Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • The Comicmobile (Part 4)

      Rachel Deering
      February 21, 2002
      Columns
    Recent
    • Revisiting the Witchblade/Fathom/Tomb Raider Crossover

      Daniel Gehen
      February 8, 2021
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Singles Going Steady 12/28/2016: Happy New Year!

      Rachel Deering
      January 2, 2017
      Boom! Studios, DC Comics, IDW, Reviews, Singles Going Steady
    Recent
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • What Looks Good: Indies 1/6/16

      Rachel Deering
      January 5, 2016
      Archie Comics, Boom! Studios, Columns, Dark Horse, IDW, Image, Indie, Miscellaneous Comic Book Content, What Looks Good
    Recent
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN’S UNIVERSE

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2021
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 3.5

      Of Bitter Souls v1: Saints and Sinners

      Rachel Deering
      August 30, 2006
      Reviews
    Recent
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • 2.3

      Review: SAVAGE #1 Needs Taming

      Daniel Gehen
      February 16, 2021
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Dylan Horrocks: The First Name In Magic

      Rachel Deering
      May 22, 2011
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade: the Life and Times of Gene Day

      Rachel Deering
      November 20, 2015
      Classic Comics, Classic Comics Cavalcade
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • The Guardians of the Galaxy full trailer is here!

      Rachel Deering
      February 19, 2014
      News
    Recent
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN’S UNIVERSE

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2021
    • SAVAGE DRAGON IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 17, 2021
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • Review: 'Prisoner 155' is a Remarkable Portrait of a Political Revolutionary

      Rachel Deering
      May 7, 2018
      Books
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia
  • Collecting Profile: Kraven the Hunter
  • Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good
  • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY
  • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN'S UNIVERSE
  • SAVAGE DRAGON IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH THIS MAY
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Reviews

ADVANCE REVIEW: B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth: Russia #4 (of 5)

Rachel Deering
December 20, 2011
Reviews

ADVANCE REVIEW! B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Russia #4 will go on sale Wednesday, December 21, 2011.

What are the elements necessary for crafting a truly horrific story? Nightmare creatures bent on destroying humanity? Dark underground settings, teeming with unnatural life? The overwhelming uncertainty of who you can and cannot trust? Well, friends, if any or all of these things stand out to you as key ingredients in a big nasty batch of horror, delight in the putrid pages of B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Russia #4.

In this book, the buildup and tension of Issue #3 begins to pay off, and all of the horrific set pieces come to life. Iosif finally begins to reveal the details of why Kate and Johann have been brought in to assist the Russian Occult Bureau, and the motivating factor behind the hordes of worker zombies is brought to light. Kate is none too happy with this revelation but, in her helplessness, continues the role of a sideline character, merely watching as events unfold. And what terribly twisted events they are! Johann steps up as a true hero, seemingly aspiring to fill the massive gap left by the departure of Hellboy. My only complaint with this issue is that I don't have the next issue immediately at hand to offer the comforts of a resolution. We are left standing on the precipice of a potential catastrophe with no hint as to the possible outcome.

The storytelling team of Mignola and Arcudi works in a fluid and seamless fashion, so that the story never really feels like tidbits pieced together from multiple minds, but one cohesive tale molded from some ghoulish collective conscience. I found myself furiously flipping through the pages on my first read through, eagerly devouring the story content. Upon revisiting the issue, a slowed pace allowed me to pick up on some of the finer details, and really admire the fantastic artwork.

While I tend to gravitate toward a more highly detailed style of illustration, I find myself being drawn in by Tyler Crook's art. Each stroke is intentional, and lays a masterful foundation for the atmospheric dread that permeates the world of B.P.R.D., without muddling each panel with unnecessary detail. Dave Stewart puts the proverbial icing on the cake with his undeniable command of color. The palette, while not overly extensive, perfectly captures the essence of evil that surrounds our cast of characters, and helps to further instill the sense that everything is not all right with the world. The lettering by Clem Robins has a very natural feel that is highly complimentary to the line art. I always appreciate a letterer who is able to forgo the computerized fonts and achieve a more hand drawn feel to the text.

In the end, my jaw was left firmly planted upon the floor. I felt as if I was one of the drooling zombies from the pages, salivating for what's to come. B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Russia #4 does a perfect job of tying up all of the details form the story thus far and setting the stage for, what I can only assume, will be a terribly thrilling finale. I wait with bated breath.

 


 

Rachel Deering is horror incarnate. Before most children learn to read, she was cutting her teeth on Warren Publishing magazines like Creepy and Eerie, and the beloved multitude of EC titles. Feeding her ever-growing hunger for horror on a steady diet of Hammer flicks and anything having to do with werewolves, it became all-too-clear that she was beyond the help of even the saintliest of priests. Her family abandoned her in a remote forest, where she was raised by Bernie Wrightson and his Swamp Thing. Today, she works as a freelance writer, editor, and letterer for comics and lives in Columbus Ohio with her wonderful wife and tiny chihuahua.

, Dave StewartB.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: RussiaClem RobinsDaniel ChabonDark HorseJohn ArcudiMike MignolaRachel DeeringScott AllieTyler Crook

Share On:
Tweet
ADVANCE REVIEW: Dark Horse Presents #7
ADVANCE REVIEW: Brody's Ghost (one-shot)

About The Author

Rachel Deering

Related Posts

  • Dark Horse Presents: THE ART OF ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA

    Ashley Hurst
    May 30, 2020
  • Top 10 Comic Universes Outside the Big Two

    Daniel Gehen
    May 1, 2020

Latest Reviews

  • 3.0

    Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

    Daniel Gehen
    February 22, 2021
  • 4.5

    Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

    Daniel Gehen
    February 19, 2021
  • 2.3

    Review: SAVAGE #1 Needs Taming

    Daniel Gehen
    February 16, 2021
  • 4.3

    Review: RADIANT BLACK #1 Shines Brightly

    Daniel Gehen
    February 12, 2021
  • 2.7

    Review: DEEP BEYOND #1 Can’t Commit to a Premise

    Daniel Gehen
    February 4, 2021
  • 2.0

    VINDICATION Falls Short of its Lofty Goals (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    February 1, 2021
  • 4.5

    DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    January 22, 2021
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

    Daniel Gehen
    December 14, 2020
  • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

    Daniel Gehen
    December 3, 2020
  • 4.5

    TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    October 29, 2020
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders