Quick Rating: Fantastic
Title: Plague of Frogs, Part 1

Frogs, for Heaven’s Sake!

Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Guy Davis
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
Editor: Scott Allie

If everyone who bought any X-Men comics last year used that money instead to make a movie, then they would just about cover the cost to produce X-Men 2. My math could be wrong, but I doubt I’m too far off- accurate accounting being what it is in publishing and film-making. I have little doubt that last year’s purchasers of Hellboy would not even come close to paying for the upcoming film. So, who goes to see these movies? Who is going to have a clue who Hellboy is? Batman and Superman and Spiderman and the X-Men and the Hulk all had previous incarnations on television and radio. They were well-discussed. Yet, Men in Black certainly succeeded financially without any real recognition that it came from a comic book. Ghost World and American Splendor pleased critics who have never set foot in a comic book shop (though I suspect that more of them do as a percentage than the general population). I don’t begrudge the general population their enjoyment of X-Men or Spiderman, but I do wish they’d seek the original source every now and then.

B.P.R.D. begins a new mini-series in the Hellboy universe just in time for the teeming masses to be exposed to Mike Mignola’s magnificent creation. The movie draws from early storylines, steeped in atmosphere, wonderful storytelling, and great artwork. Traditional Hellboy stories follow the X-Files formula of something weird happens and Hellboy investigates. The investiture of the stories with myth, fable, and character makes the series wonderful. Atmosphere and character can take a little time. Relationships need establishment. I hope the folks who see the movie have a couple issues of B.P.R.D. ready to acquire because one may leave them a little uncertain. On the other hand, every cinema should be passing out coupons for discounts on Hellboy graphic novels (they are brilliant).

I have long liked Guy Davis’ work. It tells the tale. Here, the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense sends in a team to investigate unusual events, but the team does not include Hellboy. If you’re uncertain what the unusual event is, read the issue title again. For regular readers, this will be a nice chance to get to know the other characters better. Get a Hellboy graphic novel and this issue for afterwards.

March, 2004