In case you’ve been in a coma for the past month, you must be aware that today is the release of “Abe Sapien” #1. “Dark and Terrible” is the first arc of this new ongoing, and your faithful Mignolaversity bros are here to give you the skinny on just how great it is!
Written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie
Illustrated by Sebastian Fiumara
On the run from the B.P.R.D., a mutated Abe Sapien traverses a devastated America, with monster corpses scattered around and cities in ruin.
David: Is it just me or does it feel like it has been forever since we read this book Brian? Today brings the first issue of the new Abe Sapien ongoing series from Mike Mignola, Scott Allie and Sebastian Fiumara, and we haven’t really had a chance to talk about it yet. What are your thoughts on this new book?
Brian: It is interesting, because I think very few people were saying “you know what we need? Another ongoing in the B.P.R.D. universe,” yet now that it is here, and it seems totally logical. “Hellboy in Hell” is the mythological book, “B.P.R.D.” is the flagship, big picture book, and “Abe Sapien” is the ground level, travelogue book. I thought it was a great place for new readers to jump on, and a treat for long-time fans. In other words, it is exactly what a #1 should be.
David: Absolutely, although I think given how sprawling the cast of B.P.R.D. has become and how insular Hellboy has gotten, it makes sense at this point. This book really provides a different look at the world that Mike, Scott and John have developed, as we get a look at what’s going on at more of a micro level, and because Abe has been out of sorts for so long and has to relearn the world, it’s a great way for new readers to learn it at the same time.
I just have to give props to them for the whole scene on the train. I loved the sense of dread they created in it, showing how terrible and unsafe the world really has gotten. They do a marvelous job of even showing that other threats – like vampires – are starting to rear their ugly heads. If B.P.R.D. had not effectively conveyed how messed up the world is yet, this book absolutely does. Plus, we now have insight into how train hobo culture has been impacted in this new world.
Brian: I assume that train hobo culture takes a lot to be shaken – if those bindles could talk, am I right?
So, let’s talk about Sebastian Fiumara, doing his first Mignolaverse work here. His work, to me, has the really unique blend of realism and fantasy that is pretty remarkable. One part Richard Corben, one part Guy Davis. To me, his brother Max (the artist on the second arc) is the surrealist of the two, and Sebastian is the more pure storyteller. How would you describe his work?
David: I’d agree with what you said. Sebastian has a really incredible gift of grounding the fantastical. We saw it in his work on that Marvel Loki mini he did, and he adds a lot of drama and depth to some of the more curious and strange things from around the world. Given the scope and direction the book has, I struggle to imagine someone who could be a better fit, although I wouldn’t say I see much of Davis’ work influencing his.
It always helps that someone like Dave Stewart is coloring the work of the artists on these books, but man, they seem to work really well together. Having seen script to final, you can really see the artistic genius those two gentlemen bring to the page.
I want to tackle a couple subjects really quick though: this book brings in talk of vampires AND Agent Vaughn from Pickens County Horror. What’s your take on that? Is that an indicator for what is coming on this book?
Continued belowBrian: I can’t see any B.P.R.D. stuff without seeing hints of Davis flowing through it – admittedly that might just be me.
Well, the obvious answer to your question is that “Pickens” was written by the same team, Mike Mignola and Scott Allie, and so you’re going to see some of their other work bleed into these pages, more than something written by John Arcudi. But I think something you said earlier is true also – when the world is this messed up, creatures like vampires would appear to have a better chance at survival than your average human being, so seeing them pop up makes sense.
As for Vaughn, we saw him out in the field in “Pickens,” and here, again, we’re seeing an agent not working out of HQ. I think the character becomes something of a go-to field agent; why introduce a new field agent when you have one waiting to be used? As for whether it is an indicator of things to come, I see this as being the place where a lot of the Mignola/Allie ideas will come to rest over the next few years, so yeah, I could see both of those aspects being a part of the book for the foreseeable future, albeit in the background.
What do you think?
David: I think it’s more important than that. Vaughn wasn’t used in Return of the Master, Wasteland (spoilers: we’ve read that already) or Abyss of Time (written by Allie/Mignola), so clearly he was specifically used in this. I think it’s for a reason, and I think the vampire stuff will be more important in this book and Vaughn was used so he can develop, potentially, into a supporting cast member.
Everything happens for a reason in these books, I think, and in this case I have to imagine these comments and appearances are more important than we realize. I mean, I doubt it’s going to be just Abe rolling around doing his thing. I imagine a cast developing around him.
But either way, it’s a really strong start that is new reader friendly while tantalizing long-term readers with ideas of Pickens County tie-ins (amongst others). What’s not to like there, Brian?
Brian: Way to rub in our press advantages, David!
I’m, personally, excited to see where this series is headed, because for all the discussions of destiny in “Hellboy in Hell,” Abe is a character with just as damning of a destiny as Hellboy’s. So, I am interested to see how Abe deals with his so-called fate, and how the world’s continuing devolution will affect Abe’s sense of purpose.
David: Yeah, it will definitely be an interesting journey, and I want to emphasize it will be a journey. This is an ongoing series that will see people like Sebastian’s brother Max and John Arcudi also work on the book, and it sounds like they have big plans for it. I’m really excited to see where it goes, as it has a lot of potential to be an excellent series on par with Hellboy and B.P.R.D. themselves.
Anything else you want to add before grades?
Brian: Not particularly. I think that, even if this review is briefer than many of our usual reviews, we have talked with all the principles, shown a ton of Abe art, and spent a lot of time hyping this book, so I hope our enthusiasm for this title comes through.
I give it a solid 8. How about you?
David: Bam. Grade of the day. It’s gotta be an 8. It’s a rock solid start that beautifully sets up this arc and beyond. Having read issue #2 already as well, we can assure you readers – this is just the tip of the iceberg.
I did it again Brian!
Brian: Did what?
David: Rubbed in our press advantages!
Brian: When the people revolt, Harper, I will be the Mignolaversity writer they spare.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – Buy!
