This week on our all Mignola, all the time segment Mignolaversity, my fellow Mignola-phile Brian Salvatore and I tackle talking about this week’s B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Russia #5 from Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Tyler Crook.
This issue wraps up this mini-series, as well as folding a ton of plot threads together, just waiting to dash off into entirely different (and exciting) directions from there. It’s been a great mini so far, but does it wrap up the whole thing in style?
Find out after the jump.
Brian: Just mere weeks before the next B.P.R.D. chapter starts, we find ourselves at the end of Hell on Earth: Russia. David, we’ve both been crushing hard on this mini – did the ending do justice to the four issues that came before?
David: AHHHH! Hell yeah! Hell yeah about everything in this comic! It wasn’t a question as to whether or not I loved it, but what I loved the most about it. Everything about it was – excuse my French – fucking fantastic.
It did justice to everything before it, not just the four issues before it.
What about you? When I read this, I was curious if it had similar payoffs for you because you aren’t as seasoned of a BPRD reader as I am.
Brian: To be blunt: the payoffs weren’t as great for me.
But see, this is part of the process of switching from a casual reader to a guy who writes about everything to come out under the Mignola banner.
I’m expecting an end to this story, and instead we got something totally different.
That isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy the issue; I did, but it felt incomplete to me. No more incomplete than the end of an arc in an ongoing should feel, though – and since that is essentially what B.P.R.D. is, a collection of minis that make up an ongoing, that really isn’t a problem.
David: Yeah, I guess if you’re looking at the issue as a payoff for this arc in specific, it wasn’t much. All of that was kind of wrapped about…what…six pages in?
Brian: Yeah.
David: Yeah, so I could see that being an issue of sorts.
However, my question for you is this: did you read BPRD 1946 or 1947? Or the early stuff in the series, up to about The Black Flame?
Brian: I did, yes.
David: Okay good. Seriously, if this issue was just the ending with Iosif talking to Varvara in a crazy glass case of emotion, I would give this 85 points out of 10. I love that creepy little girl.
Brian: I was going to say, Iosif was the hands down star of this issue.
Every few pages, the character grew more and more, and by the end I was willing to sign on for an Iosif ongoing.
David: Yeah, I loved the Inglourious Basterds style domination Iosif laid down upon that group of rebel doctors.
Brian: I also loved his chat with Kate.
David: Yeah, that was great. Handing over the intel and the device to get through the encryption. He’s a fascinating character, and his relationship with Johann I think will be a major thing going forward.
Brian: Everything about that conversation showed just how in control and, for lack of better word, smooth a fucked-up looking guy in a containment suit can be.
David: No doubt.
He was pretty amazing. And I really dug the reappearance of the Zinco Corporation. This issue, with the stuff with Devon and the Phoenix girl and Abe reawakening but getting all frogged up…this was just the beginning of a ton of plot threads coming home to roost.
I think that’s what I loved so much about this issue. It was a million plot threads weaving together by the very end. AND VARVARA!
Brian: So, as the book was a veritable Mos Eisley, bringing together much of the scum and villainy we’ve come to love in the Mignolaverse, what upcoming plot threads interest you the most?
David: Well, I don’t know if you caught this, but I’m sort of all about Varvara. And she hasn’t really been a part of modern BPRD business. I’m excited to see how she and Iosif continue to factor into this modern world.
Continued belowWhat about you? And can you elaborate on aspects you didn’t like? Or was it just the sort of nature of the series that you threw you off in this issue?
Brian: It wasn’t that I didn’t like it – the last issue ended on such an exciting note, that this issue acted more as an epilogue than a final chapter in the story.
It took some serious time thinking back on old BPRD stories I borrowed from my local library to piece together certain names and storylines. So, it wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy it, I simply was expecting something different.
David: Yeah, I understand that.
Brian: But to answer as to what I’m exciting about, I agree on the Iosif front, and I’m a big Johann guy, so I love that he is front and center for The Long Death, coming in a few weeks.
David: For sure. And I love how his bond with Iosif tightens simply because Iosif provided him with a suit that has points of articulation.
Brian: To be fair, imagine how much you’d miss knuckles!
David: Yeah, seriously. That would be awful. No wonder why Johann hates monitor duty.
There are so many threads going. I can’t imagine Daimio won’t come back in The Long Death. He has to, right?
Brian: I would imagine so; but then again, these books are so unpredictable in terms of what threads carry over right away, whereas others lay dormant for years, I guess no bet is that safe.
David: He’ll be back. I have faith!
We gotta throw it out there again by the way – great work from Tyler Crook.
Always is, really. But it was beautiful art as per usual, and a few arcs in finds me missing Guy Davis less and less. As much as I love him.
Brian: Oh yeah – I’ve been noticing how expressive his Iosif and Johann are, and that alone is a testament to his skill. I love Davis, but I think Crook is handling things just fine. I’m a little sad he’s on neither of the upcoming B.P.R.D. minis.
David: I’m stoked James Harren is on The Long Death. That guy is a straight up talent. He’s going to be great. It is a little weird mixing up the art more often though.
Brian: Well, this year there is just so much B.P.R.D. coming out, that there needed to be some help for Crook.
David: Definitely.
Well, my friend, what will you give the conclusion to BPRD Hell on Earth: Russia? Out of ten, as per usual.
Brian: Even though I didn’t get what I was expecting, there was still a lot of fine stuff in play here. Crook’s art, in particular, has stuck with me since I first read this a week or so ago (the aforementioned Inglorious Basterds scene is quite chilling), and the adventures of Iosif had me smiling throughout. I’ll give this a 7.0
David: Oh man, this is a super favorite of mine. 9.0 all the way. Great finale with a lot of great threads. BAM!
Brian: So, an average of 8.0 for the finale to the Russian chapter. Lest you think we’re abandoning you, we’re back every week in February, bringing you more witty commentary in Mignolaversity! See you in 7 for a look at the B.P.R.D. story in Dark Horse Presents #8!
David: Awww yeah!
