Abe Sapien #11 – Review

by Mike Mignola, Scott Allie (Writers), Max Fiumara (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Abe learns he is not exactly as effective as in his B.P.R.D. days at battling weirdness as a battle between necromancers emerge in a special corner of America.

The Review: This title is a rather odd one in the larger schemes of things that is known as the Mignolaverse. While some titles have a clear role and a certain angle to cover, Abe Sapien possess one that doesn’t really make the character truly shine in the best of ways most of the time. With the series focusing more on how everyday people live with a resurgence of horror and unexplained events in a more post-apocalyptic world filled with killer creatures, the series got quite close a good number of time to greatness, yet never quite reached it in a way that was consistent.

This very issue, in its own ways, is a perfect example of this, with some decidedly great ideas being presented to the readers as well as some potent character moments, yet it never really converge together to create bigger or more satisfactory moments. There are some points that get across, yet it’s always more elusive ones that never truly satisfy in the best of ways.

One of the better example is the way the very town of Payson seems to be affected by some kind of zombie outbreak. With Abe trying to investigate what’s happening with a bunch of hippies on a golf course close to the town, there are hints of the horror and their implication in the more ominous events in the past few issues. There are, of course, some hints toward their role in the grand mystery and some moments of gore and terror that are rather well done, yet the very mystery of what is happening and just how it happened is left a bit on the side. With Abe not getting any answer and the problem reaching its very worst outcome, there is easily a sentiment of disappointment that permeates this chapter.

Abe Sapien #10 – Review

by Mike Mignola, Scott Allie (Writers), Max Fiumara (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Despite the help he gave them, it seems some citizens are actually not that fond of Abe.

The Review: It’s always frustrating to see a book handle some elements very well, yet others in ways that put things down in terms of general quality. The characters could be great, yet the story and direction pointless. The setting could be amazing, yet the art could also no match the scope. There are always tons of things that can go wrong when creating anything, with fiction not being an exception.

Abe Sapien is a book that has a potentially great handle, a very well put-together characterization for its lead character, yet there are quite a few things that don’t let the book be as great as it could in the divided version we get every months.

One of the area where it excels is in how it handle the supernatural, with both Mignola and Allies presenting a bit of necromancy, its effects and its price. Not stopping at just introducing those kind of elements, the way the supporting cast reacts to such news, how Abe perceive and acts around the subject along with the intricate mysteries of how it works and how it changes the world permeates the book with an identity of its own.

Abe Sapien #9 – Review

by Mike Mignola, Scott Allie (Writers), Max Fiumara (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: In his pilgrimage, Abe discovers a little town who may have a problem with virulent dead horses as well as other unseen ones.

The Review: I have a certain fondness for what is dubbed the Mignolaverse, the universe in which titles like B.P.R.D., Hellboy in Hell, Lobster Johnson and many other series take place in. Having started my comic fascination with the greatest creation of Mike Mignola, I have been a fan ever since I opened the first trade, Hellboy: Seeds of Destruction.

However, that being said, being a fan does not render me blind to occasional weaknesses in some comics done in this universe. While I have a certain respect for what Scott Allie and Mike Mignola are trying to do with Abe Sapien, there seems to be a few faults that doesn’t always allow the title to reach the potential it once reached.

One of the best aspect of the book is in how it portrays the general civilian and how they are trying to cope with the way things are in the world. Some try to interact with the weirder aspects, while some try to go on with their life just like in this comic. The sense of community and how Abe changes some things and try to interact with them is perhaps one of the most enjoyable angle of this issue. His general soul-searching does not allow for him to be placid when others are in need of help, which makes his general discussions and his actions rather nice to read.

Abe Sapien #8 – Review

by Mike Mignola, Scott Allie (Writers), Michael Avon Oeming (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: As it turns out, Abe had a pretty interesting rescue mission involving Xibalba in 1983.

The Review: Like many readers, I am always a bit wary of fill-in issues. When the regular artist or writer needs a break for whatever reasons, it is usual to see them being replaced for an issue or two, which then leads to stories on the side or to an artist that doesn’t necessarily fit visually with the rest. Those kind of issues aren’t necessarily bad per se, but for those waiting a month to see the plot progress and the characters develop, it can become a certain exercise in frustration.

Thankfully, Mike Mignola and Scott Allie are still there, as they instead provide for a flashback issue with a different artist, opting for a complete tale that puts Abe in a B.P.R.D. mission. However, is the story good and does it actually adds to the general themes of the book?
All in all, this story might not be absolutely essential to the ongoing themes of the apocalypse and how Abe tries to define himself personally, but it still does delivers plenty of stuff that fans of the Mignolaverse might enjoy. There is action, mystery and a good dose of the supernatural that make this complete story rather interesting on its own.

Hellboy in Hell #5 – Review

by Mike Mignola (Writer/Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Hellboy helps a man cheat a demon in order for him to keep his soul.

The Review: Boy has it been a while since the last issue. While it is understandable that Mike Mignola has been a little busy in the last few months (co-writing Baltimore, B.P.R.D., Sledgehammer 47, Lobster Johnson one-shots and Abe Sapien will do that to you), the lack of presence of this delightful series was something that was rather sad for me. Still, better late than never, as the latest issue arrived this very week. However, with all the time that passed, does this issue actually satisfy and continue the story where it left?

In a way, Mignola makes the smart choice of giving readers something more akin to a side-story, one that does not focus exactly on the titular character himself. Telling a complete story all the while, he is able to play with his strengths and manage to give readers something satisfactory.
One of the better aspects of this issue is its atmosphere, with Mignola giving plenty of space to panels upon which there is no texts at all. Focusing instead on the characters and their place in the surreal environment they are in, the story becomes that much more eerie and magical, leaving the panels where they focus on the text and context to be that much more striking. Much of this effect is actually a result of the economy of space Mignola put in his panel, with every elements there for a reason. His sense of depth, his composition and the combination of motion with a certain restraint in the movement of so much create something that should appear static, yet doesn’t.

Abe Sapien #7 – Review

by Mike Mignola, Scott Allie (Writers), Sebastian Fiumara, Max Fiumara (Artists), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Monsters attack one of the group that Abe was with as he tells a bit more about his situation and his feelings about the B.P.R.D.

The Review: If there’s something I truly hate, it’s middle of the road issues, in term of quality that is. If a series is good, I’ll read and enjoy it. The end. If it’s utterly bad, I’ll at least know it’s not worth my cash and time, so I’ll stop reading it and that would be the end of it. It’s always a bit frustrating to see a book do well in some parts, while terribly in others, as it leaves a potential to either become totally on one side or the other. It both please and disappoint, which leaves all kind of mixed feelings in terms of appreciation.

This issue of Abe Sapien is unfortunately one of those, as there are plenty of ideas along with some terrific scenes, yet it doesn’t really satisfy as a whole. It’s a bit of a shame, as the latest issue had been pretty good and the series as a whole did things differently enough to make this whole take on the Mignolaverse rather interesting.

Hellboy: The Midnight Circus – Review

by Mike Mignola (Writer), Duncan Fegredo (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Hellboy gets into shenanigans while travelling to a circus that may or may not come from hell during the night.

The Review: People rejoice, for the great team behind some impossibly great Hellboy stories are reunited for an original graphic novel. Indeed, Mike Mignola, Duncan Fegredo and Dave Stewart, those behind such stories as Hellboy: The Wild Hunt and The Storm and The Fury are back as they try to tell an original story featuring a much younger Hellboy, one with perhaps a tiny bit of innocence still left in him. While it may be particularly great for fans of the beast of the apocalypse, is it perhaps something that readers unaware of the mythos of the series might enjoy? More importantly, is it good?

It is my belief that the answer to both these questions would be in the positive, as Mignola is able to mix childlike sensitivities, a feeling of horror and the Hellboy mythos flawlessly without alienating any of these aspects in favour of the others.

Speaking about each of those aspects, the childlike sense of wonders comes directly from the point-of-view of the titular character, Hellboy himself. In this story, though, readers are treated to a much younger protagonist. Gone is the tough supernatural detective, replaced by a character much more akin to the younger self readers grew to love from stories such as Pancakes. The innocence of Hellboy is not only a particularly refreshing take on the character, but it is also what propels much of the story forward. His fears and his sense of wonders plays a huge part in the atmosphere of the story, magnifying everything as it passes right through the emotions of the character.

It is a blessing then that he is written very well, with a certain sense of mischief, of adventure and a desire to be part of something. Like a lot of children, Hellboy simply doesn’t know any better and gets in trouble, which is the highlight of the story as things he doesn’t understand begin to gravitate toward him. Despite his wishes and what he’d like to be, the story plays a huge part on developing certain traits of his. Being part excitable and gullible, it is a wonder to see him get excited about his favourite comic book, Lobster Johnson or when he is being attacked by monkeys and all sort of beasts in the circus. As the point-of-view for the horror and the marvels of this weird world created by Mike Mignola, the younger Hellboy works like a charm.

Abe Sapien #6 – Review

Mike Mignola, Scott Allie (Writers), Sebastian Fiumara (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Walking in Arizona, Abe encounters some more citizens and have a friendly and rather educative talk with them.

The Review: How I missed you, Abe Sapien, during the month of September. In a month filled with villainy, your rather fascinating take on the end of the world and how humanity copes with the unknown and the dangerous was sorely missed. However, now that the previous story arc is finished and that the regular writing team is back, are the themes and the story brought back in full force or is there perhaps something lacking?

It’s a rather nice thing to see that it is still the very same book, bringing back the very strengths that made it good to begin with. In this issue, we get to see Abe in Arizona as he meet other characters who are dealing with the end of the world in their own way. It may be a bit formulaic considering that the two previous arcs did begin in the same way, yet Mignola and Allie adds a lot of depths not only to the main character, but also to the Mignolaverse in the process.

Lobster Johnson: Scent of Lotus #2 – Review

By: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi (story), Sebastián Fiumara (art), Dave Stewart (colors)

The Story: Lobster beats off a monkey and shoots at a woman

The Review: After reading several of these Lobster Johnson minis, I must confess that I have no idea why Mignola-Arcudi seems so committed to the mini format for these stories.  Obviously, there’s a thirst out there for the big Lobster and Mignola has the ideas to satiate it.  I figure if he’s willing to put out three minis in less than year, why not get off the pot and just transform it into an ongoing?  Seems like all of us would get more out of that than the system in place now.

For one, perhaps Mignola-Arcudi could have spent more time developing the political and historical meat which forms the basis for Scent of Lotus’ plot.  While I don’t really approve of writers taking broad, oversimplistic views of real-world events or ideas, using history as a springboard for a story lends it some easy credibility and adds nice color to your usual comic book adventure.  Unfortunately, the historical complications stop pretty much at a brief reference to the Mukden Incident, with little original material added on to make it worth the mention.

Abe Sapien #5 – Review

by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi (Writers), Max Fiumara (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Abe discovers along with other survivors the dead body of a person he had a conversation with in the last issue as he tries to elucidate just what is happening in the area he currently is in.

The Review: When a creative team reach a certain height, one that seems to show the true potential of a title, it is usually great. Readers that follow a title or a character and that see it develop into something that they become invested in is something that is truly pleasant when it comes to reading any long work of fiction, be it comics or anything else for that matter. However, there are always time when the readers wonder if those in charge of such a feat can keep it up and continue their quality streak.

The latest issue of Abe Sapien, from my own perspective, was truly beautiful to read and look at, with a certain angle being covered that seemed endless in the ways it could be explored. Still, it was the first half of a two-part story, with this issue bringing in the conclusion to that philosophical and much more humane approach to the apocalypse. Does the second part actually continue the satisfying way Mignola and Arcudi approached their themes?

Lobster Johnson: A Scent of Lotus #1 – Review

By: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi (story), Sebastián Fiumara (art), Dave Stewart (colors)

The Story: Lobster’s no takeout man, but he’s here to deliver justice!

The Review: You might have noticed by now,* but I’m definitely something of a pulp addict.  There’s something about that first half of the 20th century that just appeals to me.  So it’s pretty much impossible for me to resist the allure of Lobster Johnson.  I mean, the name alone is practically worth the price of admission.  But the last couple times I’ve picked up a one-shot, I’ve wound up a bit disappointed with the result.

This has little to do with Mignola-Arcudi’s skills as writers and even less to do with the string of artists they’ve employed for these standalone adventures.  It has more to do with how antithetical a one-shot is to the pulp genre, which established itself on the strength of its serial fiction.  With hardly any timeless significance in the stories themselves, pulp survives for as long as it can keep the audience’s intrigue.  It’s the cliffhangers, the twists, the ongoing mysteries which give pulp its lasting power.

Abe Sapien #4 – Review

By: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi (Writers), Max Fiumara (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Abe encounters some new people as he informs himself on how the world sees him and what is happening on a global scale.

The Review: Who could have thought, more than a decade ago, that Mike Mignola would be creating a whole universe as a result of the adventure of a single character, Hellboy? With so many potential, the Mignolaverse had been born when Mignola had created the B.P.R.D title spinning off from the adventures of his own creation. Since then, we have seen the development of a fascinating universe that has now a lot of angle covered, with Hellboy showing us the adventures of the beast of apocalypse we grew to love, B.P.R.D demonstrating us how much the world is kind-of screwed right now and Abe Sapien, which focus a lot more on the human elements of the Mignolaverse, an angle that was under-represented before.

I have to say, I rather like this approach to the character of Abe Sapien and to the world in general, which is put much more in focus in this issue than it had been in the first arc. What we get here is a protagonist that is unsure of his role in the world, how he is affected by it and how he did affect it throughout his actions. Showing us a main character full of questions and with a philosophical approach to things does wonder in making us invested, as Abe is much more like us despite what he looks like. How he interacts with others, how he ponders on such heavy subjects as identity and fate is something that is rather fascinating, which gives us a very different type of book in the Mignolaverse.

Abe Sapien: Dark And Terrible #3 – Review

By: Mike Mignola, Scott Allie (Writers), Sebastian Fiurama (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Something hits the fan as the truth behind what is happening in the village Abe Sapien is in reveals itself.

The Review: Just who and what is Abe Sapien? That is the question that has plagued him ever since his birth and it has been a plot point that followed him throughout his development in B.P.R.D and that has been compelling enough to provide him with a title of his own. While we had part of the solution, we still had no idea just why Abe Sapien exists and neither does he, which makes for a rather interesting main motivation for our titular character.

However, this has not exactly been the focus of this three-issue arc, which has made us see just how the regular folks of the Mignolaverse had to adapt to the end of the world as they know it. It was a pretty intriguing and well thought-out idea that was presented in great fashion, yet it did not exactly seem like a story that could be only presented via Abe Sapien. It was much more akin to a traditional B.P.R.D story, which made the point of a series focusing on the rather popular character still a questionable matter.

Lobster Johnson: Satan Smells a Rat – Review

By: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi (story), Kevin Nowlan (art)

The Story: Lobster Johnson doesn’t care for the treat part of trick-or-treating.

The Review: Having just done a review of Five Ghosts, it’s kind of interesting to read another comic which channels a similarly pulpy feel—interesting because of how radically different the two issues are.  While Lobster Johnson is clearly an homage to the radio vigilantes of the 1930s, like the Shadow and the Green Hornet, in tone and practice he’s quite unlike them.  You get less of an adventurous feel with Lobster, and a greater fixation on his latest vendetta.

This is in no small part due to the fact that Lobster in some ways really serves more as a cipher than as a character in his own right.  I confess that I haven’t read Hellboy or any of its spin-offs (yet), but in reading these one-shot Lobster specials, I strongly suspect their importance lies outside of the issues themselves.  Not that these one-shots can’t stand on their own, but there is an incompleteness of message here that makes you feel like there should be more to the story than what you end up getting.

Abe Sapien: Dark and Terrible #2 – Review

By: Mike Mignola, Scott Allie (Writers), Sebastian Fiumara (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: As we get to know some of the reasons of Abe departure from the B.P.R.D, we can also see how some people reacts to all these changes that were brought with the war on frogs and the incoming apocalypse.

The Review: In a recent interview about his whole universe of comic, the one that turns around Hellboy and B.P.R.D, Mike Mignola revealed just how things would work out from now on and which title would show what. While the former would be more about its titular hero and how the afterlife might just change a tad after all that is happening in the real world, the latter would be much more about what is actually happening in the world and how the bureau wants to prevent things from going worse. With two very different directions from these two titles, where does that leave Abe Sapien and his adventures?

Abe Sapien: Dark and Terrible #1 – Review

By: Mike Mignola, Scott Allie (Writers), Sebastian Fiumara (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: The B.P.R.D is searching for Abe Sapien, as some folks discuss how it feels to see the end of times and other such curiosities on a train.

The Review: It’s funny, in a way, to see how successful Mike Mignola has been with his first creator-owned character, Hellboy. First appearing in his own mini-series, the adventure of the beast of the apocalypse has seen the start of a much bigger thing: its own universe, with a sister title expanding it in ways that were really well done. B.P.R.D, in its own way, saw as much success as the main title, which now lead to a cycle of such with the birth of this title, Abe Sapien, dedicated to the supporting character first seen in Hellboy that has been developed to much greater heights in the narrative frame of B.P.R.D to become one of the most endearing character from what is now dubbed the Mignolaverse. However, does this character actually merits a title of his own, an ongoing nonetheless?

Hellboy in Hell #4 – Review

By: Mike Mignola (Writer/Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Hellboy gets some explanation about who is the masked man that keeps on saving his life and what await for him in Pandemonium.

The Review: Mike Mignola continues his streak. He has done yet another completely satisfying chapter in Hellboy’s life, or rather, in his death. Indeed, the quality is maintained in this fourth and closing chapter of the first part of Hellboy’s saga in Pandemonium, as the author is taking a short break before the next couple of issues arrive, so we will wait a bit before the fifth issue arrive.

This wait shall be torturous, as this issue is so full of revelations, good moments and shows so much potential for the character, it is nearly impossible to accept that there are many months before the next issue. In here, Mignola does close to no action, only exposition. This could be fatal flaw for many books, but here it works perfectly, closing the chapter after the fights with Astaroth and his family. Here, we see just who the masked man who kept on interfering with Hellboy and those who wished him harm in the firsts chapters. Fans of Mignola and his whole universe shall be delighted to know that it is none other than Sir Edward Grey.

Hellboy in Hell #3 – Review

By: Mike Mignola (Writer/Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Family meetings in Hell, what could go wrong there?

The Review: Mike Mignola has a talent for the theatrics, for grandeur and for surprising his audience expectation. Anyone who might have figured out how this series is going to play out shall sorely be off put by what he is doing here, but in a good way.

In this issue, Mignola introduces elements that even the long time readers of Hellboy shall be surprised with. Not satisfied with the fact that Astaroth makes another appearance here, we see important characters like Hellboy’s father along with his two brothers, who were never even mentioned earlier in the series, proving us that Mignola can still trick and surprise us in relevant ways. All the characters here add to the large mythos that Mignola had built around his character since the very start, wowing the readers with its great scope and attention to details. Here, many elements are shown and named that could fuel many other issues like this one, showing just what this series could be.

Hellboy In Hell #2 – Review

By: Mike Mignola (Writer/Artist) Dave Stewart (Colorist)

The Story: Hellboy continues to explore Hell and is shown his destiny and key moments of his past.

The Review: I have a truly soft spot in my heart for Mike Mignola’s biggest creation, Hellboy. As the very series that ignited my love for comics and passion for graphic storytelling, the red devil is a character dear to my heart in many ways.

Of course, one could say that this makes me biased from the very start of this review, yet there is something that must be said about Hellboy as a series that is doubly true in this issue: it possess some incredible qualities, both in the art and storytelling department. The continuing tales of Hellboy have always been rich with mythology and historical facts that elevate the whole series as something truly wonderful. Close to each storylines have been full of references to other myths or stories, making us see just how much care Mike Mignola puts in the big devil himself in terms of quality.

Lobster Johnson: Caput Mortuum #1 – Review

By: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi (story), Tonci Zonjic (art), Dave Stewart (colors)

The Story: Prepare to feel the punishing power of crustacean justice!

The Review: I think all of us have something of a whimsical side, which comes out at the most unexplainable moments.  If I’m to be completely honest, I’d admit my tendency for randomness is a little stronger than others.  It’s not unheard of for me, in the middle of, say, Professor Wilentz’s Personal Writing class, to crack a “Your mother” joke—to Professor Wilentz.  In my defense, she was kind of asking for it: “Why does it have to be so hard?”  I mean, really.

Anyway, the moment I laid eyes on the title of this issue, I knew it was going home with me.  Even if it totally sucked, at least I’d have a comic in my possession with “Lobster” on the cover.  Once you consider the full title, it gets even more irresistible.  “Lobster Johnson” by itself is already hilarious and potentially one of the greatest names in comics ever.  And that sub-title, “Caput Mortuum,” with its contrasting Latin conveying such pith and import, pretty much ices the cake and makes the whole thing impossible to at least browse through—in my opinion.

Rocketeer Adventures #1 – Review

By: John Cassaday, Laura Martin, Chris Mowry, Mike Mignola, Dave Stewart, Mike Allred, Laura Allred, Jim Silke, Kurt Busiek, Michael Kaluta

The Story: An anthology of stories about Dave Stewart’s Rocketeer by an All-Star cast of creators.

What’s Good: Just look at that list of creators!  I’m not even a huge Rocketeer fan, but when you can get interior pages by Cassaday, Allred and Kaluta along with pin-ups by Mignola and Silke in one package, it is just a no brainer because the art is of such high quality that the writing becomes almost irrelevant.

All three short stories are really quite good.  As I said, the stories don’t matter that much:  “Yeah! Rocketeer saved Betty from criminals!”  But, the art is really the star.  Allred just kinda does his normal outstanding thing where his soft and nuanced lines work so nicely together with Laura Allred’s colors.  They’re a neat team because you can just see the benefits of working together with a colorist on an artistic project rather than working through an editor with a colorist multiple time zones away (as with most modern comics).

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: The Wild Hunt #6 – Review

by Mike Mignola (writer), Duncan Fegredo (art), Dave Stewart (colors), Gary Gianni (back-up writer & art), Alex Wald (back-up colors), and Clem Robins (letters)

The Story: A big reveal about Hellboy’s lineage is outed, as he’s given one of the biggest choices he’s ever had to make.

What’s Good: Well, let’s get the obvious out of the way: Duncan Fegredo rules and Hellboy has always been a gorgeous book. Fegredo never falters as, he’s one of the most consistent guys out there. This looks just as we’ve come to expect a Hellboy comic to look: heavy inks and distinctly blocky characters meld with pulpy atmospherics. I also particularly enjoyed the continual shots of gothic architecture and skeletons that were used to punctuate the dialogue scenes, alleviating the “talking heads” problem. The contrast between most of the book and Hellboy’s entrance to the land of Excalibur was also nothing less than beautiful. While the rest of the book is shrouded in moody darkness, that one scene is brilliant, clear, and nothing short of Elysian. It’s clear that Fegredo is a master at his trade, as is colorist Dave Stewart, who always knows how to put Hellboy’s bold red to good use.

Story-wise, the Hellboy portion of the comic is basically just one gigantic, epic reveal that takes up the entire narrative. And man, oh man what a reveal it is. Perhaps because it comes out of left field, this is sure to floor you, whether you’re a new initiate to Hellboy or a long-time devotee.

The reveal is so ridiculous that it actually works. Had this been another comic, I would’ve laughed at how unbelievable and ludicrous this turn of events was, but somehow, in the weird, continually obfuscated world of Hellboy, it is fantastic.  It’s simply so large, grand, and insane that it actually reaches epic status.  Logic, believability, and coincidence be damned. This just goes to show that in Mignola’s world, anything really is possible. While the comic really has created such an enormous suspension of disbelief for itself that I’ll not only accept the must “out there,” crazy, impossible, deus ex machina, and grandiose developments, but I’ll enjoy it all the more for its boldness.

Beyond this, it’s hard to say much about the issue without spoiling anything. Suffice to say, there’s a great action scene, Hellboy sounds like Hellboy, and the revelation of Morganna’s motivations is not to be missed (nor is her sudden change of apperance).

The back-up meanwhile, can only be described as wacky hijinks. Given the gravity of the main feature, the change of pace is fairly welcome. It certainly lightens the mood.

What’s Not So Good: Hellboy has never been a lengthy read, so the presence of the back-up can be a bit frustrating. It really is just totally out there, totally unrelated, light-hearted stuff, and I can’t think of a sane person that wouldn’t’ve just preferred an actual, full-length Hellboy story instead. The fact that this story intentionally reads like a reprint of a forgotten, decades-old horror comic doesn’t exactly justify the necessity of its place. I’m also definitely not a fan of Gianni’s art, which looks like a hybrid of a forgotten Vertigo comic and a forgotten comic strip, both at least twenty years old. It all feels really tiny, dated, and ill-defined.

Also, with the Hellboy feature, bear in mind that this issue really is just a reveal. In many ways, this, along with its shortened length thanks to the second feature, makes it feel a little lighter than a full comic-book sized story. It feels more like an imparting of new info more than a full 22-page narrative.

Conclusion: Excuse me, I’m busy collecting my jaw from the floor.

Grade: B+

-Alex Evans