B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Russia #2
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writers: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Artist: Tyler Crook (cover by Dave Johnson)
After arriving in Russia, and seeing a man turn into some sort of mutated creature, the gang realizes they’re in for some trouble. The meeting following the incident proved frustrating, but when Johann and Kate meet the Director of the Russian Occult Bureau, their jaws hit the floor. The dude looks like he could be Johann’s father due to a condition he explains later (he exists inside a containment suit). He quickly tells his guests that his friends at the bureau who mistreated them earlier were out of line, and he’ll discipline them later for it. After some more pleasantries are exchanged, the Director pulls Johann aside for a personal tour of the facility. Upon entering a secret room, Johann is stunned to see what appears to be a normal man chained up and wired to a bunch of machines. The Director assures him that the man is possessed, and that he’s chained and hooked up for the betterment of the world. Johann isn’t so sure, and when Kate and the others join them, the man begins to plead for help. The Director then pulls out a pistol, and blows the dude’s brains out! Everyone, and I mean everyone is shocked by the Director’s behavior, and then Kate and the others quickly huddle up in the corner to talk. The Director tells Johann to raise the dead man’s spirit to see that he was telling the truth. What happens next is very creepy, and scares the crap out of Johann!
I’ll be honest, when I saw that Abe and Liz weren’t going to be in this book, I has some trepidation. I’m not very familiar with Kate and Johann, but Mignola and Arcudi make it seem like it’s still Abe and Liz somehow. That’s a good thing no matter how you look at it. Tyler Crook is doing a great job, too. I really liked the previous artist, but Crook is doing an admirable job! I can’t wait to see the next issue, because it’s really gonna hit the fan! One quick note here as well about the creative team. I made a mistake on one of my reviews (BPRD Hell on Earth Monsters #1), and mistakenly listed Arcudi as the artist instead of Crook. Sorry about that, gentlemen. Andy and Kristin will commence with my flogging now. [Editor’s note: What did I tell you? You want to go back in the cage again?]
Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net
