Comics
Review: “B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth” #121
There is a lot of plot to juggle in the latest issue of “B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth,” but as usual Mike Mignola and John Arcudi are up to the task. While victories are frequently pyrrhic for our heroes, fans of the series will continue to walk away happy and excited for more. 
WRITTEN BY: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
ART BY: Laurence Campbell
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: July 16, 2014
Review By: Ooknabah
There is a toll to be paid warding humanity from the worst of the supernatural, and BRPD has always been about the broken people holding that line and the damage they sustain in the line of duty. In exploring the early flashback from last issue, the creative team manage to surprise with plot turns that take what could have merely been window dressing into a key moment in the life of the character Hellboy. While Hellboy is never far from the stories of the BRPD, being so closely tied to its origins, he has long been absent as a current player and the creative team’s ability to both weave in his story and have it resonate with the tale at large is a credit to them and a great boon to readers.
Like some of the best Grant Morrison stories, B.P.R.D. feels loaded with ideas that might take a lesser series a full year to play out: Instead, this issue manages to balance each story expertly while resolving them with ease. While some of the ideas might have benefited from longer examination – Kate’s possession for instance would have been interesting to see play out over a long period of time – there is little fat to be trimmed from this tale and no indication that the writers are running out of stories to tell any time soon.
Laurence Campbell’s art remains phenomenal, with great colors provided by Dave Stewart. The visuals inject additional energy and urgency to the long sections of dialog, while really coming to life in the moments of explosive (no pun intended) action that mark the climax of the story. The layouts are also worthy of note, particularly in their effectiveness in clearly letting the readers know what is going on and reminding them of the important plot elements in what might otherwise become a confusing mess.
With deft moves in plotting, B.P.R.D. #121 manages to neatly wrap up the multiple threads from the previous issue skillfully and satisfyingly. Moody, tense and a joy to read. Bring on the next issue.
Ooknabah AKA Brent Hirose is a writer, actor and gigantic nerd from Vancouver B.C. You can listen to his podcast about that at HugeNerds.Podomatic.Com or check out his many other projects at BrentHirose.com
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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