe Sapien as they discuss (and sing) their romance problems over a couple of beers. But the theme that runs throughout the movie is that you don’t really have to be a human to be human. Touched upon in the first movie, these guys may all be “freaks” of nature, but they still have the most important of human qualities and that’s why they’re so likable. True, this type of story has been used in countless other movies (in fact they make a reference to one when Frankenstein is seen playing on TV in one of the scenes), but the way it is presented here is both entertaining and poignant.

Of course, those who don’t go to theaters to be taught a “moral” will still get plenty of enjoyment from this action-packed movie. Whether it’s the downright creepy fight against “tooth fairies” in the beginning, the mass-advertised brawl with the troll (you know, the one where they punch each others’ hands), or Hellboy’s climactic duel to the death, there is more than enough of the obligatory violence of a comic book movie to satiate the average fan.

Not everyone will like this because of its weird or bizarre flavor, but if you enjoy (or at least don’t mind) these kinds of movies, and if you like comic book movies, you will very likely be entertained by Hellboy 2. And for those who are already looking forward to seeing this, know that the ending leaves the doors wide open for a Hellboy 3. (Grade: A-)

-M. Staples

A Second Opinion

Ron Perlman remains the standout of the franchise. He’s an actor I always hoped would “make it big.” Sadly, being one of the best actors ever under make up doesn’t appear to be enough to get up to A-list status. Still, his performance as Hellboy is one of his best. Perlman brings a sort of beer-drinking, man’s man sort of charm to the character that is uninhibited by all the makeup. The action sequences are better than the original, though some of them (notably the climax) feel short. Another step up over the original is how much better the CG is. In the original the CG was pretty glaring and at times distracting, what a difference a few bucks makes.

Guillermo Del Toro is an excellent director, and his passion for the character is unmatched by anyone short of series creator, Mike Mignola. That said, a lot of the negatives I feel are pointed at him. With the budget of the film, and success of the original, Del Toro was seemingly given a blank check for adding weird stuff to the movie. His imagination is both his biggest strength and weakness, and we get to see examples of it being both in the film. All of the creatures look great, but there’s too many of them to really appreciate. The elements of comedy are really funny, but at the same time there’s too much comedy. If you look at the original as a darker version of Men In Black, Hellboy 2 is, well, like regular MIB. Del Toro’s premise is definitly strong, but something about the film feels really disconnected. I’m interested in seeing a director’s cut, since the movie feels like its missing some pieces. The beginning is very dark and ominous, in line with the original, but once the BPRD team hits the troll market, the comedy and goofiness step up to center stage.

I wanted to like Hellboy 2 a lot more than I did. That’s not to say it’s not a good movie, it is, I just think there was a lot more potential than what was shown. At times, it felt like a big budget test run for Del Toro who is moving on to other projects. It’s full of good stuff though, and definitely is worth seeing in the theaters if you liked the original. (Grade B-)

– Ben Berger

A Third Opinion

Hellboy II is a great, fun, action movie. It also made me realize how stupid the MPAA rating system is. The movie has lots of decapitations, monsters eating humans, deaths by swords, and as long as it doesn’t show blood, it’s only PG-13 (what the frak?!). But for me this is an R-rated movie. There is a lot of tension and always a fear of death for the main characters (though you know that it won’t happen – but it’s there).

I’m not familiar with the comics, but liked the first movie. This sequel goes far and beyond. More humor, big battles and lots of monsters. I loved the design work here – in particular the Johann Kraus character. One thing that tickled me in the first movie was Liz’s blue fire. It got fixed this time around and I couldn’t be happier.

Oh and here’s a piece of useless trivia: The opening sequence was made into a comic book and given away at WonderCon 08. Pretty cool, eh? (Grade: A-)

-Daniel Yanez

A Fourth Opinion

I’m not a fan of the first Hellboy movie. I own it on Blu-Ray, but its ending really annoys me. I was expecting this grandios Cthulu-inspired fight to happen between Hellboy and that god but instead, I got a fight that was over in a matter of seconds – all because of some simple grenades. Talk about anti-climactic. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen in this sequel.

Hellboy 2 is by far, a superior film. It feels complete, not rushed, and epic in scale.The opening of the movie is imaginative and brilliantly executed. It’s a fable come to life and very reminiscent of how Francis Ford Coppola opened Bram Stoker’s Dracula (just not as creepy). Guillermo Del Toro deserves a lot of credit for being able to mix a fantasy-based movie into an almost reality-based setting. Creature and set designs are top notch, and the action is visceral – though I do think Del Toro tosses Hellboy around a bit too much. The final fight at the end is exactly what I wanted to see, and frankly, I can’t think of a better way it could have been handled.

As gushing as I am about this movie, it’s not perfect; I agree with the reviewers above on many of their criticisms. There’s a bit too much comedy for my tastes. The little musical number in the middle of the film is definitely funny – and a crowd pleaser – but, my god, does it feel out of place. Selma Blair also looks tired throughout the film and at times (near the end of the movie), seems to be struggling with her dialogue delivery. Then there’s Ape Sapien in that ridiculous black body suit that screams, “Hey guys, there’s a human running around with a fish mask on his head!” And don’t get me going about how awkward Ron Perlman looks in the beginning of the movie when he’s slouching in his apartment with his shirt off. Where did his neck go? Oh yeah, it’s somewhere under that muscular body suit he’s wearing. This stuff is, sadly, very distracting, and it’s stuff you’ll murmur about to your friends after seeing the movie.

But in the end what matters is if this movie is good. Yes, it is. In fact, it’s great. Don’t get me wrong, it’s highly very predictable, but its delivery as a story and the journey our folks at the BPRD go through is  entertaining and the movie does its job of transporting the audience into its world. That’s all we really ask for in the end, a good dose of escapism, right?

Hellboy 2 has actually done something for me that rarely happens: It’s has me interested in reading the series (and its 2 billion spin-offs). I think if any movie can pull new readers into comic stores, this is probably it. And if that happens, we’re all better off in the end. (Grade: A-)

– J. Montes

B.P.R.D.: The Ectoplastic Man (One Shot) – Review

By Mike Mignola & John Arcadi (Writers), Ben Stenbeck (Artist), and Clem Robins (Letters)

B.P.R.D.: The Ectoplastic Man is the one-shot origin of the BPRD’s best bodiless agent: Johann Kraus, The Ectoplasmic Man.  Kraus was an experienced medium before becoming permanently departed from his body during a séance that obviously went very wrong.  When a massive ethereal disaster in Chengdou, China, reverberates through the astral plane all the way to Germany, the séance party is seemingly killed save for Kraus who remains connected to the living world as a ghost.  Although he doesn’t initially accept the offer to join the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, he eventually realizes that the BPRD can offer him not only the ability to remain in the world without dissipating forever, but the opportunity to stop future paranormal catastrophes.

Mignola and Arcudi’s story of this high-minded medium is satisfactory and at moments thrilling, but rushed. The entire comic feels as if it had been edited out of another HellBoy title, stretched to fit 24 pages and sold at 3 bucks a pop.  After being discovered by the BPRD in the astral disaster aftermath, the idealistic Kraus heads to the cemetery to answer the cries of another wayward ghost. They are met by a nefarious demon that seeks to deceive the wayward ghost into his home and eat him. The scene works thematically to give Kraus purpose in joining the BPRD and helping fellow physically challenged phantasms being lured by other traps. Yet, Kraus’s transformation into the Ectoplasmic Man seems to told be out of necessity rather than feeling. We see the building of the suit that will hold in this world, him using the suit once, and then “The End.” The endeavor, which could have stronger and more meaningful, took less than three pages.

As for Stenbeck’s art, he is a natural fit for the HellBoy universe, though more on the whimsical side than realistic. Nonetheless, he tells the story with vivid and moody atmosphere, in particular, the descent of Kraus from the sky to the German village. Stenbeck draws Kraus as a wisp of gray cloud fighting against the hard winds similar to billowing smoke of chimneys. This provides a nice visualization of Kraus’s struggle as a ghost.

If you like Hellboy or simply like paranormal adventures, pick this accessible book, but don’t expect too much depth. (Grade: B-)

-Steven M. Bari

A Second Opinion

This is a good example of a book that can be picked up and enjoyed easily. Sure, it helps to be familiar with the world, but Mignola and Arcadi do a good job of simplifying things. As far as origin stories go, this is one that’s both tragic and engaging.

I’m glad it’s not the standard “my (insert loved one here) is dead and now I’m going after the criminal element” story. It’s refreshing to read about a hero without the standard origin. We learn about Johann Kraus and how he became The Ectoplasmic Man. When a routine seance goes wrong, Kraus is the only one left tied to our world. Having trouble coming to grips with his fate, he’s drawn to a nearby cemetery at the call of a recently deceased man. This ultimately leads him to The Bureau where he can continue to fight the good fight against demons and monsters. One of the things I like so much about this book is the script. Mignola and Arcadi do such an excellent job of differentiating the characters. A lot of characters these days sound the same so, it’s nice to have such a clear line drawn between them.

At first glance the art looks simple. If you look closer, you’ll find an amazing amount of detail, especially in the backgrounds. Wieland Lorst is an excellent villain for a number of reasons. The first being how he’s drawn by Stenbeck. Sure, he’s ugly but for me he wasn’t someone who wouldn’t appear to be a villain. Lorst looks creepy, but not necessarily evil. His showdown with Kraus is my favorite part of the book. Seeing Lorst’s demon form, how he taunts Kraus, and his limitations as a ghost make for a really great climax.

I really enjoyed this book. The fact that Johann’s origin isn’t the norm is a definite plus. Admittedly, I have a love-hate reaction to the last panel of the book. It’s an awesome ending on one hand because you don’t see that fight, but its disappointing at the same time since I wanted to see it. (Grade: B)

-Ben Berger

Spooks #1 (of 4) – Review

By: R.A. Salvatore, Geno Salvatore (story), Ryan Schifrin (story & script), Larry Hama (script), Adam Archer (art), Jonny Rench (colors)

I picked this comic just for the great cover art! It reminded me of the old box art for computer games from the 80s. Check the awesome animated cover at www.spooksthecomic.com – first time I’ve seen something like that.

The United States Department of Supernatural Defense (BPRD… I mean DPSD) has specially trained forces on its payroll to protect us from supernatural enemies. We first meet Zach Ramirez, who’s using silver bullets to kill a loose werewolf, but the beast doesn’t die. I guess the “normal” rules don’t apply here. The werewolf bites Zach on his arm but he’s one of the 0.0001% of the population that is immune to werewolf bites.

The main plot goes on about this witch who is raising an army of evil doers to conquer the world once and for all. She has the werewolves on her side and even a headless horseman that she animates from the dead. Vampires join her swelling army as well, but each race has their own agenda. This group from hell is completed by a bodyguard figure in the form of a Frankenstein-esque monster.

I really don’t like having all these monsters together in a kind of crossover world. I’d rather deal with one species per story. I hope the book gets enough sales to make it into an ongoing series (right now it’s a four issue miniseries). I’m intrigued on what’s going to happen next but I don’t mind if I have to skip on it. The only way to guarantee a buy from me is if issue #2 cover is done by Staples. (Grade: C-)

-Daniel Yanez