Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
BPRD: Hollow Earth and Other Stories, October 25, 2004
Summary:
This is the fist collection of stories about the adventures of the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD) without Hellboy, who obviously dominated previous comics. BPRD is the government agency that adopted Hellboy and used him as an agent, and three of the main characters of Hollow Earth (Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman, and Roger the Golem) had their first appearances in previous stories (Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil). The fourth, Johann Kraus, is introduced in a three page advertisement for "Hollow Earth," one of four stories reprinted here. All four stories deal with something resembling the supernatural: subterranean races, telekinesis, and primitive gods drive this anthology. The creator of Hellboy wrote two of these stories and helped plot "Hollow Earth." Three of the four stories look almost too much like Mignola's artwork, even though his artistic contribution includes only character sketches and inking one of the shorter comics. Beyond the four full stories and the advertisement, some nice sketches by Mike Mignola and "Hollow Earth" artist Ryan Sook.
"Hollow Earth"
The centerpiece of this collection is the sixty-six page title story written by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, and Tom Sniegoski and drawn by Ryan Sook and Curtis Arnold, both in mysterious combinations. "Hollow Earth" depicts an adventure story, the trek of three BPRD members, Abe, Roger, and Johann, to find the fourth, who, while meditating at a temple, is kidnapped by a race of subterranean engineers. Liz, who has some elemental connection with fire, has her soul stolen and used to power Giant War Robots, and the others must restore her essence to her before she dies. The plot is similar to a Hellboy story with slower pacing, but the story has two ulterior purposes: the first is to introduce the team and the second is to give brief origin stories for the members of BPRD. Abe and Liz each have a flashback sequence that shows why Hellboy was such an important part of their lives, and Johann has a normal origin story. This leads to some corny dialogue, "It sounds as if he was a good friend as well as a good leader." Roger's origin is only alluded to but can be found in "Almost Colossus" in The Chained Coffin and Others and "Abe Sapien versus Science," below. Most of the dialogue is low on emotion, and BPRD certainly lacks a personality with the bravado of Hellboy or some other interesting characteristic, but the script fits the characters and doesn't embarrass itself. Ryan Snook's art looks a little bit took much like Mike Mignola's, especially in the blocky figures and big lips, but has the appropriate tone for the story. On its own, it's a good if uninspired story and would earn four stars.
"The Killer in My Skull"
This is a Lobster Johnson story written by Mike Mignola and drawn by Matt Smith and Ryan Sook. "The Killer in My Skull" is a supernatural detective story set in 1938 wherein scientists are being mysteriously and systematically murdered by someone who can leave a room locked from the inside. The story is adequate for its ten pages, but feels a little hurried: there isn't enough time to raise doubts about the identity of the killer and there isn't enough action in the closing sequence. The art, again, looks too much like Mike Mignola's and the script has a low point coinciding with the ending, "Be glad you're not me, because I've seen worse than this." The overall effect weak, and alone it's worth three stars.
"Abe Sapien versus Science"
"Abe Sapien versus Science" connects the origin stories of Abe Sapien and Roger the Golem by analogy through the callous actions of BPRD scientists, who don't seem to learn anything from experience. The story has no action and carries a disturbing, anti-science message. Written and Inked by Mike Mignola and drawn by Matt Smith, this eight page story is the low point of the anthology, but is still worth two stars.
"Drums of the Dead"
A twenty-two page story by Brian McDonald and Derek Thompson, "Drums of the Dead" is one of a handful of stories where Abe Sapien's powers are actually used and the only one I've read where they are required for the resolution of the plot. Abe and a telepathic colleague are sent to investigate mysterious possessions in shark-infested waters. The art is looser than in most of these stories, but it doesn't look like Mike Mignola's and it has a 70s horror story feel to it. There are several corny elements, including a century-and-a-half out of date moral, but the story and its pacing hold up well. Because it's a little preachy and the sharks all have Sand Tiger Teeth, even when they have the bodies of other species, this comic loses a star and is worth only four.
Conclusion:
As a whole, the two longer stories more than make up for the shorter comics, and this comic book is fun reading, so I give it four st
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Mignola-esque, February 22, 2005
The other reviewers have done a pretty comprehensive job describing the stories in this trade paperback, but what really bugs me about it is that with the exception of ONE story that is INKED by Mignola, NONE OF THE ARTWORK IS BY MIGNOLA!!!
Some of the artwork is highly Mignola-esque, and some of the panel breakdowns are surely his. But when I buy a graphic novel that is listed under an artist's name, I want that artist's work. I get a kick out of Mignola's tongue-in-cheek take on the Cthulhu mythos, but what I'm really looking for is his terrific artwork!
This is the second time I've been burned buying a "Mignola" book (I'm likewise underwhelmed by C.Golden's Hellboy novelizations, with a handful of Mignola illos.) I'd REALLY like to see a better description in the Product Description. At this point, I don't feel I can buy "Mignola" books on-line!
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The BPRD Marches on, April 9, 2004
Hellboy has left the BPRD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense) but that doesn't mean they are gone. Now the BPRD have their own stories. This volume collects Hollow Earth and several shorter adventures.Hollow Earth - Abe Sapien travels to the Himalayas and below to find and rescue Liz. The journey takes them do a world of darkness that threatens the surface. I really enjoyed the Journey to the Center of the Earth ending. Also touching were there Hellboy flashbacks and how he endeared himself to various characters (I loved the lollipop). Hollow Earth Teaser - A three-page teaser that sets up one of the new characters at the Bureau. The Killer in my Skull - This story stars Lobster Johnson, a hero who uses the lobster claw of justice. In this story he is confronted with some locked-door murders that lead to an unexpected killer. Abe Sapien vs. Science - Having been the subject of scientific investigation in the past, Abe Sapien is against the use of "scalpels and microscopes" for advancing knowledge of living things. This time the subject is Roger. Drums of the Dead - Another Abe Sapien adventure as shipping routes are being terrorized by sharks and drums.
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