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B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth
B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth, Vol. 12: Metamorphosis
Following a devastating mission in the mountains, Johann and his troops take on an easy assignment destroying a monster. But things go bad when the civilians protecting it fight back and the Bureau agents turn against Johann, leading to a traumatic turning point in the ghost agent's career. This volume collects B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #130-#134.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 2016
About the author
Mike Mignola
1,848 books2,579 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 48 reviews
June 3, 2019
The 2 stories both focus on Johan. In the first his compatriots are creeped out because he takes over one of their dead comrades. It's well written and something in retrospect I'm surprised Arcudi and Mignola haven't tackled this before.
The second story brings Sledgehammer '44 into the B.P.R.D. I love seeing more of the possessed suit of armor. My only complaint is that the first issue is mostly just a recap of the Sledgehammer '44 miniseries.
Peter Snejbjerg and Julian Totino Tedesco provide the art which is a step above what you normally see in BPRD. I'm honestly pleasantly surprised to see them take a turn on BPRD.
The second story brings Sledgehammer '44 into the B.P.R.D. I love seeing more of the possessed suit of armor. My only complaint is that the first issue is mostly just a recap of the Sledgehammer '44 miniseries.
Peter Snejbjerg and Julian Totino Tedesco provide the art which is a step above what you normally see in BPRD. I'm honestly pleasantly surprised to see them take a turn on BPRD.
February 13, 2016
Johann leads a BPRD crew to their favourite location, Nowheresville, USA, where they encounter yet more idiot humans pointlessly protecting and worshipping monsters. He fails to take into account their feelings and does something insensitive. Also, Sledgehammer 44!
I’ve said it about the last few BPRD books because it’s true and Metamorphosis is no different - it’s more of the same crap. Same bad stories and same paper-thin plotlines that are subplots at best. It’s amazing that so little can be stretched to make another volume but Mike Mignola and co. keep managing to pull it off.
Metamorphosis is made up of two arcs: Nowhere, Nothing, Never (which ironically describes most of the series) and Modern Prometheus, the latter of which I’d say is the only one worth reading if only for Julian Totino Tedesco’s art. The arc features Sledgehammer 44, a series I read one issue of before giving up on, but the visuals of seeing this super-powered armour fighting the Black Flame in his Hugo Boss (it’s true, that company actually made the Nazis’ outfits!) SS gear over the European skies was pretty cool.
That’s about it though and really, another invincible tough guy who punches things real hard? It’s just more evidence that Mignola’s long been out of ideas and, at this point, is circling back on himself.
I had thought (hoped) this would be the penultimate volume in the Hell on Earth arc but unfortunately I was mistaken - it’s gonna drag on and on until who knows when. It may not be the end of the arc but it’s the end for me! I’m not going to keep reading one miserable volume after another - it’s too disappointing and disheartening. I’m done! I leave the BPRD to the hardcore fans who can somehow stand this sub-standard fare and keep these guys churning out more.
BPRD was a great series about, oh, twenty books ago? It’s certainly metamorphosed since then and not for the better!
I’ve said it about the last few BPRD books because it’s true and Metamorphosis is no different - it’s more of the same crap. Same bad stories and same paper-thin plotlines that are subplots at best. It’s amazing that so little can be stretched to make another volume but Mike Mignola and co. keep managing to pull it off.
Metamorphosis is made up of two arcs: Nowhere, Nothing, Never (which ironically describes most of the series) and Modern Prometheus, the latter of which I’d say is the only one worth reading if only for Julian Totino Tedesco’s art. The arc features Sledgehammer 44, a series I read one issue of before giving up on, but the visuals of seeing this super-powered armour fighting the Black Flame in his Hugo Boss (it’s true, that company actually made the Nazis’ outfits!) SS gear over the European skies was pretty cool.
That’s about it though and really, another invincible tough guy who punches things real hard? It’s just more evidence that Mignola’s long been out of ideas and, at this point, is circling back on himself.
I had thought (hoped) this would be the penultimate volume in the Hell on Earth arc but unfortunately I was mistaken - it’s gonna drag on and on until who knows when. It may not be the end of the arc but it’s the end for me! I’m not going to keep reading one miserable volume after another - it’s too disappointing and disheartening. I’m done! I leave the BPRD to the hardcore fans who can somehow stand this sub-standard fare and keep these guys churning out more.
BPRD was a great series about, oh, twenty books ago? It’s certainly metamorphosed since then and not for the better!
August 17, 2016
This volume focuses on Johann and I really enjoyed it. It was great to see the disembodied German get some time in the spotlight and have his status quo seriously altered in the process. I'm really looking forward to seeing what's next for Johann now that .
I couldn't give this five stars, though, as so much of the fourth issue collected here was taken up with flashbacks to previous Mignolaverse books. As is often the case with flashbacks, they aren't informative enough to really clue in readers who didn't read the issues being recapped and they're tedious for readers who did read the recapped issues. I'd much rather they had a 'recommended reading' section on the intro page to let readers know what other books they might want to read first, like Marvel are doing with their new Ultimates book.
I couldn't give this five stars, though, as so much of the fourth issue collected here was taken up with flashbacks to previous Mignolaverse books. As is often the case with flashbacks, they aren't informative enough to really clue in readers who didn't read the issues being recapped and they're tedious for readers who did read the recapped issues. I'd much rather they had a 'recommended reading' section on the intro page to let readers know what other books they might want to read first, like Marvel are doing with their new Ultimates book.
August 24, 2025
This twelfth volume of the Hell on Earth series has two story arcs, Nowhere, Nothing, Never with art by Peter Snejbjerg and Modern Prometheus with art by Julian Totino Tedesco. I preferred the story from the first but the art from the second. (And I still think if there was more uniformity in the illustration it would help the cohesion and continuity of the whole thing, but...) Both are centered on Johann, and he shows some real change and development. In the first one the B.P.R.D. team he's leading is having to fight the crazy human monster worshippers instead of the monsters themselves (again...sigh...), and he uses the body of a team member that's just been killed, not understanding the blowback he's going to get from the rest of the team. The art is a little too cartoony for the subject. The second one gets a little too recursive as it recaps the Sledgehammer 44 story and ties it into the B.P.R.D./H.o.E. infrastructure, but the transformation at the end is well handled. The WWII flashback art is very good. The book's very good as individual pieces, but the overall storyline has become a little too involved to try to follow without research and scorecards. (Liz and Kate are still cool, and where's Abe?)
October 1, 2018
Finally some long-needed focus on Johann in this volume of Hell on Earth. Johann used to be one of my favourite BPRD members during Plague of Frogs, but if I'm completely honest, I kinda stopped liking the guy lately. He became so distant and cold, which is reasonable considering that he's a living ectoplasm in a suit, I guess, but without guys like Abe or Hellboy around it just started to be more and more apparent. This volume acknowledges and addresses that, and I'm glad that it does. The reintroduction of Sledgehammer '44 is also a welcome new idea, because not only does it give the BPRD team a much-needed advantage against the monsters, it also ties really well with Johann's character arc, and I always felt that the original Sledgehammer was very underused in the Mignolaverse outside of his one solo volume. Overall, Metamorphosis is yet another excellent volume of the series that keeps going surprisingly strong so close to its conclusion.
July 7, 2016
Now THAT was a good volume. Johann's character was becoming a bit meh for me, but in this volume he was a ton better! Also, Sledgehammer is a really interesting concept to me, so I can't wait to a) read his own series and b) see how Johann and the Sledgehammer armor "get along".
May 18, 2016
Another character focused story that also builds the shit out of the world.
I love it when the Mignolaverse ties into each other through characters so when I saw Sledgehammer and Johann on the cover I was very excited.
World: The art was great, up to usual BPRD standards, stylish enough to be different but still very brutal and real. The world building is phenomenal, a world building fans nerdgasm. The way that the story ties into Sledgehammer was amazing giving us a game changing end result. I won't say anymore.
Story: Two great stories full of loss and heart. Johann is handled well and his struggles have been a long developed story but this is the first time I've really seen the interaction with other team members and how he views himself, it's really good. The second story with the link to Sledgehammer is absolutely fantastic I won't say more it's shit you pants good.
Characters: Johann is great this arc, his story, his struggles is highly sympathetic and tragic. This is a fairly deep and quiet look this time, and it's great, the evolution he goes through is mind blowing. The rest of the cast is good, but mainly this is a Johann tale, the stuff with Redding is also great but I don't spoil that.
Absolutely wonderful, nothing else to say.
Onward to the next book!
I love it when the Mignolaverse ties into each other through characters so when I saw Sledgehammer and Johann on the cover I was very excited.
World: The art was great, up to usual BPRD standards, stylish enough to be different but still very brutal and real. The world building is phenomenal, a world building fans nerdgasm. The way that the story ties into Sledgehammer was amazing giving us a game changing end result. I won't say anymore.
Story: Two great stories full of loss and heart. Johann is handled well and his struggles have been a long developed story but this is the first time I've really seen the interaction with other team members and how he views himself, it's really good. The second story with the link to Sledgehammer is absolutely fantastic I won't say more it's shit you pants good.
Characters: Johann is great this arc, his story, his struggles is highly sympathetic and tragic. This is a fairly deep and quiet look this time, and it's great, the evolution he goes through is mind blowing. The rest of the cast is good, but mainly this is a Johann tale, the stuff with Redding is also great but I don't spoil that.
Absolutely wonderful, nothing else to say.
Onward to the next book!
October 4, 2017
FINALLY. A good volume! The last few have not been good. This is a great Johann story. He learns just how badly he is drifting out of touch with humanity and he tries to find himself. He rediscovers the vril energy suit from Sledgehammer 44 and is now going to use that as his new vessel. He ends up killing tons of kaiju with it and it looks like they are finally starting to build towards the climax now.
November 5, 2025
Johann was a pretty bad guy when he was in his physical form, when he regained that form he was a glutton and now he realizes that he’s been so far from the goodness of humanity that he has become something else- obviously, he is not flesh and bone anymore but he’s so far away from being a partner or leader. He learns that he is wrong and that being a leader and a good guy isn’t something that is easy or even the “best” plan (from a strategy standpoint) but it’s what is right.
October 31, 2017
Generally speaking, B.P.R.D. understands how important variety is in a long form story. Every so often, short stories or a smaller arc focusing on a single character keeps things fresh in a series. That is exactly what this volume is and while there isn't a lot of new ground being broken, by focusing on Johann and exploring both his character and development, Metamorphosis is definitely a fun read. It doesn't hurt that the art is really good, some of the best I've seen in B.P.R.D. recently. Johann is one of my favorite characters in this series because he is quietly confident and always tries his best to accomplish whatever is needed. It was nice to see him shine once again and I have a feeling that the story in B.P.R.D. will ramp up from here as Hell on Earth nears its conclusion.
March 6, 2017
Whilst I'm not the biggest fan of Johann, this Johann focused volume was actually very good, and it was awesome to see the return of Sledgehammer 44.
My main problem with this volume was the art in the first half which wasn't very good, although the second half was a vast improvement.
My main problem with this volume was the art in the first half which wasn't very good, although the second half was a vast improvement.
July 28, 2024
All the time the destruction of the world is going on there are also personal stories going on at the same time - this installment is one of them - in this case focusing on Johann our ectoplasmic champion.
Now more often than not (and even so in early books from this series) Johann has been portrayed as a bit of a cold and sometimes calculating character - willing to make sacrifices (of others) for his own goals - here however you get to see the start of a different side to him. Helped I will admit by the return of some of the spirits from earlier in the series (you will see what I mean).
So for me although this is probably seen as a side story I think for me it is all the more important as it helps remind us of the characters involved
Now more often than not (and even so in early books from this series) Johann has been portrayed as a bit of a cold and sometimes calculating character - willing to make sacrifices (of others) for his own goals - here however you get to see the start of a different side to him. Helped I will admit by the return of some of the spirits from earlier in the series (you will see what I mean).
So for me although this is probably seen as a side story I think for me it is all the more important as it helps remind us of the characters involved
October 28, 2017
Quero agradecer à Saraiva do Botafogo Praia Shopping, ao confortável sofá preto deles e ao sistema de ar condicionado de lá por uma tarde tranquila com um quadrinho sinceramente bem mais ou menos, que eu não achei que valesse o preço de 81 reais estabelecido pela livraria, mas que ainda assim me proporcionou momentos divertidos e valeu a leitura dadas as circunstâncias.
July 30, 2020
Завдяки поверненню мотиву людяності та фокусі на Йоганні, ці дві арки суттєво вирізняються на тлі сусідніх.
Та навіть за набутої людиною-привидом міці, перспективи перемогти для БПРО все ще примарні.
Та навіть за набутої людиною-привидом міці, перспективи перемогти для БПРО все ще примарні.
June 27, 2020
This whole mess started on an insane mission, where instead of fighting monsters the team has to fight the redneck human worshipers of the monsters. Enos wanted to quit but wasn't allowed to, by his team mates. Johann ends up ordering Enos to do his job, and [ as soon as he took the shot, he was exposed and got killed. Then Johann used Agent Enos's body to defeat the enemy.
God dammit. I liked Enos. He's the one that would have been the "sleep with" in a game of FMK. The entire team is mad at him for that. Seeing both sides ... it's hard to say what I would have done or felt in that situation. I even said "No! Nooooo" out loud at the desecration of Enos' body when it happened. Ugh. Wow, that is good writing and great art if it can elicit such a visceral reaction.
Due to the despair Johann feels (after he tries to talk to Liz), he goes outside, looks at the stars and releases his body. Did he commit suicide? Plot Twist! And the tables turned on us readers! Johann returns to the motel to talk with Enos' ghost. After whining like only he can, Enos says "Probably you shouldn't be coming to dead people for sympathy". The residents set a trap for him but it backfires. Then he has his revenge. I didn't see that coming either!
Colorado is almost on the brink of being overwhelmed when Johann comes back weilding the Vril armor (after persuading its previous "master" to depart for the Heavens". Oh Wow. Loved that too. In fact I love this entire 5 parter even though the art seems to have suffered with James Herrod's departure. I miss his drawing.
God dammit. I liked Enos. He's the one that would have been the "sleep with" in a game of FMK. The entire team is mad at him for that. Seeing both sides ... it's hard to say what I would have done or felt in that situation. I even said "No! Nooooo" out loud at the desecration of Enos' body when it happened. Ugh. Wow, that is good writing and great art if it can elicit such a visceral reaction.
Due to the despair Johann feels (after he tries to talk to Liz), he goes outside, looks at the stars and releases his body. Did he commit suicide? Plot Twist! And the tables turned on us readers! Johann returns to the motel to talk with Enos' ghost. After whining like only he can, Enos says "Probably you shouldn't be coming to dead people for sympathy". The residents set a trap for him but it backfires. Then he has his revenge. I didn't see that coming either!
Colorado is almost on the brink of being overwhelmed when Johann comes back weilding the Vril armor (after persuading its previous "master" to depart for the Heavens". Oh Wow. Loved that too. In fact I love this entire 5 parter even though the art seems to have suffered with James Herrod's departure. I miss his drawing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2015
If you like your heroes dark & disturbed with a touch of the macabre and a heaping helping of Lovecraft stirred in, then B.P.R.D. is for you.
B.P.R.D. continues, year after year and issue after issue, to be an indescribable success. B.P.R.D. is one of the most consistently entertaining comics ever made and the fact that it remains as relentlessly disturbing please me to no end. B.P.R.D. and the companion books Hellboy & Abe Sapien are always on the top of my to-read list and they never disappoint me. This latest collection continues to relate the stories of the B.P.R.D. crew after the events of Armageddon has began and Hell has come to Earth's surface.
B.P.R.D. continues, year after year and issue after issue, to be an indescribable success. B.P.R.D. is one of the most consistently entertaining comics ever made and the fact that it remains as relentlessly disturbing please me to no end. B.P.R.D. and the companion books Hellboy & Abe Sapien are always on the top of my to-read list and they never disappoint me. This latest collection continues to relate the stories of the B.P.R.D. crew after the events of Armageddon has began and Hell has come to Earth's surface.
December 30, 2015
Johann had to face to some hard truths in this collection, about how he conducts himself in the field and around his troops. This was a pretty good Johann-focused story with a neat dream sequence that took me a couple of passes to understand and some rather interesting slapstick to help lighten the mood.
February 19, 2023
Johan just cannot catch a break. When events in one of the provincial towns in US (it is surprising that there are still survivors in the country) go bad, he again gets ostracized by his teammates. This will push him towards a radical move - to try to exculpate himself by activating the mysterious armor remains of WW2 legend, Sledgehammer 44. Its gonna be interesting to see if Johan becomes more action oriented character in future volumes. Him in armor and Liz with her firepower, man that would be quite a team.
Again, another filler for the series, so if you are expecting some major story-line advance you might be disappointed. For me, it is lore filler (first time I came across Sledgehammer character) and I enjoyed it.
Recommended to the fans of the series.
Again, another filler for the series, so if you are expecting some major story-line advance you might be disappointed. For me, it is lore filler (first time I came across Sledgehammer character) and I enjoyed it.
Recommended to the fans of the series.
January 12, 2020
4.5
This is another side quest within this larger arc and I didn't mind it. The volume is split between 2 stories and manages to succeed with both. I don't consider these the best of the series, but they're good and are maintaining the highest quality of the series. I haven't been disappointed by Hell on Earth.
Why the 4.5?
Another solid volume. It's not the best of the series but it ensures that characters are in place for the last few volumes. It's almost at the endgame and these final volumes are critical for the success of the series. This volume is strong and paves the way for the next volume.
This is another side quest within this larger arc and I didn't mind it. The volume is split between 2 stories and manages to succeed with both. I don't consider these the best of the series, but they're good and are maintaining the highest quality of the series. I haven't been disappointed by Hell on Earth.
Why the 4.5?
Another solid volume. It's not the best of the series but it ensures that characters are in place for the last few volumes. It's almost at the endgame and these final volumes are critical for the success of the series. This volume is strong and paves the way for the next volume.
September 12, 2020
Johan Strauss, the ectoplasmic man, has become the surprising breakout character of the BPRD series, and in this volume we get a close look at how unmoored he has become form his fellow human agents, and how his only way forward is to commit fully to the fact that he can not dwell between one world and another. And so we see a triumphant return of Sledgehammer ‘44 in a turn that brings Johan to a new level and provides the BPRD with some welcome firepower. But will any of it be even close to what is needed to turn the tide?
August 5, 2018
Nice to see Johann's character developed significantly, exploring his past, seeing how possessing a recently deceased squadmate can rattle his team, and some exciting development for the near future.
November 25, 2018
An agent, who is also a ghost, battles monsters.
Some of the plot / storyline / graphics were good, but overall this didn’t feel like a complete work.
Some of the plot / storyline / graphics were good, but overall this didn’t feel like a complete work.
December 25, 2018
Really, really good stuff. Awesome artwork and truly fantastic storytelling.
January 28, 2020
Johann evolves, and turns into a bad ass
October 27, 2022
A surprisingly excellent entry in the saga. This entire volume is focused on the personal development of one of the characters and it’s transformation into something awesome. Excellent!
January 18, 2025
Ok, this one was better. At last, a little hope.
March 2, 2026
freakin' fantastic time with this. Johann's character is so interesting, and they gave him some closure on the direction he has been seeking for a while.
January 12, 2024
The first story in this volume was incredible, but what came after made me lose a bit of interest.
March 18, 2017
This collection continues the focus on character-driven stories as the larger world collapses. We enter with the fallout from a mission to kill a monster, where Johann has to face up to his own monstrous choices. His tricks learned from his time in Russia are horrific to watch here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews