“Reign of the Black Flame” is turning out to be an arc for the ages, and has completely gripped us at every turn. Does the new issue keep up the trend? In a word: yes.
Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Illustrated by James HarrenA defiant Iosif launches a full-scale assault against the Zinco tower, confident that his troops can make short work of its monster security. Meanwhile, Liz goes after the Black Flame. Unfortunately for her, the Flame knows it was Liz who killed him. And this time, he’s the one in control.
Brian: Goodness gracious, David – this was one absolutely incredible comic. I know we’re just jumping right into praise here, but this issue was such an incredible ride that I don’t know if I could play coy with how I felt about it. Do you share my unbridled enthusiasm?
David: Absolutely. This is undoubtedly one of the most exciting Mignolaverse releases ever, from a major set of moves in the plot from the team of Mike Mignola and John Arcudi to a pitch-perfect script of character moments and one-liners by Arcudi, to the utterly magnificent and scary powerful art of James Harren (with killer colors by the immortal Dave Stewart).
This book is untapped awesomeness, straight from their minds for us to experience. And those last few pages…geez. We’re going to get in spoiler territory here folks, but Brian, has this book ever had better pages than that? Ever? I said this to you, but this feels like a boss fight in the best possible way.
Brian: Better is a tough word to use in that instance, because there have been some absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking, fascinating, and fulfilling scenes in the past, and I wouldn’t necessarily say that those are better or worse than what we get at the end of this issue, they are just different. If we’re talking straight bombast, full tilt “holy fuck what is happening” action, then yeah, that sequence is maybe the strongest the book has ever been.
No matter how you slice it though, those last few pages are epic, and set the course for the next two issues to be…actually, I have no idea where the next two issues are going! And that, in and of itself, is such a pleasure.
David: The next two issues are just The Black Flame and Liz going to war in New York City.
Would you complain if that was the case?
Brian: Complain? No. But, I am so interested in Iosif’s situation, as well as to see what other human wrecking ball type shit Howards is going to do, that I would be a little disappointed if their story had to wait for 3 issues down the road.
That said, what a fight sequence that would be: 40+ pages of Harren insanity.
Scratch what I just said: no, I’d be cool with that.
David: When James Harren is involved, it’s shocking what you’d be okay with. And I don’t mean that in a creepy way.
Let’s talk about Iosif. He’s clearly acting a little on the bananas side, as he went one-man-wrecking-crew style as you said, but that was after he straight up lied to Johann about the nature of the Black Flame’s body. To me, he’s trying to protect a secret. What do you think is going on here?
Brian: I’ve been wondering about that since I put down the issue. Part of me thinks that he’s protecting a secret, but another part of me feels like he’s trying to protect Johann from the devastation of learning that the vessel “meant” for him was used to resurrect the Black Flame. Still another part of me thinks that maybe he is angry with Johann for trying to escape his situation – a situation that, practically, Iosif is the only person who can come close to understanding.
Short answer? I’ve got no clue. Any ideas?
David: I think all three motivations make a certain degree of sense. The middle one is the sketchiest to me, as a) Johann will likely find out at some point and b) does he really care about his feelings THAT much? That said, I’d believe any of them, but I’ve felt for a while Iosif has a secret. Whether you’re talking about the creepy zombie Leonid or the fact he has my precious Varvara captured, this is a guy who has secrets already.
Continued belowThat said, mama said knock him out, and that dude is out. Let’s talk about Harren again for a second. We’re always repping him for his work with monsters and action sequences and what not, but how killer was this guy with his character work in this issue? Two moments stood out for me in particular.
1. Looking back to the first appearance of those street toughs who approached Team Johann/Liz with empty AK’s and Hyenas, Harren depicted them as hard men. Then, in this issue, their posture and look has changed to the point where I wondered, “how young are these guys?” Now that they feel protected a bit, you can see a bit of relief and near gleefulness overcome them, especially the guy sitting on the roof with Fenix.
2. Tian’s reaction to the crickets. NAILED IT.
This guy is such a multi-faceted artist. In my book, he’s one of the most gifted talents in comics today.
Brian: I’m glad you mentioned the “toughs” – at first, they were a terrifying gang waiting to hurt our heroes. However, each subsequent issue has removed some of the mystery around them and revealed them to be quite inept. I think they’re probably teenagers or, at least, guys in their early 20s, and Harren has really done wonders with their development (or, regression, if you will) this series.
One more bit of praise for Harren: those last few pages. You perfectly described them as a “boss fight” in a videogame, and that is remarkably spot on. What that phrase doesn’t necessarily convey, however, is just how weird those pages are, compared to waht came before, both in this issue and in the issues that led up to this – and I’m including the entirety of the Mignolaverse here. We have literally never seen anything resembling this sequence before. And in a series full of as much diversity and weirdness as “B.P.R.D.,” that is saying a hell of a lot.
David: Yeah, it reminded me of a boss from SNES RPG’s like Earthbound or Chrono Trigger where you get transported to a different world for the final fight, and you have to negotiate the rather insane terrain to get to the boss. It was nightmarish, but strangely alluring? Murder worlds appeal to me?
It’s especially strange because, even though it looks like the real world from the outside and affects the real world, this is most definitely a different dimension Liz travels into.
Speaking of, one of our great hopes for the series was that Liz and her theoretical Vril connection was going to make her maybe the strongest weapon in the battle against all the forces of the Ogdru Hem and what not…yet she does jack shit to the Black Flame when the chips are on the table. Liz’s stock is dropping precipitously, right? SELL NOW!
Brian: Upon a quick review of the material, you know what else it reminds me of? Ghostbusters v. Gozer at the end of Ghostbusters. CROSS THE STREAMS, LIZ!
David: Totally does. CROSS THE STREAMS! I have to say, it would delegitimize the book in my mind if the Black Flame turns into the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
That said, Harren would crush that too.
Brian: I’d read that book.
Anything else to add before we grade this?
David: It’s interesting that we went this many emails in and never really talked about Howards being an uber badass, but, you know, what’s different there? Nothing! Because Howards is a badass!
That’s it, unless you have anything else.
Brian: No, I feel pretty good where we left things.
I know this sounds hyperbolic, but there isn’t much I could see adding to this issue. This is a 9.0 comic, and even that feels a little low.
David: Doesn’t sound hyperbolic at all! I’m going with a 9.5. This is about as good of a B.P.R.D. issue that you can find. Really, really fantastic work by the whole team, particularly Mr. James Harren.
Final Verdict: 9.25 – Buy early and often
