The end is here (of the initial arc)! “Dark and Terrible” gets its title from some dialogue in this issue, and our Mignolaversity crew looks at just how dark and terrible things have gotten for the Mignolaverse.
Written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie
Illustrated by Sebastian FiumaraA town cut off from the world by rampaging monsters must decide if the strange fishman in their midst signals salvation, or the end of days.
Brian: The end of the first arc is here! “Abe Sapien” is getting pretty nuts, and this issue was almost non-stop crazy from jumpstreet. This issue also has a completely different feel than the first two did. What did you think of this issue, David?
David: It was good. I want to lead with that. It’s a solid with issue with top notch art from Sebastian Fiumara, but I think this arc was almost entirely set up to the point where it was – and I mean this in the least negative way possible – somewhat inconsequential. Ultimately, this arc set Abe up to know that things are really, really nuts and he needs to find answers, while the B.P.R.D. established that they need to give Abe some space to figure out what’s what. Was it a good arc? Yes. Could they have explained away that Abe is on his own pretty quickly without this arc? Probably. So it’s a in a weird spot. What were your thoughts?
Brian: I’ve been thinking a lot about solicitations lately, as well as the role of press when it comes to comics. Because I’ve read solicits, because I’ve read interviews with the participants in this series (hell, I’ve interviewed them myself!), I sort of knew what the series was all about before I cracked open a single page of the comic. And so, yes, this arc wound up feeling a little inconsequential, because so much of it was featured as the selling points for the book.
However, I think this issue, in particular, did two really important things: 1) it showed not just how fucked the world is, but how fucked people are, and how quickly they will turn on/do horrible things to their brethren, and 2) it disavowed the idea that the book would be a cat and mouse game between Abe and the Bureau – that ship has sailed. It sets this book up to be something totally different and separate from “B.P.R.D.,” which has both good and bad connotations.
David: Right, but to that second point, did we need a full arc to express that, and to the first point, did we not already know that for the most part? Granted, that is assuming people are also reading B.P.R.D., but as well crafted as this issue was, I find it hard not to think that the opening arc was more flat than standout.
To me, it established a new status quo for his world but didn’t really establish anything about Abe himself (besides his incredible strength to throw parts of buildings at Ghennu Hem), and, let’s say this was read by a person new to Abe Sapien: how much did this opening arc give them?
Brian: A new series needs to do its best to attract the mythical “new reader,” and so the opening arc of “Abe” had to be something that told the average reader that this book was accessible and didn’t rely on knowing a ton about Abe as a character, or even the Mignolaverse as a whole. The arc brought you up to speed on who Abe is, what his past was, and where his future is going.
I could see longtime fans, of whom we both consider ourselves, being a little cold on this, but I think to expect a new ongoing to not be a tad bit slower out of the gate than desired is somewhat of a fool’s errand.
David: Well, I just don’t think this was particularly new reader friendly, as Abe, it’s lead, was effectively mute throughout.
Either way, it was a thrilling issue in many ways, as Fiumara crushed the action set pieces, and I was actually saddened by the death of Agent Vaughn. So much for my theory that he’d be part of Team Abe. Ultimately though, this issue lives and dies on how much you enjoyed the action. It was very well done, and it set the book up for where it needs to go next, even if in the process it was a little quick on the transition. I’m excited to see what’s next from John Arcudi and Max Fiumara.
Continued belowBrian: See, that is where I disagree. You learn more about a character by how others react to them than you do by them just talking about themselves. If you read a book that was just about Lex Luthor in solitude, you’d think he was the greatest guy ever. But by seeing how the hobos, the priest, the townsfolk, the Bureau, and even the monsters, react to Abe, you know more about him than you would have if it was more heavy on the Abe dialogue.
But, to your point, goodness gracious did Sebastian Fiumara kill on this issue. Those action sequences were gorgeous, surprising, and exciting. And with Max coming on board, the Mignolaverse is becoming the playground of the sibling artists. Someone get the Kuberts on this shit!
David: Oh man, would the Kuberts not fit on this book.
But I see what you’re saying. I’m saying it worked for me, mostly, and I agree with your points. I just think as an opening arc it struggled a bit and didn’t really make me feel a buzz or anything. Maybe that’s because B.P.R.D. itself is so on fire right now. I’m not sure. But either way, it’s a solid book that didn’t really create an epic buzz in me. I’m sure that will come with time, but as an open, it was a bit flat overall. Not bad, not great, just mostly on the good side.
Brian: I see where you’re coming from but, as usual, I’m right and you’re wrong.
BOOYA!
So, back to Agent Vaughn for a second – R.I.P., dude. I really did think he’d be more important going forward.
And speaking of going forward, now that we have an arc under our belts, where do you see this book going in the next few months?
David: Yeah, I liked Vaughn. He was another good grunt perspective, and it’s a bummer he died.
From what I understand, this book is going to The Salton Sea. Hopefully that goes better for Abe than Val Kilmer, but either way, I think this business with an “egg worshipping cult” could be more about discovering who Abe is. Plus, given what’s happening at the Salton Sea, I have to imagine there is going to be some serious Ogdru Jahad action going on. So basically, more exploration of his past and more badda boom. What do you think is coming?
Brian: Beyond the detour to the Salton Sea, I think this book is going to be the funhouse mirror of the Mignolaverse, showing how monstrous the world has gotten, viewed through the eyes of a monster. I think, overall, the book is going to be less of a traditional ongoing, and more of a series of vignettes, showing various corners of the world and what they’re like right now. Abe is a good character for a book like that, even if it means that his arc is going to be slightly less exciting than perhaps we’d hoped for.
David: I don’t think it will be any less exciting or any less important, and I don’t necessarily think they’ll just be little vignettes. If you remember, Scott Allie told us that this book arguably could be considered the new flagship. I think big things will happen, and we’ll be given a view at them up close and personally when Abe is involved. I think he’ll be in the thick of things, and I do think a lot of it will be how you described it. It’s going to be very fascinating to see roll out, but I certainly don’t think – going forward – this book will be anything less than exciting.
Do you have anything else to add before grades?
Brian: Not really. I’m going to say this is a 7.0 comic – what do you think?
David: I’ll give it a 7 too. Solid issue with fantastic art. Sebastian Fiumara should be a star.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – Buy!
