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brandonadaniels's review against another edition
4.0
There’s some great stuff in here. BPRD starts off with a bang in Hollow Earth. The first Abe Sapien and Lobster Johnson stories are both crucial, and really should be read before Conqueror Worm. The last story isn’t great.
arf88's review against another edition
3.0
I was a bit worried about the art of this book before I read it. I'd gotten so use to Mignola's art for these characters I wasn't sure I'd be open to other artist's interpretation. But for the most part I didn't find it too jarring.
Like the art, some stories in here were better than others. Hollow Earth was what earned this book it's stars, although I'm hoping we get more from Liz Sherman soon, other than brooding angst and comatose near death experiences.
I wasn't a fan of Lobster Johnson's story The Killer in My Skull which I found cheesy as hell. Of all the Hellboy characters that go on to have a spin off series, Lobster Johnson is the one I'm least enthused about.
Abe Sapien versus Science gave us some nice character moments, but felt like a rehash of what had come before, and Abe Sapien: Drums of the Dead was a nice little story, although it didn't really add anything of substance to the world.
Like the art, some stories in here were better than others. Hollow Earth was what earned this book it's stars, although I'm hoping we get more from Liz Sherman soon, other than brooding angst and comatose near death experiences.
I wasn't a fan of Lobster Johnson's story The Killer in My Skull which I found cheesy as hell. Of all the Hellboy characters that go on to have a spin off series, Lobster Johnson is the one I'm least enthused about.
Abe Sapien versus Science gave us some nice character moments, but felt like a rehash of what had come before, and Abe Sapien: Drums of the Dead was a nice little story, although it didn't really add anything of substance to the world.
oddrid's review against another edition
4.0
I was initially hesitant about getting into B.P.R.D. because I love Mignola's Hellboy SO MUCH, I didn't know if I could cope with other artists tackling his amazing characters. But I really shouldn't have been. Hollow Earth is an instant classic and a perfect transition piece from Hellboy into the world of B.P.R.D. without Big Red. The art is also a good transition, as it imitates Mignola while retaining obvious (sometimes painful) differences. Don't get used to it, however, as another amazing artist with his own style is about to pick up the B.P.R.D. characters and transform them into something altogether different...
I gave this volume 4 stars instead of 5 because of the other stories included; while they are very fun, and it is enjoyable to watch other artists play with the characters, they definitely don't match up to Hollow Earth. If you've been hesitant like I was, don't deprive yourself of this series any longer. You are missing out on something amazing!
I gave this volume 4 stars instead of 5 because of the other stories included; while they are very fun, and it is enjoyable to watch other artists play with the characters, they definitely don't match up to Hollow Earth. If you've been hesitant like I was, don't deprive yourself of this series any longer. You are missing out on something amazing!
zare_i's review against another edition
4.0
Good collection of stories following BPRD agents without Hellboy in sight (at this time Hellboy already left the BPRD).
First (and largest) story is Hollow Earth - saving Liz from King of Fear that dwells in the pits of the earth seems to be a thing to keep BPRD team together. In this story we follow Abe Sapien and Roger together with Johann (new team member) as they enter the mysterious monastery (gateway to Agartha?) and finally go into the earth to save their comrade Liz.
Everything that transpires around them is only explained to the reader but team remains in dark - I liked that way of story telling a lot.
Other stories are single chapter stories but nevertheless also very good (I enjoyed one where BPRD tries to "sell" Abe instead of Hellboy (already left the team) to the client that needs help with weird occurrences on their transport ships - that conversation was hilarious).
Art is excellent, every artist left his own mark so to say but nevertheless collection was very balanced art-wise.
Recommended to all Hellboy-universe fans out there.
First (and largest) story is Hollow Earth - saving Liz from King of Fear that dwells in the pits of the earth seems to be a thing to keep BPRD team together. In this story we follow Abe Sapien and Roger together with Johann (new team member) as they enter the mysterious monastery (gateway to Agartha?) and finally go into the earth to save their comrade Liz.
Everything that transpires around them is only explained to the reader but team remains in dark - I liked that way of story telling a lot.
Other stories are single chapter stories but nevertheless also very good (I enjoyed one where BPRD tries to "sell" Abe instead of Hellboy (already left the team) to the client that needs help with weird occurrences on their transport ships - that conversation was hilarious).
Art is excellent, every artist left his own mark so to say but nevertheless collection was very balanced art-wise.
Recommended to all Hellboy-universe fans out there.
obnorthrup's review against another edition
3.0
Another review says "This is not the place to jump into the Hellboy universe." I'd go further and say this is not a place to jump *back* into the Hellboy universe, because even though I'm familiar with Hellboy, very little of what I read in this volume stuck with me and I just kind of breezed through it. I expected vol 1 of a spinoff series to be able to stand more on its own.
droar's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit, I'm super bummed that Mike Mignola didn't illustrate the BPRD series (I've been spoiled by Hellboy). Overall I like the stories they tell here, particularity Hollow Earth. I'm interested to see how Abe steps into the leader role in the following books.
magnetgrrl's review against another edition
4.0
B.P.R.D. carries on where Hellboy sort of stops, during the years when Mignola wasn't writing any more Hellboy stories. At first the collections are just shorts, but then with successive volumes an engaging and ongoing story (which seems to be leading back into a meetup with the main Hellboy story at some point now that Mignola is writing him again) slowly starts to develop. These stories seem to be Mignola's way of testing out new artists and writers for his characters, as well as a place for him to put some of his shorter one-off ideas. There are notes preceding each story from Mignola that are pretty interesting.
crookedtreehouse's review against another edition
4.0
A nearly satisfying widening of the Mignolaverse with a focus on characters from volumes three through five of Hellboy. It suffers from the terrible editorial choice of placing the main story, whose heart is dependent on a backup story, first. Had they merely placed the shorter story first, the narrative would have flowed much smoother. Instead, we're told an act of kindness happened that sets up our story, we finish our story, and then they show us the act of kindness. Show don't tell is a pretty basic storytelling premise, and I feel it should imply Don't tell, tell, tell again something that you will later show when you could simply show it at the beginning of the story.