Review – B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #115 (Dark Horse Comics)

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writers: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi
Artist: James Harren
Release Date: 15th January 2014

The B.P.R.D. has joined forces with their Russian counterparts, the R.S.S.S (Russian Special Sciences Service) to see what they can do about the end of the world. They’ve broken into two teams and each need to get into the monster ridden wasteland that is Manhattan. It also seems the recently resurrected ‘Black Flame’ is waiting for them with an army. I’d probably just kill myself and be done with it.

It’s pretty tense stuff thanks to some decent post-apocalyptic art; the streets are in ruins and the team are followed by opportunistic starving dogs as they make their way across the island. There aren’t any bodies either which makes things worse for some reason. It’s even a beautiful day complete with sunny blue skies which goes against the Gothic darkness I’m so used to when it comes to this ever expanding universe.

In one of the more action filled scenes however, there is too much going on within panels that are just too small. This has a jarring effect on a decent scene that could’ve been prevented with a little more space.

There are a lot of characters across both teams but we are never overwhelmed with everyone trying to speak at once. In fact, this book flourishes during the silent moments. A couple of pages of silence in this book create a mood much better than dialogue ever could. The silence is perfect.

This is the first in a five issue arc and the busiest team in comics have deftly started another chapter. Here we are after 20 years of Hellboy and what better way to celebrate this milestone than with an apocalypse.