Review: B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth – The Long Death #1

No one seems to give a crap about my B.P.R.D. reviews, butthat’s okay. Sometimes there’s a series that gets you excited about it andyou’re looking for a way to talk about it. Well, I seem to be the only Bastard thatreads B.P.R.D. so it’s a lonely experience when I want to chat with someoneabout it, that means that you get to read all about it!

It seems like the last issue of B.P.R.D. was just here, butwe’re off on another adventure already. Kraus is fresh off a mission where hereceived a new containment suit from the Russians that may or may not be evil.Yet we open with him in the cafeteria reading a book in his old suit. CaptainDaimo enters and begins talking to our floating Spector. After theirconversation wraps, Johann turns into a dangerous creature that escapes hiscontainment suit. Thankfully this is all just a dream, a dream that Johann isexcited about since he hasn’t slept in forever.

The Agency decides to send Kraus out to the wilderness whenmore reports of a creature appear. They’re pretty sure it’s the same creaturethat put Abe into a comma in the first place. Johann begins chatting up withone of the female officers about her family and young child. He inadvertentlyinsults her religion and the conversation comes to an end. Once they land,Johann takes off on his own leaving our female officer in charge of the rest ofthe men.

I really enjoyed this issue more than the last B.P.R.D.series combined! Sure the last one was enjoyable, but it lacked the feeling ofB.P.R.D.  It just never hit that sweetspot that this issue definitely did. Klaus’ is becoming a very interestingcharacter and has moved out of the supporting role that he’s always been a partof. He’s basically the only field agent and it’s interesting to see how hehandles things. There is one character introduced in this book that I won’tspoil. I will say that it was very obvious what they were doing with them rightfrom the get go; which wasn’t bad at all. But it felt like they were kind offucking with you at the same time.

The artist has changed on this series and as much as I likedTyler Crook the new artist has a very cool style that seems to match the toneof the series better. The monster they’re chasing in this issue has one of thecoolest designs I’ve seen in the Hellboy-verse. Once he appeared I literallystopped caring about anyone else. I just wanted more information and morevisuals of this red, lanky monster that can punch its way through walls. Thevisuals sell this monster and without it, the impact wouldn’t have been asgreat.

I don’t know if anyone needs a review for B.P.R.D., but I sure enjoy talking aboutthe book. I try to keep the spoilers lite so that the book is still enjoyable,but it’s becoming increasingly difficult with this series as “Hell on Earth”continues and we approach “Hellboy in Hell.” I can’t say that this book is thebest to start on for new readers since I’ve been reading it for a year now, butI can say that it recaps the last series very well and hints about everythingelse happening in the world. If you still haven’t checked out anything from theHellboy-verse I encourage you to give this book a shot. It’s some of the bestserial storytelling in comics today.

Score: 4/5

Writers: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi

Art: James Harren

Color: Dave Stewart (One of if not the best colorist in thebusiness!)

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Price: $3.50

Release Date: 2/15/2012