Comic Reviews : Last Part of February 2018

Hellboy and the BPRD : 1955--Burning Season by Mike Mignola

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As you know, I have been pressuring my comic book shop owner to get more Dark Horse titles, but it also forces me to buy them. It could be worse, of course, I picked up everything I could find with Mignola's name on it from the late 90s until about 2013. Besides, although it seems his World is limited, he has found some logical and imaginative ways to expand it and keep it true.

I hadn't read any of the BPRD 1955 stuff, but i knew the story was self-contained, so wasn't worried. Immediately, I thought of the great potential in a 1950s military story and it's an era that seems to go untapped. I immediately thought of Chaykin and Tischman's American Century series for Vertigo which I remember fondly after time, and Garth Ennis's quick dabble with Nick Fury in a 50s-based miniseries.

I was off though. It's a different type of 1950s. That, of the post-war boom and the road trip on the newly created interstates. This one-shot is deeply seeped in Florida. Carl Hiassen would be proud.

Pretty basic Hellboy story. Self-contained and if you dig into some of the real world references, you will be awed even more. Paolo Rivera is great as is David Stewart and the rest of the art team who have a very classic Hellboy look with a strong 50s feel.

Personally, since this was a one-shot, I would have liked to seen it done as an oversized comic and paid $5 or $6 as opposed to the 3.99 price tag. There's a lot here to work with, and it might not be enough for a miniseries, but could have been served well by a bit more.




Hit-Girl #1 by Mark Millar

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


On the back of reviews of the Kick Ass reboot and reports of a 'more mature' Mark Millar, we shouldn't be surprised to see this.

Millar is back to the original characters and the appropriate accompanying ultraviolence, placing Hit Girl into Colombia to dole her out particular brand of justice.

I can't help but think of the other violent, adult-themed comic I am currently reading, which is Bendis's recent Jessica Jones title. Granted, after the first issue of that comic, I didn't think it was necessary, but has been a great read. There's tension, dialogue and character development. You know, none of the stuff here.

But hey, I am a huge Millar fan and there is room for both titles on the rack.

Ricardo Lopez Ortiz does the art. It is a very sketchy style, not quite something you would call anime, but designed to bring a certain amount of chaos to paper. I respect the artistic decision, though if pressed to decide, I would say I am not a fan.

John Romita Jrs style has defined the KickAss franchise for me, and deviation from that style is a bit risky.

Otherwise, your opinion of course, will depend on what you think of Millar. I looked at a few reviews and you will find 10-out-of-10s and 3-on-a-scale-of-10. It is Millar, so I am in. There are a couple of lines in there that are 'classic winking ironic style Millar' and I love it; but even as a huge fan, you also might get me to admit that there really isn't much more to this title than that.

This particular version of the series probably will be forgotten in five years time, but if you like Millar doing what Millar does, then know that it's out there and pick it up.



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