Abe Sapien (2008), Volume 1

October 15, 2008
These days, the Hellboy spinoff B.P.R.D. is more fun than its parent comic. This second spinoff shows that the fault, if fault there be (Hellboy is still righteously thrilling), doesnt lie in Mignolas writing (John Arcuda has principal B.P.R.D. scripting duties). Although hardly chatty, the first arc of Abe Sapien is neatly planned, the story of Hellboys amphibious colleagues first solo case for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. Abes assigned because the remains of a wizard must be retrieved from a ship that sank in 1884; hes a natural for the job. But the remains have already been removed, theyre of something much more dangerous than a wizard, and Abe must fight first the guardian of the remains and then, in league with that guardians spirit, worse-than-wizards demon henchmen. He is incompletely successful, which is fortunate for all those who want more Abe Sapien. That should be everyone who reads The Drowning, not least because Alexanders drawing chops arguably exceed Mignolas on his home turf. A movie version couldnt look any better.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)