Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Illustrated by James HarrenA B.P.R.D. task force is assembled to solve a new series of disappearances in the deadly woods from New World. As the team works together to find the monster responsible, tensions arise over one another’s loyalties!
This week on Mignolaversity, fellow MC writer Brian Salvatore and I’s series of looks at Mike Mignola books, we have a review of this week’s first issue to B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Long Death. This issue brings the typical writing pair of Mignola and John Arcudi and combines them with rising star artist James Harren. What were our thoughts?
You can find out after the jump.
David: It’s been one day since our review for Lobster Johnson, but we’re back already for a review of this week’s B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Long Death #1. It’s the typical writing pair of John Arcudi and Mike Mignola, but with first time B.P.R.D. artist James Harren, who had previously worked on an Abe Sapien mini. Let’s mix it up a bit. Lay out with your thoughts on the art. What did you think of Mr. Harren’s work?
Brian: I thought he did a stellar job here. I love his approach to drawing the “normal” people, which, at times, makes them look even more grotesque and unusual than the guy walking around in the containment suit. Yet another relative newcomer to the Mignolaverse doing some great work. I know you’re a big fan of Harren’s work – did it live up to your expectations?
David: Oh yeah. Especially at the end of this issue, which was a complete bloodbath and torrent of insanity. I’m not saying Harren isn’t good at making conversational moments work – I particularly enjoyed his Panya and her little creatures – but man, the guy is a killer at chaos and nightmarish imagery. I loved it. He’s someone whose work I love always, and when given the opportunity so far in his career he just kills it. So yeah, big fan of his art on this issue. Story wise, how’d it float your boat?
Brian: This issue, to me, does more to reinforce the idea that B.P.R.D. is more of an ongoing series than a series of miniseries than Russia did to the contrary – Russia felt very much like a good spot for someone who had never read B.P.R.D. before to jump on; this requires a little more knowledge of the cast and the history between the characters. That said, since I am already familiar with everyone involved, I thought this was a pretty great story. I’m a Johann fanboy, so the stuff focused on him was especially great. I loved the bit about him being able to sleep and dream in his new suit.
David: Honestly, I don’t have any beef with any lack of new reader friendly-ness. It’s a book that has been going for years and years. It’d be like downgrading George R. R. Martin for A Song of Ice and Fire being hard to understand when you only read the new book. It’s the nature of serialized fiction. I thought this issue completely rocked – everything about it. I loved the pairing of something like Johann being able to sleep and dream, regaining a little humanity, with him offending that B.P.R.D. agent on the plane because of accidental insensitivity, or at least perceived insensitivity. Johann is a really interesting character because he’s the essence of a person, but is also much less and somehow much more. He’s in a weird state.
I love revisiting everything that happened up in the Pacific Northwest before, and I loved the flashback of Johann with Daimio in the cafeteria blended with the nightmare. It feels like, as it has for a been, everything is coming to roost, and it’s a blast to read. The ending just completely blew me away. They don’t do straight action often in this book, but it is always so good when they do.
Brian: I agree that new readers shouldn’t be the ultimate goal of a comic (especially a long-running series like B.P.R.D.), but people see #1 and try and jump on. That is my one problem with the way B.P.R.D. is structured, because when i first picked it up in single issues, the learning curve was a bit steep.
Continued belowThe thing I will agree with you wholeheartedly on, is that when they decide to do full on action, it kicks serious ass. I mean, come on, how could you NOT love the second half of this book?
David: Yeah! That showdown with the beast, especially with the very ending, was incredible. Perfect marriage of art and writing in an action sequence. I love that there was added weight to it as well, with the brief development of that B.P.R.D. member’s (whose name escapes me) background and personality earlier on in the issue. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Was there anything besides the new reader friendly business that you had beef with in the issue?
Brian: To call it beef is a bit strong, but I know what you mean.
The only other thing I took issue with was just that I wanted more – this issue was jam packed with goodness, and each little thread could have been picked up and ran with for an entire issue and I would’ve been fine with it.
David: That’s the curse of B.P.R.D. I swear, every issue is such a delight it leaves me wanting more. Although, I’m not sure if it’s fair of me to call it anything that has dismembered bodies a delight. Question for you: where do you think this mini leads? It’s a shorter than usual one. What’s the end game?
Brian: That is the question, isn’t it? Let’s examine the title for a second – The Long Death. Is this a reference to Johann, who lost his physical life long ago, but still holds onto some sort of life, finally giving up the ghost? That is where my brain went, and so maybe the end game of this book is the endgame of Agent Kraus?
David: That’s a possibility, for sure. I think it has more to do with the life after death for Johann, than this potentially being the end for him. With the business with Abe still ongoing, I can’t see them taking out Johann as well. I’m most curious as to whether or not we’re going to see Daimio. I think it would be a bit of a let-down for me at least if he doesn’t show up given Johann’s dream and the connection to the location. Any thoughts on that before we throw down our scores?
Brian: Not really – this issue was exciting, well drawn and well written. This is a pretty great start to this series, and I can’t wait until next month. This gets a solid 9 from me.
David: Hell yeah! Long Death gets a 9! I just want more Abe. I want my little guy to get out of his sad, sad stasis tube.
Brian: I think we all do. Maybe next issue – we can only hope!
