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B.P.R.D.: PLAGUE OF FROGS #2
"Plague of Frogs, Part II"
Highly Recommended (9/10)
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Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Guy Davis
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
Editor: Scott Allie
Price: $2.99 US |
By now, most of the diehard fans have seen the Hellboy movie and formed their opinions. Myself, I was a tad let down, and found that it mostly inspired me to want to reread the comics or read the ones I haven't already enjoyed. Which brings us to B.P.R.D.: A Plague of Frogs #2, which gives me just the rush of action, creepy horror and stirring visuals that I didn't fully get from the movie version of the paranormal agency. Mignola's story, though lacking in actual Hellboy, definitely feels like part of the official Hellboy canon, partly because of some big ramifications for these characters and partly because this is the big return for some big Hellboy villains. Though some might quibble that it's not "real" Hellboy because it lacks Mignola on artwork, I say that if you can't be happy with Guy Davis and Dave Stewart, than you just don't know good comic-book artwork.
I'm still sort of getting used to the whole notion of Hellboy and the B.P.R.D., but I've got enough of a familiarity to realize that the return of the frog demons is pretty bad news. For readers who aren't familiar enough with the property to know this, this issue definitely serves notice. Mignola and Davis serve up some really creepy moments in this issue, like a seemingly abandoned town or the horror staple of a lone little girl who turns out to be much more than she appears, and I was actually stunned to see what happens to one of the main characters in this issue. Mignola isn't letting the lack of Hellboy slow him down, as this story is definitely not in the "spinning wheels" mode of storytelling.
One of the things that the film version of the B.P.R.D. had was a claustrophobic feel, with the "Men in Black" style underground headquarters and freakish characters being held prisoner rather than serving as operatives, and Plague of Frogs is the exact opposite. Mignola and Davis present the B.P.R.D. as a more down-to-earth agency with plenty of resources, more like a regular government agency, and it's a lot more interesting that way. The revelation of why they were studying the fungus and where they got it, the use of a standard rescue style helicopter and the nice mixture of scientists, soldiers and special operatives makes the operation feel exotic and worldly but still like a government agency, which makes the creepy monster stuff more effective.
I've always been a Guy Davis fan, and I've yet to really see anything he can't do, but there are some projects that ideally fit his sensibilities. Sandman Mystery Theatre was one. Deadline was one. B.P.R.D. definitely fits that category. The stunning detail of Crab Point, Michigan makes the desolate, empty feel all the more creepy, and the same detail on the helicopter or the tactical gear that the B.P.R.D. agents are wearing really highlights the working stiff nature of the jobs these unusual-looking characters are doing. In addition, and here you have to credit Mignola as much as Davis, this issue has phenomenal timing and use of silent panels. Roger's meeting with the little girl is a textbook example of how to build tension in a comics sequence, and when the fight erupts, it gets nasty and brutal and fast.
B.P.R.D.: Plague of Frogs is a terrific read with exquisite artwork, and I was surprised to find that even though I still miss Hellboy, I found myself completely wrapped up in the story with this second issue. Mixing horror and action with a touch of humor and gorgeous, gorgeous artwork, Plague of Frogs gives me the jolt of excitement I was hoping to get from the film, and I look forward to seeing more of the story.
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
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