Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Illustrated by Guy DavisAs Texas goes to Hell, a group of homeless outcasts–led by a young woman who appears to have second sight–evade volcanic eruptions, mass hysteria, and man–eating monsters. When the B.P.R.D. take notice of this, the results turn out to be deadly.
Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, and drawn by Eisner award winning artist Guy Davis, B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth–Gods is the first arc of the pivotal Gods and Monsters saga.
A B.P.R.D. arc unlike any other, jumping around in time, and introducing important new characters!
A new BPRD mini-series means a must buy book for sure. What does it mean for BPRD fans? Does it push the plot forward? Does it tell an engrossing story? Find out after the jump.
BPRD is a book that has a tendency to be forgotten a bit I feel because it is so consistently great. With each passing mini-series, we’ve come to realize that Team BPRD (writers Mike Mignola and John Arcudi as well as artist Guy Davis) is telling an overarching story that will pay off greatly later on as well as doing so right now.
With the first issue of this new mini, we get a little bit of a change in formula. While most minis tend to focus on at least one member of the BPRD, we don’t get an appearance by anyone from the Bureau until the very end of this issue. Instead, it focuses on new character and precog Fenix as she leads a band of believers away from danger and towards something we are completely unaware of so far.
This new character exists closer to the epicenter of all of the trouble in the world (which just so happens to be taking place in southern Texas), and this new direction pushes us closer to the action and gives us a look at someone who is without a doubt a new and exciting character that feels important already. The way that Mignola and Arcudi develop this new character is subtle and nuanced, and is remarkably engaging to read. For a character that was mostly spoken about (rather than doing speaking herself), I find myself invested already.
By the time the two main plot threads begin weaving back together thanks to a surprise appearance at the end, you know that this is the beginning of another great BPRD arc.
All of that praise comes without mentioning the incredible art from Guy Davis. If you’re not reading BPRD and haven’t been previously, you’re missing out on a guy who provides visceral and detailed visuals that match up with the very best in the industry. His storytelling from a visual level is never less than exceptional, and this issue is no different.
BPRD is one of my favorite books out there, and it’s because every single issue is no less than great. The debut issue of the new Gods mini-series develops new characters while also getting readers more engaged in the horrors the world is confronting, and does a wonderful job of starting this new mini-series off on the right foot.
Final Verdict: 8.8 – Buy
