Quick Rating: The Dreaded Brain Toads
Title: Part 2
Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Guy Davis
Color: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
Editor: Scott Allie
What can one say about Roger the Homunculus that has not already been said? He is an artificial man created through alchemical means. This is my assumption, because I have not read all his tales and am not a Hellboy savant. I also assume that leaves him impervious to feeling. That seems to fit the character. For that matter, I have not even seen the movie. Over the past week or two, I spent my time and money on comic books, rather than their shadows. I will see the movie, but probably in the distant future. (I saw Truffaut’s Day for Night instead when I longed for film last week and it was entertaining enough. Much like Hellboy, no one will be watching it or talking about in a year, except for your weird friend—the one with the bad haircut and penchant for old movies.)
What else did I do this past week? I read comic books and I can barely remember what they were about. According to Dark Horse, the plot of this issue was: “The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense traces the disappearance of a giant fungus to a deserted town. Separated from the group when their helicopter crashes, Roger the Homunculus, enthralled by a mysterious child, winds up hanging from the neck in an abandoned building. Meanwhile, the rest of the B.P.R.D. team lies unconscious at the crash site, and Abe Sapien dreams of underwater terrors.” That sounds about right to me. There was also a helicopter crash.
The art looked nice—I remember that. I have long enjoyed Guy Davis’ work, even though I’m not sure how he prefers to have his name pronounced.
The thing is that you can really admire a work of art—even recognize the skill and talent and downright work that went into its production—and still not give much of a hoot. In a nutshell, that probably describes the reality within which architects operate. It certainly describes my feelings about B.P.R.D. and Day for Night. You’ll probably enjoy them. You might even be impressed by them, but it just feels like I’m name-dropping when I mention them. Right now, I’m holding my place and waiting for the next issue.
Ohh, and I played paintball. That I remember, but it left bruises.
April, 2004