It seems like issues of “B.P.R.D.” come out less frequently than they actually do, because it feels like it has been forever since we’ve gotten together to discuss the goings on at the Bureau. But, we have reason to rejoice today: James Harren is back!
Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Illustrated by James HarrenJames Harren returns!
Things seem to be going well for the BPRD. With their alliance with the military, they now have all the munitions they need, and, after New York, an easy mission to clear a small town. But the town has strange connections to Howards’s past as a prehistoric warrior, and more than its share of monsters.
David: It feels like ages Brian. I’m not sure why it feels like so long since an issue of B.P.R.D., but the book is back, and it welcomes back our guy James Harren as they begin a five part story following up on all of the threads from The Reign of the Black Flame. Told by Harren, Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Dave Stewart, I am verrrry curious as to your thoughts on this one. Whatcha got?
Brian: Well, the first thing I noticed when reading the issue is that this feels like the widest scope we’ve seen from the book in some time. Between the flashback, the check-in at HQ, and the various missions taking place, this seems to be the most sprawling “B.P.R.D.” story in a good long time.
As for what I thought of the issue? I marvel at the work Harren does whenever he picks up a pencil, and this issue is no exception. His work here runs the gamut from idyllic pastures to dystopian cities, from mythic swords to the most high tech weaponry money can buy. This is a visual feast.
David: It’s a visual feast, for sure. Harren’s an unbelievable artist, and there are moments both big and small – Enos making it rain from the ammo stock the Air Force gave them, Howards’ weathered face changing in quick succession – that make this a really beautiful, powerful issue.
But overall, I’m of two minds on this issue, and the concept of this arc as a whole. On one hand, for as sprawling as it is, they do a good job of making it all personal. The Howards’ stuff is haunting, the Iosif part is oddly beautiful (PLUS VARVARA), the Away Team part is fun, the Black Flame section is creepy as hell, and the Fenix/Liz stuff is nice. It all works. But I can’t help but feel like it’s too much, and that if the whole arc is like this – a five part arc of pure incremental movement – it will take away from some of the momentum the book has had lately.
I don’t want to judge an arc entirely off its first issue, but I can’t help but have trepidation after this issue in a weird way. It reminds me of the early seasons of The Walking Dead (TV show) where instead of focusing on small groups of characters, they told little bits with everyone, and it weakened the whole show and never developed characters. It took them taking time with individuals to get the show to where it should be, and this issue felt more like the former.
But like I said, it works. I just have concerns. What do you think of those concerns? Are they unwarranted, or do you share them a bit?
Brian: Your concerns make sense, but I do agree that it is a little early to count your chickens just yet. The truth is, we haven’t seen the whole gang since New York – last month’s gorgeous one-shot gave us a look at some of the characters, but through the lens of the denizens of a small town, so we didn’t get too much time with the characters who are the focus here. And, before that, we had Laurence Campbell’s arc, which focused on Kate, who isn’t present here.
This issue could simply be the “catching up” issue, before the story really takes hold, and brings some of these factions together. It isn’t hard to squint a little and see, for instance, Johann’s crew meeting up with Liz and co. These types of issues are something that, I feel, publishers are too reliant one, as they give that mythic “new reader” a chance to catch up, even though I can’t imagine a new Mignolaverse reader necessarily coming out of an issue like this, that is, essentially, dripping continuity. But hey, every comic is someone’s first comic, so I hope to be proved wrong by a massive spike in sales for “B.P.R.D.”
Continued belowMy favorite sequence of the issue, hands down, was Iosif and his family on the boat. This was such a pure and joyful sequence, and gave such insight into a character that has been a bit inscrutable thus far. I am a sucker for aquatic touches in art, and the blending of real life and fantasy story in Iosif’s view of the giant fish was really beautiful. And then, to see his reflection melt away and his “rebirth” as an even more horrible creature awaits him, it was just heartbreaking. And then, to see him essentially “yes, dear”-ing Varvara, it was just pitch perfect.
David: I have to say that the Iosif sequence was a favorite of mine as well, and underlined the diversity of story types this gave Harren the ability to tackle. We’re used to stories of a certain type from Harren in B.P.R.D. – he seems like the action arc guy, sometimes – but this one was filled with introspective moments throughout that he nailed. That whole Iosif thread was beautiful, and I really loved the overhead perspective they gave with the huge fish underneath him and his family. It was really great, and heartening to see Harren get the opportunity to deliver more small character moments than perhaps ever before in this issue.
The messed up thing about all of this is I really can see them using this as the issue right before things get really, really bad. This issue, when you look at it, could be called something like “Why We Fight”. Liz has her garden, Fenix has Bruiser and her new friend, Enos has his great relief of gunfire, Iosif has his memories that he fights for, etc. etc. It’s an establishing issue. But what comes next? I really don’t know, but I am very excited to find out.
What do YOU think comes next?
Brian: The only thing I know for sure is that it will involve the Black Flame, and that excites me. I doubt Harren will give us a battle as epic as the Liz/Black Flame showdown that was, essentially, a boss level in a comic, but I love how Harren has brought him to life. The Black Flame was knocked down, but to paraphrase Chumbawumba, they’re never going to keep him down – well, maybe not never, but it is going to take a lot to do so.
Aside from that? I hope we get a lot more Iosif and Varvara, as that is a thread that has been in play for 2+ years now, and still no one knows that he has her in his office. I feel like that plotline needs to spring to life sooner rather than later, and now seems like as good a time as any.
Anything else you want to discuss?
David: Not really. I think the one thing I’d note as a continuation of my early point was I wish this was a transition issue, not the opener to a five part arc. If it was that, I’d feel a lot better about it given that it’d feel like a check in rather than what’s going to lead to a very long arc for the book. But regardless, it’s a good issue in a great book, and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.
Anything else for you to add, or are you ready for the grading?
Brian: I can agree with your statement about a transitional issue. Like I said, the scattered nature didn’t bother me as much, but I completely see why that might bug you.
This is a solid 7.5 comic for me – beautiful art, solid story, with just a little cohesion and excitement lacking – but I’m sure that is coming. What about you?
David: It’s a 7.0. It’s a good, not great issue that featured top notch art. I hope that whatever happens in the the rest of the arc has a more focused approach, as that for five issues would wear very thin.
Final Verdict: 7.25 – A solid, if a bit cluttered, start to the new arc
