Sheep Comic Review: B.P.R.D. HELL ON EARTH: THE LONG DEATH #2

Writer: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi

Artist: James Harren

Colorist: Dave Stewart

Cover Artist: Duncan Fegredo

Genre: Action/Adventure, Horror

Publication Date: March 21, 2012

Format: FC, 32 pages

Dark Horse Comics

Agent Johann Kraus, the ectoplasmic man, leads a special task force through monster-filled northwestern woods packed with mangled campers in order to hunt and kill the man he blames for the host body he lost in Killing Ground.

B.P.R.D. or Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, is an off shoot comic that originated in the universe of Hellboy. Where Hellboy takes on more lore and magic, B.P.R.D. takes on a turn of the century Sci-Fi feel. I often think of the works of Jules Verne with some of the more science based Lovecraft stuff. It follows a ragtag group, each as unique as the last. This is really one of those series that grabs you from the beginning and pulls you in with its character interactions and slight nuances of classical inspiration. Mignola really has created another gem with B.P.R.D.

B.P.R.D. the long death volume 2 is right there in line with the rest of the series. This is a great comic, delivered from one of the greatest in the industry. Teamed with with Arcudi, Mignola can't be stopped as this series plows on forward through the coming apocalypse. Everything has gone to hell, but the team still finds time to deal with personal issues.

In this particular comic, we find Kraus seeking revenge against the estranged Daimio after he's committed a violent atrocity against the B.P.R.D. as the jaguar god. This indomitable being has kept Daimio alive for years, but Kraus won't allow him to live any longer.

The art in this book is as strong as its ever been in this series. Herren really seems to know his way around the characters, and the paneling choices guide the eye in such a way that the story flows seamlessly. This book sets the stage for  powerful finale to this short story arch that could change the B.P.R.D. universe forever. As a fan of the series, I'm eager to see what happens next after reading this well crafted story. What can I say, its hard to be unbiased when reading such quality work.

Check out a preview here

5 Sheep

Guest reviewer: Joshua Mays

Issue #1

A 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!

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Issue #3

In a frozen camp full of slaughtered agents, two monstrous, long-running characters go head to head in a life-and-death battle!

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Comic Review: King Conan: THE PHOENIX ON THE SWORD #3

Writer: Tim Truman

Artist: Tomás Giorello

Colorist: José Villarrubia

Cover Artist: Andrew Robinson

Genre: Action/Adventure

Dark Horse Comics

Publication Date: March 28, 2012

Format: FC, 32 pages

Price: $3.50

King Conan has built his empire by brawn and by blade, but there are dangers that lurk in the shadows of his throne that cannot be slain by the Cimmerian’s steel. Assassins are at his chamber door, and Thoth-Amon--back to the height of his power--is summoning fearsome fiends from the fiery pit! If he is to survive the night, Conan will need to enlist the aid of the gods!

As a Robert E Howard fan, I eat up every Conan comic I can. Some are great, others are just good. To this date, I haven’t read a bad one, and with something as formulaic as Conan, it’s hard to imagine that I ever will.

King Conan #3 is one of those “good” Conan stories. It’s got all the makings of a great Conan comic with its swords and sorcery, but it’s the story telling that keeps it from greatness. Having read the Phoenix in the sword story before starting this comic, I couldn’t help but see that the story was inconsistent in its pacing, and at times felt poorly put together. This doesn’t drag it down too far because the art looks great, and as I said before, it follows the Conan formula very well.

The beginning starts with a story being told about Conan. In this instance, it just happens to be Conan telling the story, which adds even more to it. I won’t divulge much in the ways of spoilers, but let’s just say it has evil wizards, a few scenes of violence, and an interesting section in the middle with some excellent art depicting some very Lovecraftian creatures from the dark recesses of space. How can you go wrong with this?

King Conan #3 isn’t going to win any new readers with this story, but it’s not going to drive away any consistent readers either. While it may be somewhat forgettable, with its unseemly pacing issues, its still another tale of the raven haired barbarian!

Preview available here

3.5 Sheep

By guest reviewer: Joshua Mays