After an interlude by his brother Max, Sebastian Fiumara returns, and illustrates Abe’s travels through Arizona.
Written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie
Illustrated by Sebastian FiumaraAbe uncovers connections between the hell on earth he and the B.P.R.D. are experiencing, and blood-soaked Mayan legends of the origins of man and the end of the world.
Brian: We’re back, amigo, with another issue of “Abe Sapien,” this time with our returning champion Sebastian Fiumara back on pencils. So, hermano, what did you think of this issue, which finds Abe in Arizona?
David: ABE DOESN’T EAT CHEESE?!
Brian: He’s truly a monster.
David: That was my first major note when I was reading it. Blew me away. I wonder if that has something to do with his, you know, aquatic nature.
Anyways, this issue was a beautiful addition to the travelogue nature of this book, and while the parts with the “Five Worlds” feel like they’re ultimately going to have importance – doesn’t seem likely they’d just sporadically throw that stuff in there – and Elena feels like someone that may have a bigger role in this universe, it still felt a little…aimless. Well crafted aimlessness, but aimlessness no less. Are you with me on that?
Brian: I can see that, but we’ve established that I’m more enjoying the loose travelogue nature of the book than you are, so it bothers me less than it does you.
What did bother me, this issue, was the Spanglish dialogue, which I deftly and hilariously referenced in the start of this article. You’re lucky to be around such comedy, really you are. To me, and this is no offense meant towards Srs. Mignola and Allie, it sounded like how white people think Hispanics speak. It was very distracting to me, as it felt like a real false tone being struck. Am I alone in this critique?
David: No, I totally get that. To me, the biggest issue was the swinging in and out of Spanish – I suppose that’s the Spanglish you mean – in sentences randomly throughout conversations. To me, they either should fully commit to it or they should use English exclusively, and playing the middle just was…kind of rough at times. So yeah, I agree.
I have to ask, what did you think of the end of the book with Agent Vaughn and Gustav Strobl? I like the mystery and them teaming up, but why did Strobl punch the window? That perplexed me, and not in an explicably, donkey jawbone sore of way I feel.
Brian: Those characters are the wildcards that, without fail, give me more “big questions” about the series and the world the series inhabits more than any other aspect of the book. I like that there is this nefarious search party going on, and I like the pairing of Vaughn and Strobl, but I, too, have no idea why he punched the window. I am not sure if we just missed something, or if it was supposed to be mysterious.
The central question of this issue is all about Abe’s intentions – is he running away, or is he running towards something? He thinks the latter – what do you think?
David: Well, I think he’s running away and in the process running towards something. He wants to know if the Black Flame was right about him. It’s that simple. He wants to know if he’s the first of the next race of man, and I’m not sure what the path to getting there is. But I’m sure it’s the latter, and in this issue, I think they did a good job of really reminding us that Abe, looks not withstanding, can often be just a pretty normal guy.
One thing I loved about this issue: they started touching on Daimio and the existence of other groups like the were jaguar cult and spirit that turned Daimio. I thought that was super cool, and I love the idea that Elena’s heritage has a connection there (if only tangentially). Did you get the impression that finding Daimio is something Abe is trying to do? I had the weird feeling that’s part of his search, especially when you think one of the last things he did was go find Daimio in New World.
Continued belowBrian: You know, I obviously connected Daimio with Elena’s family, but I did not think that Abe could potentially be out looking for him. That’s an interesting take. I like that. Well played, Harper.
Let’s take a moment to discuss the art – Sebastian Fiumara comes roaring back here, and his work here really, truly, fits the book perfectly. He has that hint of reality (not photo-realism or anything of the sort – but just a way of capturing moments that seem totally authentic) that, paired with the world falling apart around him really makes for something special.
David: Oh yeah, man. Sebastian really, truly killed on this issue. I think this was the first time I felt like he really unleashed himself in an issue, and you can really see it – especially in the intro. When Elena is first introduced as she chases the wolf/coyote/her dad in animal form, that was a dynamic, powerful, completely gorgeous intro. It’s a sumptuous, inviting read, and Dave Stewart’s colors really amplify everything about what he brings to the table. I felt like his first arc wasn’t really up to typical Seb standards, then I saw his LoJo work and I knew it wasn’t. This issue? Wow, man. He really killed it.
So, in short, yes, Sebastian is a special artist who gives this book a lot of the weight and import it needs.
Brian: I’m glad you brought up that sequence – and you’re right, it is stunning – because that sequence got me thinking a lot about the book as a whole, and I have a bit of a nutty theory. Wanna hear it?
David: I LOVE nutty theories. Bring it.
Brian: I think that this book is Scott Allie’s love letter to the classic Universal Monsters.
Think about it – Abe, the aquatic one, is the Creature from the Black Lagoon analogue. We’ve seen vampires, we’ve now seen something resembling a werewolf. We’ve seen a man living, although his body is dead. I think this is Scott showing off his love for those classic films, and as a huge fan of those films, I dig it.
David: I could buy that, as we know he’s a huge horror fan. That’s an interesting perspective, for sure. I wonder what’s next then?
Anything else to add before we jump into grading, Brian? You know, besides the fact that everyone should come say hi to us at NYCC and to let us know if they have any questions for Allie or James Harren?
Brian: If a mummy doesn’t show up in 5 issues I owe you a Coke.
Nah, I’m ready to grade this. Perhaps because I read this as there was a tornado warning running through my neighborhood, but this hit me in the sweet spot today. A really, really solid comic, minus the issues with language we discussed earlier. This gets an 8 from me – how about you?
David: It gets a 7.0 from me. The main issue so far for me is there is just a lack of narrative tension so far, but, as you pointed out, that is sort of the intent. Regardless, it does dampen what otherwise was a rock solid affair, with exceptional art from Fiumara and Stewart. No less, a solid buy, just not a spectacular one.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – Buy
