Comics
Review: ‘B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Return of the Master’ #1
After several weeks of waiting, I’m rather pleased that Dark Horse finally released a new issue in the “B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth” saga, The Return of the Master part 1. Thehe “Hell on Earth” event is starting to come to a head, and this issue shows that a lot more brooding trouble is on the way for the Bureau. “The Return of the Master” #1 contains some breakthrough plot advancements as well as a healthy supply of blood and violence, fitting in perfectly with the event.
WRITTEN BY: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
ART BY: Tyler Crook
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
RELEASE DATE: August 29th, 2012
This issue packs a nice little punch. In the first few pages, a possessed Dr. Lazar lands in Scotland to continue wreaking havoc in the already war torn U.K. Being possessed by an Ogdru spirit, his presence causes dogs to mutate into teeth-infested monstrosities, hell-bent on turning a lovely day into an afternoon of death and destruction. One thing that always amazes me about B.P.R.D. is how many separate storylines the creative teams are able to coordinate while keep the readers’ interest.
The issue moves into more of a generic first issue after the initial carnage by bringing us up to speed on the current B.P.R.D. situation. Many character arcs are beginning to cross paths, which showcases Mignola’s ability to craft a universe-wide event. Johann Kraus’ appearance is of particular interest. The search for a suitable containment suit for Johann in turn reveals information on Zinc Corp., which foreshadows future events with Zinc. The issue establishes a foundation for later issues to build off of, but this chapter does so in a spectacular fashion leaving the reader with a wonderfully disturbing image.
Tyler Crook does a magnificent job creating said transformation images. A seemingly ordinary dog subtly changes within the space of a few panels until it becomes a heinous monster. Crook has some serious monster-drawing skills, and B.P.R.D. is the right book for him. The depictions of Lazar are unsettling, to say the least, as he saws glyphs into his flesh.
Mike Mignola and John Arcudi knock another issue out of the park. I can’t wait for “Hell on Earth” to really start unraveling.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – GreenBasterd
Comics
‘Curse of the Where Wolf’ Bites Into August Release With Trio of Werewolf Theatrical Screenings [Exclusive Preview]
Larry Chaney‘s hairy misadventures are continuing in the sequel graphic novel Curse of the Where Wolf from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese, and Jack Morelli, and its author is celebrating with a trio of horror’s greatest werewolf films.
The Curse of the Where Wolf hits shelves on August 7 from Encyclopocalypse Publications.
That coincides with the launch of a theatrical screening event in Houston, Texas, featuring a trio of seminal werewolf flicks turning 45 this year: The Howling on August 7, Wolfen on August 14, and An American Werewolf in London on August 21.
Each screening features a “werewolf in film” presentation as well as a book signing from Where Wolf author and River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo.
In the new graphic novel, “Being a werewolf sucks. Reporter Larry Chaney wanted to be a hero. Instead, he became a werewolf. Now, caught between incredible new powers and a desire to eat everything (and everyone) in sight, Larry must find a cure for his curse. Or die trying.”
“With Where Wolf, I wanted to tell a whodunit set in a furry convention, so the story was pretty contained within a very specific setting and genre. With Curse of the Where Wolf, I wanted to celebrate everything I love about the possibility of comic books. Curse of the Where Wolf is a funny book, in every sense of the phrase, but it’s also an earnest look at a person’s struggle to become a better version of themselves, especially when the alternative is to become a literal monster,” Saucedo says of Curse.
The original graphic novel was previously serialized as the first webcomic hosted on Fangoria before being collected by Encyclopocalypse Publications in 2023 and has already been optioned for film, podcast, and television development ahead of launch by producers James Fino (“The Freak Brothers” for Tubi, “Rick and Morty” for Adult Swim) and Charles Horak (First Date for Magnolia Pictures).
Expect Larry to find himself in even weirder situations in the 362-page full color sequel; Saucedo has provided Bloody Disgusting with exclusive art pages from the upcoming graphic novel that showcase lupine humor.
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