And we’re back! Welcome to Mignolaversity 2014!
Written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie
Illustrated by Max FiumaraAbe seeks shelter from the apocalypse in a small Arizona town that’s been invaded by a familiar group of punks—but the more immediate problem is a field full of strange monsters sprouting out of the dead like wheat!
Brian: Happy New Year, all! We are back with a look at the first Mignolaverse book of 2014, “Abe Sapien” #9. Max Fiumara is back on pencils, we are back in the present day, and we are in the best place the book has been since its first arc, in my opinion.
What did you think of this issue?
David: The words “that is more like it!” came to mind when reading this issue. It’s not spectacular by any means, but it’s a massive step in the right direction as this arc debut feels like events are transpiring of actual importance, while we are drawn in by some killer art and an inviting script and story. In short, Brian, this feels like it should.
What did you think?
Brian: I thought it was a really nice issue, though one still plagued by some odd storytelling choices in the back end.
Let’s start at the beginning, with that haunting silent opener – Fiumara killed it on that sequence, and it brought us back into Abe’s current state in an artful and subtle way. Overall, I think he did a pretty special job with this issue; his arcs are a little more refined looking than Sebastian’s, but their styles work so well together that it isn’t a jarring transition from one to the other.
David: Agreed on that point, although I think Sebastian is a bit more dynamic in his style. I can’t really explain why, but Sebastian’s stuff floors me more often than Max, while I think Max’s storytelling is perhaps a bit better. That shows in this issue, as he’s given a lot of leeway to do his thing, and he does it quite well throughout. I especially enjoyed his character acting in this issue, and felt like he made some of the more subtle moments – like everything that was happening with the Chief of Police – work even better.
I’m curious, what were the odd storytelling choices you mentioned? The weird burnout monster kids?
Brian: The last few pages were telling parallel stories (one of the man in the trailer, and one of Abe and co. doing the controlled burn), but were laid out very strangely. When read quickly, it appears that Abe + co are commenting on the events at the trailer, but they aren’t. It wasn’t laid out as if it were parallel events, it was just laid out like it was one continuous story. Once you catch what’s going on, it is clear, but there’s one page in particular (the penultimate one) that was, at least on first read, confusing.
David: I actually didn’t have any problem with that, it read pretty straight forward. Just read like two different scenes playing out concurrently to show what’s going on right at that moment in those two story lines. I’ve had issues in the past in sequencing of events on this book, but this wasn’t one of those times for me at least.
Brian: It was a, in my mind, flawed way to introduce a new character to the story, especially after just a few pages earlier, introducing another new character (the store owner), both without much explanation. It just seemed to me to be a poorly laid out sequence – in fact, I’d say that as soon as Abe gets the goo from the pods on him, the issue goes off the rails a little. All of the great storytelling from the first 2/3 really disappears at the end.
I’m all for storytelling that requires patience and/or personal interpretation, but this is neither.
David: Well, I don’t think they are really new characters, so much as redshirts to show off that the squatters at the golf course are not what they seem. J.J., the chief of police, actually had a conversation earlier in the issue with the squatters about how if they need supplies, they should go to Vita Mart (the shop owners place) so that was actually mentioned earlier in the issue. I can only assume that the guy at the end was the caretaker of the golf course, and I think it was mostly designed to show a) they’re up to no good and b) that they need people for sacrifice. So, believe me, I understand if you found it hard to follow – as I’ve previously had issues with this book in that regard – but this was not one of those cases for me. I felt like the whole issue was pretty straightforward.
Continued belowDo you feel like this issue did a better job of getting Abe in the thick of things again? Because I really feel like it did. It felt like Abe had a purpose again, and I really missed that.
Brian: I agree, this felt the most “Abe” of the issues thus far. He seemed like he had a purpose, and he also seemed, forgive the term, more human. One of my favorite bits of Abe’s characterization is how his personality is perfectly “normal” while on the outside, he looks like a fishman. This issue, people initially react oddly to him, but he wins them over and becomes a team player.
Aside from my issues with the last few pages, this was a clear improvement on the past arc (not counting the one and done Michael Avon Oeming flashback issue from last month), and left me feeling optimistic about this book.
David: Yeah, it felt the best for me too. The big change for me is it has Abe interacting with people on a people-level rather than purely as plot device. I liked Abe’s relationship with Suzy Alexander – I’d love to see her stick around, even though I know she won’t – and I liked the scene where she, the Bentley Boys and Abe had dinner. It felt quaint! I dug it.
All in all though, this is more what I was hoping for from the travelogue style, and I really hope it keeps it up. Got anything to add before we grade this?
Brian: Not particularly – I know I harped on that one sequence, but I really did enjoy this issue.
This gets a 7.0 from me – what about you?
David: It gets an 8.0 from me. A few more issues like that and this book will be cooking.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – Buy
