Broken Frontier

While Abe Sapien struggles, quite literally, with his past, the other members of the B.P.R.D. make some discoveries of their own.

Issue #3 of the latest B.P.R.D. miniseries is typical Mike Mignola fare. In case that sounds bad, it isn’t. Typical Mignola fare is the kind of fare any fan of creepy mystery with a mix of the occult stirred in for effect comics wants to be. While the undead Captain Daimio searches for Abe, Abe sails to the island he was told of last issue and discovers some very . . . interesting inhabitants. Meanwhile the rest of the B.P.R.D. hangs out at their headquarters in Colorado and make some discoveries of their own.

What do you say about Mignola as a writer that hasn’t already been said? His stories teeter on the edge of reason. His characters are quirky, odd, and creepy. His view of the world is altogether skewed, different from the mass’s view. In short, he is everything a writer should be. With John Arcudi teaming up to tell the tales of the various members of Hellboy’s team, the results can only be what they are. They transcend traditional comic book storytelling on a level many writers of horror or mystery comics strive for but few attain. With twists and turns that take the reader to places he never thought he could go, but are nonetheless plausible destinations, Mignola and Arcudi tell tales sure to impress.

Guy Davis’ art is equally impressive. It seems loose, unconcerned with reviews. Much like Mignola’s stories, his art is what it is. Again, I don’t want to sound disparaging, or belittling. I know he has worked hard to achieve this look, and I love it. It is so unrefined and arrogant in its clear simplicity, Davis raises his middle finger at the established pop style so many comics have nowadays and gives his readers his own, distinct look clearly influenced from outside the comics industry. Somewhat cartoonish, always clear, and despite that, remarkably eerie, Davis’s work is to be envied.

No tale set in Hellboy’s creepy universe will be what you expect it to be, it will be better. B.P.R.D.: Garden of Souls is no exception to this rule.