In 2001, Hellboy quit the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D). If that was not bad enough, Liz Sherman is currently in hiding, Abe Sapien is in a coma, and Johann Kraus is left with Kate Corrigan to go with to Russia as backup this time around. The Russians have an assault team assembled for Johann and Kate to lead into the fire.

If only it were that easy. As if these men could make up for the loss of Hellboy, they charge heroically to their deaths, combating evil. Mike Mignola and John Arcudi have teamed up once again to continue the Hell on Earth: Russia issues for #4, bringing the storyline into sharper focus with each successive single issue release.

Art was done by Tyler Crook while colors were by Dave Stewart.  Lettering was done by Clem Robins, and the cover was by Dave Johnson. This senior team has created the perfect setting for huge monsters and grand explosions.

It becomes obvious that this mission into the mines could only have succeeded with Johann Kraus’ help. Kraus, with his deep conceptual thinking, is certainly poised in this issue to shake things up for Kate Corrigan as they continue through Russia’s hellish atmosphere. Different from Hellboy in that way, Kraus is a deep thinker, which contrasts very much with Hellboy’s simpler thought process.

By no means lacking in courage or skills, Johann Kraus does maintain his image as the thinking man’s character. Kate Corrigan, on the other hand, is frustrated, brash, and hard to deal with when in Russia. The missing key members of their team take its toll on her psyche, leading to bursts of impatience and rage.

Fans of Hellboy will remember her friendship with Hellboy from previous B.P.R.D issues as well as her concern for Abe Sapien from Issue #1 of Hell on Earth: Russia.  She will come face to face with the concept that some people just accept the fact that they will die.

Exposure to the contagion found in the mines of Russia changes the structural chemistry of every living human it touches, turning them into mindless killers. Unluckily for him, Johann Kraus is on the hunt for this contagion with a set of monsters, each of which is more grotesque than the next.

On the one hand, you have a blue Jabba-the-Hutt-type creature, and on the other, you have what looks like the giant brain bug from the end of the first Starship Troopers movie. It is a lose-lose situation, no matter which ugly monster Kraus will find first. The concept of Kraus’ mortality will also come into play, since Kraus is technically dead and without a body, but is a sentient free-feeling personality.

The feel of this story is a different kind of desperation. In comparison to Hellboy’s policy of casual violence, B.P.R.D always seems to have a more serious edge. This is definitely true with B.P.R.D Hell on Earth: Russia, since the first issue has already set the stage for the almost rapid deceleration of Russian society due to this spreading contagion.

The ending of the story is quite explosive. While some fans will clamor in fury, true fans will wait impatiently for the triumphant return of one of the series best loved characters. Entertaining as always, the conclusion is sure to be jam-packed with excellent plot twists as well as a rescue operation. B.P.R.D Hell on Earth: Russia is on sale here through Dark Horse!

The article Comic Review: B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Russia #4 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Set in 1956, the book Hellboy: House of the Dead, centers on the emotional events of Hellboy’s growth both in and out of the wrestling ring. Battling guilt while in a literal house of horrors, our reluctant hero finds himself faced with some of horrors most classic creatures in a mash up of monsters that moves the plot along quite nicely.

Hellboy comics have always had a distinct flavor all its own; mostly due to the element of action combined with some form of biblical or fantasy horror. Fan will recognize the writer and artist team of Mike Mignola and Richard Corben and it clearly shows that this was an excellent partnership in many respects.

Available for pre-order with a preview from Dark Horse Comics, the duo of Mignola and Corben are supported by coloring from Dave Stewart and lettering by Clem Robins. The artwork is a fresh take on the Hellboy horror, action drama, feeling more up to date than in past comics. Mignola clearly knows what he’s doing and showcases classic Hellboy nonchalance mixed in with excellently timed Spanish dialogue and wrestling.

This is a hard cover release that’s emotionally driven and well plotted. Hellboy’s character is revealed more as the story progresses rather than having him simply destroy everything in his way as a new reader of Hellboy might assume. The choices that Hellboy has made prior to the start of the comic regarding the death of a friend are shown in a few select flashbacks that emphasize the loss of self due to events outside of his control.

A hint at the enemies within is obvious on the front cover but beneath the surface the villains in this story, outside of their horror characteristics, also possess an emotional depth that is not in keeping with their traditional stereotypes. Excellent use of foreshadow and characterization that readers will pick up on will add an element of suspense to the overall plot which keeps fans guessing. For some of the villains you’ll scoff at the slightly predictable dialogue but the plot for how Hellboy dispatches his enemies is really the star here.

Hellboy fights hard against his enemies using brute strength and reluctant acceptance born of a shoulder heavy weariness.  What is less expected is how he also sympathizes with select combatants in a surprising twist as Hellboy himself will come to realize. An enemy can also turn into a friend, or at least, a drinking buddy.

The real enemies here that need fighting are less obvious but no less important to Hellboy as he journey’s forth through the pages. Hellboy fights and he survives, growing up and making tough choices that many people can sympathize with greatly. His real enemy is life and death in many ways, because he struggles against its forces all the time.

Throughout the story, the feeling is that Hellboy just can’t catch a break, as if he’s always going to up against a constant stream of enemies from multiple sides and plots within plots to do him harm. The lesson to take away from this particular hard cover issue of Hellboy is that not everything is within your control.

Life is what you make of it. Hellboy seems to know this and therefore fights the good fight. The ending might leave some readers scratching their heads but overall, despite the sense of not belonging to his reality, Hellboy knows that where he treads very few can follow. His path is one of hell and that is where he is bound.

The article Hellboy’s House of the Living Dead Becomes a Classic Halloween Special appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.