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Abe Sapien
Abe Sapien, Vol. 3: Dark and Terrible & The New Race of Man
On the run from the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, a mutated Abe Sapien faces horrifying monsters, desperate madmen, and cities in ruin, on his quest to reveal his own role in the end of the world. Collects Abe Sapien #1–#5.
* The beginning of the new ongoing series!
“Fiumara’s art is gorgeous.”—Comic Book Resources
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2013
9 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Mike Mignola
1,864 books2,529 followersMike Mignola was born September 16, 1960 in Berkeley, California and grew up in nearby Oakland. His fascination with ghosts and monsters began at an early age (he doesn't remember why) and reading Dracula at age 13 introduced him to Victorian literature and folklore from which he has never recovered.
In 1982, hoping to find a way to draw monsters for a living, he moved to New York City and began working for Marvel Comics, first as a (very terrible) inker and then as an artist on comics like Rocket Raccoon, Alpha Flight and The Hulk. By the late 80s he had begun to develop his signature style (thin lines, clunky shapes and lots of black) and moved onto higher profile commercial projects like Cosmic Odyssey (1988) and Gotham by Gaslight (1989) for DC Comics, and the not-so-commercial Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (1990) for Marvel. In 1992, he drew the comic book adaptation of the film Bram Stoker's Dracula for Topps Comics.
In 1993, Mike moved to Dark Horse comics and created Hellboy, a half-demon occult detective who may or may not be the Beast of the Apocalypse. While the first story line (Seed of Destruction, 1994) was co-written by John Byrne, Mike has continued writing the series himself. There are, at this moment, 13 Hellboy graphic novel collections (with more on the way), several spin-off titles (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien and Witchfinder), three anthologies of prose stories, several novels, two animated films and two live-action films staring Ron Perlman. Hellboy has earned numerous comic industry awards and is published in a great many countries.
Mike also created the award-winning comic book The Amazing Screw-on Head and has co-written two novels (Baltimore, or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire and Joe Golem and the Drowning City) with best-selling author Christopher Golden.
Mike worked (very briefly) with Francis Ford Coppola on his film Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), was a production designer on the Disney film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and was visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro on Blade II (2002), Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). He lives somewhere in Southern California with his wife, daughter, a lot of books and a cat.
In 1982, hoping to find a way to draw monsters for a living, he moved to New York City and began working for Marvel Comics, first as a (very terrible) inker and then as an artist on comics like Rocket Raccoon, Alpha Flight and The Hulk. By the late 80s he had begun to develop his signature style (thin lines, clunky shapes and lots of black) and moved onto higher profile commercial projects like Cosmic Odyssey (1988) and Gotham by Gaslight (1989) for DC Comics, and the not-so-commercial Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (1990) for Marvel. In 1992, he drew the comic book adaptation of the film Bram Stoker's Dracula for Topps Comics.
In 1993, Mike moved to Dark Horse comics and created Hellboy, a half-demon occult detective who may or may not be the Beast of the Apocalypse. While the first story line (Seed of Destruction, 1994) was co-written by John Byrne, Mike has continued writing the series himself. There are, at this moment, 13 Hellboy graphic novel collections (with more on the way), several spin-off titles (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien and Witchfinder), three anthologies of prose stories, several novels, two animated films and two live-action films staring Ron Perlman. Hellboy has earned numerous comic industry awards and is published in a great many countries.
Mike also created the award-winning comic book The Amazing Screw-on Head and has co-written two novels (Baltimore, or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire and Joe Golem and the Drowning City) with best-selling author Christopher Golden.
Mike worked (very briefly) with Francis Ford Coppola on his film Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), was a production designer on the Disney film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and was visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro on Blade II (2002), Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). He lives somewhere in Southern California with his wife, daughter, a lot of books and a cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 2, 2016
This volume of Abe Sapien marks the point where Abe went from sporadic miniseries' to his own ongoing and there's a nice feeling of a continuing story here.
I absolutely loved this book, actually. It has a different approach to the slow apocalypse that's going on in the Mignolaverse than the BPRD book. Rather than dwelling on the big picture, the Abe book goes from macro to micro and focuses on the more human side of events.
Abe has just awoken from his coma into a world that is virtually unrecognisable as being the same one he remembers. Fleeing from the BPRD, Abe travels across the country to gain an understanding of what the Hell is going on and where he fits into the picture, if he fits at all.
Also, the artwork on this volume is absolutely gorgeous. There are two different art teams working on half the book each but the change isn't at all jarring as both styles are equally great. In their hands, this book is very creepy and takes on a life of its own.
I'm really looking forward to the next volume.
I absolutely loved this book, actually. It has a different approach to the slow apocalypse that's going on in the Mignolaverse than the BPRD book. Rather than dwelling on the big picture, the Abe book goes from macro to micro and focuses on the more human side of events.
Abe has just awoken from his coma into a world that is virtually unrecognisable as being the same one he remembers. Fleeing from the BPRD, Abe travels across the country to gain an understanding of what the Hell is going on and where he fits into the picture, if he fits at all.
Also, the artwork on this volume is absolutely gorgeous. There are two different art teams working on half the book each but the change isn't at all jarring as both styles are equally great. In their hands, this book is very creepy and takes on a life of its own.
I'm really looking forward to the next volume.
December 15, 2017
Abe has woken up from his coma and fled the B.P.R.D. to find himself after his most recent mutation. He's morphed into a more eel-like creature. There's two stories within. In the first, he's aimlessly traveling the US. There's a fantastic scene on a train where all the hobos are telling their stories since the Ordhu Hem have risen. Abe eventually meets a priest who helps him before things get out of control. I found this the better of the two stories.
Abe travels to the Salton Sea in the second story and meets these people who have traveled here to see the giants eggs left behind. I found this story depressing and it served very little purpose . Abe seems numb to the world around him.
The Fiumara twins' art in both stories is odd and quirky but works well with Abe's gaunt look.
Abe travels to the Salton Sea in the second story and meets these people who have traveled here to see the giants eggs left behind. I found this story depressing and it served very little purpose . Abe seems numb to the world around him.
The Fiumara twins' art in both stories is odd and quirky but works well with Abe's gaunt look.
March 21, 2014
This story may be listed as volume 3, but I don't think I missed anything by not reading the other volumes, as this is a continuation of Abe Sapien's story from the B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth story. There, Abe was shot and was in a coma for months, during which time he appeared to "devolve" into a creature that looked more like one of the frog monsters than a vaguely human-looking fish man. When he finally wakes up, he is still the same Abe but feels he can no longer live at the B.P.R.D. (something that former Egyptian mummy Pandya is quick to exploit - there is someone with an agenda which we have yet to find out about).
Abe is now travelling around an increasing weird America, one where the monsters are increasing, and those people that are left are becoming more dangerous as end of days cults spring up. Many of the monsters now roaming the countryside used to be people, and Abe is finding it hard to know what to do next. His instinct is to go out and help people, but those people are increasingly becoming paranoid against anything that is different (and Abe certainly is that). At the other end of the spectrum are those people who see him as a harbinger of things to come and are prepared to worship him as a god or a prophet.
This ties in to a previous story where it is strongly hinted that Abe is destined to be the ruler of this new world, something that he has rejected but which is increasingly coming to the forefront. Whether any of this is true remains to be seen, but it is a strong storyline and at least offers the hint of hope in a world where it seems that humans are on the verge of becoming extinct.
A great story and one I am keen to continue to read.
Abe is now travelling around an increasing weird America, one where the monsters are increasing, and those people that are left are becoming more dangerous as end of days cults spring up. Many of the monsters now roaming the countryside used to be people, and Abe is finding it hard to know what to do next. His instinct is to go out and help people, but those people are increasingly becoming paranoid against anything that is different (and Abe certainly is that). At the other end of the spectrum are those people who see him as a harbinger of things to come and are prepared to worship him as a god or a prophet.
This ties in to a previous story where it is strongly hinted that Abe is destined to be the ruler of this new world, something that he has rejected but which is increasingly coming to the forefront. Whether any of this is true remains to be seen, but it is a strong storyline and at least offers the hint of hope in a world where it seems that humans are on the verge of becoming extinct.
A great story and one I am keen to continue to read.
March 24, 2014
Abe Sapien, Volume 3 follows BPRD, Hell on Earth Vol 7: A Cold Day in Hell, but if you can’t be bothered to read that book (and I don’t blame you) all you need to know is 1) Abe’s woken up from his coma and has escaped BPRD HQ, 2) he’s mutated so he looks even less human than before, and 3) weird Lovecraftian monsters have woken up from beneath the ground and are wreaking havoc on the world.
The first of the two stories is Dark and Terrible which follows Abe’s exodus (remember that odd game?) into the new world and takes him to a church in a small town. He tries to figure out the meaning behind his physical transformation and sees the way things have changed peoples’ minds - is this a biblical event? Is he an angel or the next step in evolution?
The second story, The New Race of Man, has Abe visit the Salton Sea to find answers to his new mutation and whether he’s somehow tied into everything that’s happening. Some people have taken to worshipping the monster embryos, believing they’re here to save humanity from itself and turn the planet back into a paradise.
The problem with BPRD is that it’s this massive, Roland Emmerich-style disaster movie and it’s just as shallow. Big monsters tearing down cities with “characters” running around firing weapons - it’s dull as hell. Why Abe Sapien’s solo series works much better is that it zeroes in on the people amidst the monsters/chaos and looks at their stories.
The best parts of the book are when Abe’s interacting with ordinary people: the bums on the train carriage sharing horror stories as Abe sits in the shadows, listening quietly or the young backpacking couple and their misfit friend, the three of them trying to find their place in this strange new world. The worst parts of the book are when things become BPRD-esque, when giant monsters start laying waste to towns, etc. I take strong characters over mindless action any day of the week.
And Abe is one of the strongest characters in the Hellboy universe. Why BPRD doesn’t work as well is that it’s filled with dispensable nobodies; Abe’s series works because it’s about Abe Sapien, a brilliant and fully-formed character who changes, whose new appearance as an even less human looking creature only further emphasises how more human he can be compared to some of the human characters he encounters. He’s compassionate and understanding in the face of prejudice, fear and hatred, and that’s why readers love and admire this guy - the character has character.
So why only a lukewarm reaction to this book? Well, I think Mignola and co. have hit upon the best method for writing Abe but haven’t chosen to discard the stuff that doesn’t work: the parts where Abe’s laying low, figuring things out, finding clues and talking to people - that’s what I’d like the series to be. Unfortunately Mignola’s storytelling is still wired into the Hellboy method where he figures the reader won’t be entertained unless their hero is seen punching monsters, etc. so we have to endure tedious action scenes where we see Abe do just that. It doesn’t add to the book and Abe really isn’t like Hellboy so its a bit awkward and if these parts were removed entirely, Abe Sapien would be a really tremendous series.
But they’re getting there. There are some brilliant parts and some much less brilliant parts alongside one another, but the ground-level approach to the apocalypse in Abe Sapien Vol 3 is a much more interesting and effective way of telling that story than in other titles. And hey, if you’re an Abe fan, there’s plenty enough here for you to enjoy.
The first of the two stories is Dark and Terrible which follows Abe’s exodus (remember that odd game?) into the new world and takes him to a church in a small town. He tries to figure out the meaning behind his physical transformation and sees the way things have changed peoples’ minds - is this a biblical event? Is he an angel or the next step in evolution?
The second story, The New Race of Man, has Abe visit the Salton Sea to find answers to his new mutation and whether he’s somehow tied into everything that’s happening. Some people have taken to worshipping the monster embryos, believing they’re here to save humanity from itself and turn the planet back into a paradise.
The problem with BPRD is that it’s this massive, Roland Emmerich-style disaster movie and it’s just as shallow. Big monsters tearing down cities with “characters” running around firing weapons - it’s dull as hell. Why Abe Sapien’s solo series works much better is that it zeroes in on the people amidst the monsters/chaos and looks at their stories.
The best parts of the book are when Abe’s interacting with ordinary people: the bums on the train carriage sharing horror stories as Abe sits in the shadows, listening quietly or the young backpacking couple and their misfit friend, the three of them trying to find their place in this strange new world. The worst parts of the book are when things become BPRD-esque, when giant monsters start laying waste to towns, etc. I take strong characters over mindless action any day of the week.
And Abe is one of the strongest characters in the Hellboy universe. Why BPRD doesn’t work as well is that it’s filled with dispensable nobodies; Abe’s series works because it’s about Abe Sapien, a brilliant and fully-formed character who changes, whose new appearance as an even less human looking creature only further emphasises how more human he can be compared to some of the human characters he encounters. He’s compassionate and understanding in the face of prejudice, fear and hatred, and that’s why readers love and admire this guy - the character has character.
So why only a lukewarm reaction to this book? Well, I think Mignola and co. have hit upon the best method for writing Abe but haven’t chosen to discard the stuff that doesn’t work: the parts where Abe’s laying low, figuring things out, finding clues and talking to people - that’s what I’d like the series to be. Unfortunately Mignola’s storytelling is still wired into the Hellboy method where he figures the reader won’t be entertained unless their hero is seen punching monsters, etc. so we have to endure tedious action scenes where we see Abe do just that. It doesn’t add to the book and Abe really isn’t like Hellboy so its a bit awkward and if these parts were removed entirely, Abe Sapien would be a really tremendous series.
But they’re getting there. There are some brilliant parts and some much less brilliant parts alongside one another, but the ground-level approach to the apocalypse in Abe Sapien Vol 3 is a much more interesting and effective way of telling that story than in other titles. And hey, if you’re an Abe fan, there’s plenty enough here for you to enjoy.
April 27, 2014
I think there's some serious potential here, but it needs some work. I like the parts where Abe is laying low, talking to people, and seeing how the apparent end times is affecting what were normal people. That's where the book is really strong. If the writers(s) could resist the temptation to bring in large scale monsters for excitement, this could be a great series. Abe isn't Hellboy, or the BPRD, and he demands smaller scale stories. If the writing can stick to that, this could be really good.
March 28, 2016
Slow and intimate.
These two tales are deceptive, they may seem slow and plodding but they are wonderful character driven stories about Abe and the people around him.
World: The art was okay, was not really a fan of the human character designs. I generally love art that is stylized and this is definitely that, but because Abe and his transformation is still new I would have wanted a much clearer and definitive look at him. It's okay, it's not terrible but I did not really dig it. The world building here is subtle and slow, it's more character building instead of world. In fact, most of the world building has already been done in the main BPRD title and so the stage is pretty much set. The only piece of would building we really get is the bits and pieces about Abe's past.
Story: Slow and methodical. This book really takes it's time and it's mainly about Abe as a character. He's been missing in action in a while and the world changed around him, what we have here is him finding out what happened and where he fits in. I liked the change of pace in this series, it's slower but more deliberate and character driven. Pacing is good and there are a lot of wonderful quiet moments.
Characters: Abe takes center stage and we get to see him after that long absence. It's good to see the world from his eyes, the changes and his reactions to it. It was also very good that the book didn't rush his emotions and reactions. The people he meets along the way are good and deep and interesting, giving us a deeper look at the camp at the Salton Sea. Seeing human reactions to the world and especially him was wonderful. He is looking for answers and so are readers so it worked out great. The Caul stuff was also great, calling back to it and giving us even more answers and questions to ponder. Slow and deliberate and revealing, this is a good slow character book.
I enjoyed it. It was a good change of pace all the breakneck speed of the main series. Giving Abe some time to react and find answers was a good thing.
Onward to the next book!
These two tales are deceptive, they may seem slow and plodding but they are wonderful character driven stories about Abe and the people around him.
World: The art was okay, was not really a fan of the human character designs. I generally love art that is stylized and this is definitely that, but because Abe and his transformation is still new I would have wanted a much clearer and definitive look at him. It's okay, it's not terrible but I did not really dig it. The world building here is subtle and slow, it's more character building instead of world. In fact, most of the world building has already been done in the main BPRD title and so the stage is pretty much set. The only piece of would building we really get is the bits and pieces about Abe's past.
Story: Slow and methodical. This book really takes it's time and it's mainly about Abe as a character. He's been missing in action in a while and the world changed around him, what we have here is him finding out what happened and where he fits in. I liked the change of pace in this series, it's slower but more deliberate and character driven. Pacing is good and there are a lot of wonderful quiet moments.
Characters: Abe takes center stage and we get to see him after that long absence. It's good to see the world from his eyes, the changes and his reactions to it. It was also very good that the book didn't rush his emotions and reactions. The people he meets along the way are good and deep and interesting, giving us a deeper look at the camp at the Salton Sea. Seeing human reactions to the world and especially him was wonderful. He is looking for answers and so are readers so it worked out great. The Caul stuff was also great, calling back to it and giving us even more answers and questions to ponder. Slow and deliberate and revealing, this is a good slow character book.
I enjoyed it. It was a good change of pace all the breakneck speed of the main series. Giving Abe some time to react and find answers was a good thing.
Onward to the next book!
May 24, 2020
5
I'm reading the dark and Terrible volume 1 omnibus but I thought I'd split out the reviews to the volumes. I had been putting off the Abe Sapien storylines during Hell on Earth, but I really should've read them at the same time. I had been expecting a spin-off unworthy of Mingolas time, but this is good. The storyline and artwork are right up there with the core series and if you're a fan of the series, it's time to jump on board.
Why the 5?
Not just a simple slapped together storyline. I'm slightly annoyed I never checked the omnibus reading order as this isn't the real volume 1. Confusing but I'll read those volumes later. Mignola treats us with a quality Abe series and I'm eager to finish this. Strong artwork and another high quality Hellboy universe storyline.
I'm reading the dark and Terrible volume 1 omnibus but I thought I'd split out the reviews to the volumes. I had been putting off the Abe Sapien storylines during Hell on Earth, but I really should've read them at the same time. I had been expecting a spin-off unworthy of Mingolas time, but this is good. The storyline and artwork are right up there with the core series and if you're a fan of the series, it's time to jump on board.
Why the 5?
Not just a simple slapped together storyline. I'm slightly annoyed I never checked the omnibus reading order as this isn't the real volume 1. Confusing but I'll read those volumes later. Mignola treats us with a quality Abe series and I'm eager to finish this. Strong artwork and another high quality Hellboy universe storyline.
May 5, 2023
After waking from a coma, Abe Sapien runs away from BPRD, in a journey of self discovery.
There are 2 stories in this book, one leading to the other and containing some great artwork. It's a start of a new adventure within the same old post apocalyptic world of the Hellboy universe.
Being more character driven, this series feels more personal than the BPRD series, but the overall setting is reaching a point of fatigue by now.
There are 2 stories in this book, one leading to the other and containing some great artwork. It's a start of a new adventure within the same old post apocalyptic world of the Hellboy universe.
Being more character driven, this series feels more personal than the BPRD series, but the overall setting is reaching a point of fatigue by now.
December 17, 2015
Abe's arc so far hasn't been nearly as inspired as Hellboy's was. This volume adds some to his story, but doesn't take it anywhere particularly interesting. There are two stories here; the first is basically a BPRD refresher that turns into a dark story about people seeing Abe as the future of man, and that causing problems. There's one long action scene, but it's nothing outstanding for the series.
The second story seems almost like a retread of a BPRD story, with people worshiping the Salton Sea eggs, and again, things going badly. Abe gets a little more detail on the creature, but again the story doesn't really say that much beyond humans are fickle and will worship anything new that comes along. Ultimately, I really wasn't very impressed with this volume. The art is nice, I will say. But the stories weren't very compelling.
The second story seems almost like a retread of a BPRD story, with people worshiping the Salton Sea eggs, and again, things going badly. Abe gets a little more detail on the creature, but again the story doesn't really say that much beyond humans are fickle and will worship anything new that comes along. Ultimately, I really wasn't very impressed with this volume. The art is nice, I will say. But the stories weren't very compelling.
July 5, 2025
The creatures have risen from the depths of the earth and beyond to destroy or alter everything it touches. Abe is transformed from a fish/frog man to a much sleeker and animalistic humanoid frog/fish. His new design is terrifying and depressing, you can tell Abe is fighting his internal fears throughout the series- he doesn’t feel human nor like whatever these new things are. Abe is seen as a messiah type figure by some conspiracy-minded folks who think he can better understand what’s going on (spoilers: he can’t).
This is much more horror than Hellboy- it is truly dark and terrible. The art is dark, twisted and beautiful (can we get much higher?). An amazing collection that really excites me for more Abe.
This is much more horror than Hellboy- it is truly dark and terrible. The art is dark, twisted and beautiful (can we get much higher?). An amazing collection that really excites me for more Abe.
November 18, 2014
I enjoyed this. It did not really blow me away in any sense, but I liked it, I guess. It is nice to have Abe's separate story connect with the events in the B.R.P.D. series.
August 24, 2021
Interessanti tasselli si aggiungono alla storia di Abe, anche se per costruire il suo quadro, la narrazione spesso lo vede protagonista solamente in maniera secondaria. Si sente leggermente la mancanza di tutti i personaggi noti, probabilmente perché predominanti rispetto ad Abe.
May 4, 2025
This is the first one of these where I felt like I was missing a bunch of context since I didn't read all the BPRD series first. Cool new look for everyone's favorite Icthyo Sapien though!
June 10, 2018
This volume is packaged as number three in the series, but Abe has apparently experienced something in another series somewhere which should have been better explained in this one for the sake of continuity, because it's a re-designed Abe here who is on the run from the BPRD in a somewhat post-apocalyptic setting. The two stories stand all right on their own once you get through them and the art is okay, but I felt that there were several pieces needlessly missing from the puzzle.
December 19, 2013
I've been looking forward to this one for awhile. The new continuing adventures of the newly-evolved Abe Sapien (I love his new look, I think it's fantastic). It was described in advance as being sort of like the old Incredible Hulk TV series, with Abe on the run from the Bureau while also getting involved in various sub-plots with the locals in the ruins of America, post and amid the events of the Hell on Earth series of B.P.R.D. storylines. While the B.P.R.D. titles would show the carnage from a more widespread, disaster movie kind of perspective, the Abe Sapien book would show the human level of it, on the ground, day-to-day.
This certainly does that, with an especially TV series-ish feel in the first few issues. (The "Dark and Terrible" half of the equation.) The art duties are split between Sebastian and Max Fiumara, who both do great work here, and who have similar enough styles that the tradeoff isn't jarring at all.
I liked "Dark and Terrible" more than "The New Race of Man," but both were solid, and I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes from here. I hope they keep Sebastian and Max on board for a good long while.
Bonus points for the fact that I'm pretty sure the town of Alma, Kansas gets destroyed by an Ogrdu Hem early on.
This certainly does that, with an especially TV series-ish feel in the first few issues. (The "Dark and Terrible" half of the equation.) The art duties are split between Sebastian and Max Fiumara, who both do great work here, and who have similar enough styles that the tradeoff isn't jarring at all.
I liked "Dark and Terrible" more than "The New Race of Man," but both were solid, and I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes from here. I hope they keep Sebastian and Max on board for a good long while.
Bonus points for the fact that I'm pretty sure the town of Alma, Kansas gets destroyed by an Ogrdu Hem early on.
July 11, 2016
Ara que reprenc aquesta sèrie n'entenc la importància dins de l'arc argumental de L'Infern A La Terra. Abe Sapien s'ha desvinculat de l'AIDP, però les seves aventures corren en paral·lel a la col·lecció original i, el més important, les complementen.
La primera història, "Oscuro y terrible", seria perfecta si no pequés d'un dels principals defectes de l'univers Hellboy: l'aparició d'un monstre enorme (oscuro y terrible) final. Només amb la part del sacerdot i la parroquia atemorida hauria funcionat collonudament.
La segona, "La nueva raza del hombre", ens transporta a Llac Salton (lligadíssim amb les trames de l'AIDP) i força inquietant, encara que com a relat pequi de manca de tensió narrativa.
A destacar sobretot les il·lustracions de Max i Sebastian Fiumara, que s'ajusten al personatge com un guant, que són absolutament poderoses i que saben captar l'atmosfera estranya del món de l'Itchyo Sapien
La primera història, "Oscuro y terrible", seria perfecta si no pequés d'un dels principals defectes de l'univers Hellboy: l'aparició d'un monstre enorme (oscuro y terrible) final. Només amb la part del sacerdot i la parroquia atemorida hauria funcionat collonudament.
La segona, "La nueva raza del hombre", ens transporta a Llac Salton (lligadíssim amb les trames de l'AIDP) i força inquietant, encara que com a relat pequi de manca de tensió narrativa.
A destacar sobretot les il·lustracions de Max i Sebastian Fiumara, que s'ajusten al personatge com un guant, que són absolutament poderoses i que saben captar l'atmosfera estranya del món de l'Itchyo Sapien
July 7, 2016
I wasn't liking Abe's redesign, but it grew on me throughout this volume. I guess that I'll learn why it happened when I read the first run of B.P.R.D., so I kinda wish I had read it first, but regardless, this volume was still really interesting!
June 28, 2020
Dark & Terrible - 4*
Slow moving start to this series. Has some backstory and a lot of questions. I am beginning to hate Agent Devon for giving Abe such a hard time. Abe hides on a runaway train and the other occupants get suspicious. The BPRD manhunt for Abe is still in process. Escaping from the train into a small town cut off from civilization Abe finds a sympathetic priest who offers him a place to sleep and shelter. When Abe awakes the priest is preaching. All is not what it seems and everything goes to hell in a hand basket!
This series varied from 3* to 4* but there is some pretty good Art. There's a panel where you can actually see the hairs covering the Priest's forearm. Little details like that make me appreciate the comic more.
The New Race Of Men - 4*
Abe heads down towards the Salton Sea where a bunch of egg worshipping hippies are camped around an unhatched egg. He meets up with a trio caught up in a love triangle. Gene, the good looking one, who is clearly with Judy. Then there's Barry, the 3rd wheel who is so clearly in love with Judy (being her neighbor I think) except he is in the horrible "friend zone".
As they sit around a campfire after feeding Abe, they discuss the philosophy of the coming changes and what religion means. Great writing and characterization, very Arcudi. The art while not stellar fits with the atmosphere of the story. Unfortunately the second part 3* does not quite live up to the promise of the 5* first part, or this could have been a 5* story.
Slow moving start to this series. Has some backstory and a lot of questions. I am beginning to hate Agent Devon for giving Abe such a hard time. Abe hides on a runaway train and the other occupants get suspicious. The BPRD manhunt for Abe is still in process. Escaping from the train into a small town cut off from civilization Abe finds a sympathetic priest who offers him a place to sleep and shelter. When Abe awakes the priest is preaching. All is not what it seems and everything goes to hell in a hand basket!
This series varied from 3* to 4* but there is some pretty good Art. There's a panel where you can actually see the hairs covering the Priest's forearm. Little details like that make me appreciate the comic more.
The New Race Of Men - 4*
Abe heads down towards the Salton Sea where a bunch of egg worshipping hippies are camped around an unhatched egg. He meets up with a trio caught up in a love triangle. Gene, the good looking one, who is clearly with Judy. Then there's Barry, the 3rd wheel who is so clearly in love with Judy (being her neighbor I think) except he is in the horrible "friend zone".
As they sit around a campfire after feeding Abe, they discuss the philosophy of the coming changes and what religion means. Great writing and characterization, very Arcudi. The art while not stellar fits with the atmosphere of the story. Unfortunately the second part 3* does not quite live up to the promise of the 5* first part, or this could have been a 5* story.
February 24, 2020
A solid entry into the series, though it never feels truly independent from the events going on in the BPRD series. As such, we get the notion that Abe is supposed to be a central player in what’s going on in the Mignolaverse, but it never quite feels that way. He - and by extension - his books still feel on the periphery at this point. Though with this volume that is beginning to turn, and one imagines the shift will either truly be made in the next volume or the entire series will be relegated to well-meaning but ancillary material.
December 16, 2016
I'm sorry. Here comes another review where I say that Abe Sapien is my least favorite of the Hellboy/BPRD related books.
It is always so damn grim, and the random supporting characters that show up end up being more frustrating than intriguing.
This book was enjoyable, but in the end, it is the same thing--- Abe doesn't know why he has gone through a metamorphism , he travels to a new run down location. he meets some tragic locals and something awful happens to them.
It is always so damn grim, and the random supporting characters that show up end up being more frustrating than intriguing.
This book was enjoyable, but in the end, it is the same thing--- Abe doesn't know why he has gone through a metamorphism , he travels to a new run down location. he meets some tragic locals and something awful happens to them.
September 2, 2018
So this one takes us back into the world where the Plague of Frogs stuff is happening, Abe is evolving or something. All that. This one picks up more where BPRD left off, where the first couple volumes seemed like prequels or whatever.
You know what's really weird? I mean, you know what's really weird in this book with a giant dead sea monster and shit? Abe's "evolving" look has changed him from what he looks like in the comics to what he looks like in the movies. Ain't that a hoot?
You know what's really weird? I mean, you know what's really weird in this book with a giant dead sea monster and shit? Abe's "evolving" look has changed him from what he looks like in the comics to what he looks like in the movies. Ain't that a hoot?
June 9, 2018
This volume was very difficult to follow. I assume it was part of some kind of event, but we just get dropped into this full-time apocalypse. The discovery that, in some other story, Abe found out he used to be human is also disappointing. I know there's a good handful of characters with that backstory -- Drax, Swamp Thing -- but I always hate it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2020
Це... Інакше. Перша арка доповнює загальну картину, друга - філлер, і все знову і знову повертається до осердя БПРО - "як воно: бути людиною", що для Ейба змішане з Геллбоївською втечею від призначення. Впливу на завершення глобалки "Пекла на Землі" Ейб не мав, тож, у чому ж його роль, цікаво не лише самому Іхтіосапіену.
October 12, 2019
Now this was a lot better than volume 2. The story and art are top notch. My only complaint is there is a significant hole in the story between volume 2 & 3. You have to read BPRD to truly understand what’s going on. Granted there is a few paragraphs that paraphrase what you miss.
June 10, 2022
I appreciate how uniquely distinct all the various characters that have branched out from the Hellboy over arching thread, have held their own in their books.
Abe's particularly is rife with despair. The apocalyptic factor is on point.
Abe's particularly is rife with despair. The apocalyptic factor is on point.
July 10, 2017
Choppy and incoherent.
Pretty art however.
Pretty art however.
August 15, 2017
There is a mutated Jesus fish on the cover. And so the story begins.
May 11, 2018
Too much chaos, especially in the graphics. I miss Mignola's style.
October 4, 2018
Somehow I didn't care for what happened on the pages.
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