B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #107: Wasteland Part 1 (of 3)
What do you get when you add equal part ‘Tremors’ and ‘Aliens’ mixed with a heaping of ‘The Thing’ with some of ‘The Mist’ thrown in for good measure? You have one of the most enjoyable and terrifying issues that ‘B.P.R.D.’ has ever published.
‘B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #107: Wasteland Part 1 (of 3)’ is a loving throw back to the creature features of the eighties and nineties. With monster’s terrorizing the world, literally breaking free from within the Earth’s crust, Johann leads a rescue team via helicopter toward Chicago. Everything is going fine until a giant spore-monster burst’s from the ground and knocks the chopper out of the air. Those that survive are transformed into horrible beasts forcing B.P.R.D. to kill their own members. If that wasn’t enough, they still have to out run the Ogdru Hem, white mole-like creatures that have been terrorizing a nearby town. With the odds stacked against Johann and his team, will they make it to Chicago alive, or will they succumb to the horrors that surround them?
This issue gets bonus points simply because Mignola and Arcudi managed to not only squeeze a ‘Tremors’ reference in there, but they managed to reference pretty much every movie John Carpenter has ever influenced. From a red-light tinted helicopter ride, to a man and his boy hiding out on high ground so the monsters don’t feel their footsteps, this issue is filled to the brim with nostalgic love for late-eighties horror. This is one of the enjoyable reads that has ever come out of the Mignola-Universe, great for fans and new-comers alike, ‘Wasteland’ is a gritty and terrifying thrill-ride that no one should miss.
The grittiness of the story is highlighted nicely by Laurence Campbell, who learned a thing or two about grit from his work on ‘Punisher MAX’. From the panelling, to the muted colours and bursts of violence, the art further exemplifies the cinematic feel of the storyline. One can almost hear the synth blasts as monster’s rip through the earth, or the score pump into over-drive as our characters enter ‘Jason Bourne’ mode and engage in a high speed chase.
‘B.P.R.D.’ has been firing on all cylinders lately, but with ‘B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #107: Wasteland Part 1 (of 3)’ the creative team has managed to outdo even themselves. This issue a loving homage to the thrills of yesteryear while planting itself firmly in the B.P.R.D. universe. ‘Wasteland Part 1’ is a stand-out issue and a must have for not only action and horror junkies, but for any fan of cinematic adventures.
B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #107: Wasteland Part 1 (of 3)
Story: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Art: Laurence Campbell
Colours: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
Cover: Dave Johnson
Publisher: Mike Richardson for Dark Horse Comics
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