Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi
Artist: James Harren
Release Date: 16th April 2014

Ah, the Black Flame… what a villain! There have been a few spectacular battles with this force of (anti) nature in the ‘Mignolaverse’ recently and this one is no exception. This monster is bigger than previous incarnations of the Black Flame; so much so that I’ve taken to calling him the Bane Flame.

It’s all-out war on many fronts in the ruins of New York City and the art is more than up to the challenge. The imagery on show between Sherman’s bright fire against the Black Flame’s own brand of hellfire will make you gasp. It’s a multi-coloured inferno of destruction on such a scale that the panels have to show it from a safe distance. The action on show is relentless and it all flows beautifully. The variety and sheer number of beasts swarming around is jaw dropping.

The dialogue comes in waves and so never gets in the way of the action which has always been one of the Mignola’s and Arcudi’s gifts. They know when to let things play out and have faith in the art to show the story. The dialogue that is there is cracking. I’m all ears when the ever articulate Black Flame opens his jaw. There’s an air of authority about him that makes you hang on every word.

Ground zero of the apocalypse is getting messier and messier. You don’t want to let this pass you by. It’s a hell of a view.

Rating: 5/5.

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The writer of this piece was: James McQueen
You can also find James on Twitter.