B.P.R.D. (BPRD) Vol. 1 Hollow Earth & Other Stories
Mike MignolaThis collection of 2003’s Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense one-shots kicks off with a goddess imprisoned in a story by Bastard Samurai creative team Miles Gunter and Michael Avon Oeming joined by series creator Mike Mignola. Guy Davis, artist of the new B.P.R.D. series, teams with Brian Augustyn (Gotham by Gaslight). The Flash creative team Geoff Johns & Scott Kolins team for the first Dark Horse work, and Joe Harris, screenwriter of Darkness Falls, and his X-Men collaborator Adam Pollina reunite for Abe Sapien’s weirdest adventure yet. With a boost from the major talents involved in this book, and from the Hellboy film in which they were so prominently figured, Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman, and B.P.R.D. has become comics’ greatest new team book. Also includes a brand new story by Mignola and Cameron Stewart.
| status | Copy #1 (290): in |
|---|---|
| genre | Superhero » Alternative Heroes |
| publisher | Dark Horse |
| publish date | Aug 4, 2004 |
| popularity | checked out 13 time(s) |
A world of yes! I’ve always maintained that Hellboy, though awesome in every way, is not necessarily the only interesting thing going on in his universe. This book is the proof in that pudding!
Mignola has created a vast and rich comic book universe that almost feels like ours, and yet different. This is my personal preference for fantasy storytelling of any kind, that’s why I like “Harry Potter”, “Fables” and “American Gods.” Instead of investing a huge amount of time in ‘World Building,’ a practice which often simply descends into ‘world copying.’ The greatest modern example of this would be George R.R. Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire” series; anyone who thinks the Dothraki are an amazing creation has never bothered to google Mongolians. Granted there are some minor changes, and dragons, but I’m sure the main intent of my point is understood.
The B.P.R.D. series picks up where the Hellboy series Conqueror Worm left off, and honestly it’s a wonderful moment to begin. The bureau is falling apart without H.B. as a clear figurehead and conscience, Liz has been gone for years, and it’s up to Abe, Kate and Roger to hold it together. Into this volatile mix comes Johan Krauss, who has one of the most badass powers in all of comicbookdom, I won’t spoil it, but when this guy comes unhinged, I’m pretty sure even The Batman would wet his trousers.
The art isn’t drawn by Mignola, but that’s hardly a bad thing, the artists for Hollow Earth, totally get the style of Mignola’s world and have found a way to make it their own. The color palette remains intact, as do a hundred tiny details like peoples fingers and the shape of Abe’s gills.
The only thing keeping this from getting a perfect 5 Star review from me is the inclusion of a backup feature about Abe and a new agent exploring a ghostly occurrence in the Mid-Atlantic. I’m not sure who did the art on this, but it is, frankly, awful. There is a warthog demon thing, that if Mignola had drawn it half in the darkness would have been something curious and vaguely sad. Instead we have a roaring, spittle flecked, technicolor monstrosity, that just feels, well campy. Something like that is wonderful for a Buffy Monster of the Week episode, (Or an episode of Mighty Ducks) but honestly I felt nothing for this beast.
That is one of the genius things about Mignola’s monsters, they are often genuinely sorrowful creatures. The last of their kind who are finally coming up against the wall of the modern world, which inexplicably is being championed by Hellboy’s massive stone hand and Abe’s freaky gills. More than once these things have moved me to tears as I see them weep for their past glories, not so with the Pumbah-demon.
All in all, I wholly recommend this book, not only for fans of Hellboy, but also for those curious about good modern fantasy, who aren’t yet ready to sigh on with a 7 foot tall, bright red demon.
This is a sweet graphic novel, that begins where the Hellboy series “Conqueror Worm” ends. This first B.P.R.D. (Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defence) novel is probably my least favorite, in terms of story… but a very effective book for building the characters.
This book (Vol. 1) consists of a bunch of short stories, following Hellboy’s colleagues at the B.P.R.D., a company that looks into abnormal reports such as ghost sightings etc…
Its a fun start to the world of the unexplained and incorporates ideas of mythology and history into the stories.
This is a good one, but Vol’s. 2 and 3 have much better stories in my opinion.
Recommended if you are into Hellboy, or are looking for a stimulating and dynamic world to read about. There are tonnes of strange happenings in the world and the B.P.R.D. has their work cut out for them…