Comic Review: B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Exorcism #2

B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Exorcism #2 Writer: Mike Mignola, Cameron Stewart
Artist: Cameron Stewart
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Cover Artist: Viktor Kalvachev
Genre: Action/Adventure, Horror
Publication Date: July 25, 2012
Format: FC, 32 pages

Dark Horse Comics

Field agent Ashley Strode attempts to purge a demon from a 100-year-old exorcist, utilizing a deadly rite that sends both of them into a spiritual hell.
*Owl demons!
*Featuring the origin of Ota Benga from B.P.R.D.: 1947.

Preview

So, Exorcism #1 had B.R.P.D. agent Ashley Strode venturing into a dreamland alongside a former consultant for the Bureau, Ota Benga, to face-off against an imprisoned demon. It just so happens that the prison is Benga's mind. Ashley has agreed to release this demon from Benga's mind in exchange for the exorcism of a lesser demon possessing a young boy in rural Ohio. Free the demon, save the boy--and hopefully stem the tide of hellish occurrences on Earth. You now, that ol' chestnut.

Ashley's paranoia and off-kilter handling of the situation helped make the story engaging, especially since the story boiled down to an abbreviated dungeon crawl. But the demon she and Benga face, Marquis Andras, didn't really resonate as a villain beyond the idea that "demon=bad." A demon that looks like a giant barn owl on steroids was pretty cool, I admit, but unless the demon has a prior history in this universe I'm not sure readers are really going to marvel at it beyond its appearance.

As for the rest of Ashley's journey it plays out as character growth. She's not the same agent as when she began, and her naivety towards the demons becomes hardened considerably by the time she has to return to the farm in Ohio and contend with the possessed boy.

Reading the two books back to back helped me a lot in enjoying the story, and Ashley Strode is a character I would definitely enjoy seeing more of down the road, as she is basically my eyes and ears in the Hellboy universe. Exorcism isn't a red-letter outing, I'm going to wager, but fans of the series should find a fun, frightening diversion here. And the scene with the goat is worth checking out all by itself.

3 Sheep

Guest Reviewer: Gef Fox

rabid reader, wrabid writer
Wag The Fox: a den for dark fiction

Comic Review: B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Exorcism #1

B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Exorcism #1
Written by Mike Mignola and Cameron Stewart
Illustrated by Cameron Stewart Cover Artist:Viktor Kalvachev

Dark Horse Comics (June 2012) Genre: Action/Adventure, Horror
Publication Date:June 27, 2012Format:FC, 32

UPC:7 61568 18928 5 00111

Preview: here

Field agent Ashley Strode, last seen in B.P.R.D.: War on Frogs, is deployed to a Mexican village after a demon commands her to release one of its brethren, or lose the soul of a small child.

* The return of Eisner Award winner Cameron Stewart toB.P.R.D.!

* Featuring Ota Benga from B.P.R.D.: 1947.

My only real familiarity with Hellboy comes from the two movies, which I loved for the record, so I might not be as thrilled with the finer workings of the universe that Mignola and others have crafted here, unlike ardent fans of the series. But thanks to this two issue mini-series, I at least have my foot in the door.

Rather than feature the established characters--at least the characters I'm familiar with--Exorcism stars a newcomer to the B.P.R.D. named Ashley Strode. On assignment in Indiana, she's on hand for an exorcism of a young boy on a farm, but when the demon emerges it has a message specifically for her. From there, Ashley is tasked with seeking out a former consultant to B.P.R.D. from decades ago, a man with the knowledge of how to help the boy and possibly avert further hellish uprisings.

Like I said, this is my first foray into the B.P.R.D. series, so I'm not sure if Ashley Strode is a new character or not. However, she was an effective protagonist for me, since she's presented as the greenhorn on the team who feels out of her depth with regards to the demonic activity she encounters. Mignola and Stewart did a really good job in offering a gateway for a newcomer like me into the series. There are allusions to the Hell on Earth storyline, but not the point where I felt lost, and the intrigue surrounding how Ashley can essentially answer the ransom demands of a demon without compromising her mission had me hooked.


The story starts off with a flashback though, and one I think was a bit misplaced, but that's just my bias towards prologues. Aside from that, my only real gripe with the book is that it doesn't feature any of the series' main characters beyond a cameo by Dr. Corrigan. I'm enjoying this Ashley Strode character, but I had the preconception that I'd be seeing Liz Sherman or Abe Sapien featured. Oh well.

I'm looking forward to the second issue to see how this storyline plays out.

4 Sheep

Guest reviewer: Gef Fox

rabid reader, rabid writer

Wag The Fox: a den for dark fiction