B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #140–142: The Exorcist

[middenway]

I see this arc got a mention in Abe Sapien #27's Hellmail, so I thought I'd create a thread for it. No news yet, just a title.

[horror-of-sorts]

I wonder who'll be writing this one, I was confused how John Arcudi had ten issues left to get to #147 but now it makes sense with this in between. Perhaps we could see the return of Abe with Scott Allie writing this arc, as I do feel that Abe is nearing it's end of this cycle but I doubt it as they have yet to deal with Gustav Strobl.
It could even be Chris Roberson jumping in on this arc, he could helm the third BPRD cycle.

Another thing I'm wondering is how this would be collected, they'd need another 2 issue arc, which would be #149 after Arcudi's final issue at 147. Maybe #150 will be the beginning of the third cycle.

[middenway]

I wonder who'll be writing this one, I was confused how John Arcudi had ten issues left to get to #147 but now it makes sense with this in between. Perhaps we could see the return of Abe with Scott Allie writing this arc, as I do feel that Abe is nearing it's end of this cycle but I doubt it as they have yet to deal with Gustav Strobl.
It could even be Chris Roberson jumping in on this arc, he could helm the third BPRD cycle.

Another thing I'm wondering is how this would be collected, they'd need another 2 issue arc, which would be #149 after Arcudi's final issue at 147. Maybe #150 will be the beginning of the third cycle.

I can't say a thing, damn it. An announcement will be coming soon though.

[LobsterJohnson]

I can't say a thing, damn it. An announcement will be coming soon though.

Gaah! Now I really want to know what the announcement is!

[The Lobster]

I wonder who'll be writing this one, I was confused how John Arcudi had ten issues left to get to #147 but now it makes sense with this in between. Perhaps we could see the return of Abe with Scott Allie writing this arc

I hope not, Allie's not a good writer.

[horror-of-sorts]

I can't say a thing, damn it. An announcement will be coming soon though.

Yeah I know, I just can't help but speculate in times like these, with Hell on Earth ending and Arcudi leaving I just can't wait to see what the next big chapter of this story will look like. With this 'era' closing I think it's time that I re-read this universe again!

[highlandhellboy]

I hope not, Allie's not a good writer.

I don't get the hate. I really have enjoyed the whole Abe series, Even with Abe taking a backseat in a lot of the earlier issues.

Can't wait for the announcement, Loving the Hellboyverse right now, Not that I ever have not.

[The Lobster]

I don't get the hate. I really have enjoyed the whole Abe series, Even with Abe taking a backseat in a lot of the earlier issues.

Can't wait for the announcement, Loving the Hellboyverse right now, Not that I ever have not.

Frankly, he's nowhere near the standard Mignola and Arcudi have set when it comes to writing. He's overly melodramatic and does a poor job of conveying the "man on the street" aspect that the book is trying to sell. BPRD #124 did a better job of Abe Sapien's mission statement in one page than Allie's entire run.

[middenway]

Whoops. The Devil You Know is not the title of this arc. It's something else.

[Markus]

I can totally agree. He's not as good writer as Arcudi. Abe series felt like a drag of pretty much of repeating same thing and very little getting to know the main star of the series, Abe.

[Joker]

I haven't read Abe so I can't comment on the book, but I do wonder how much of this isn't 'he's a bad writer' so much as he's writing a book that isn't the book people wanted it to be.

[Markus]

He's not a bad writer. Sometimes he can write interesting things. But with Abe he repeats the idea with every arc without giving main character a development and overall a spark to some of the stories are missing.

[Kees_L]

Lemme try to be brief:

I don't think the gloom or doom would have to be a problem for current BPRD or either Abe on his own, but I could see it being hard to stay with the storytelling perspective somehow.

Like if Hellboy or LoJo or Ed Grey disappears into the gaping monster mouth of some tentacled behemoth, it couldn't be a bad thing. Like you'd be in for a story.

But the same thing happening to a team member of the B.P.R.D. and it immediately appears implied that doom must be coming instantaneous and irrevokable somehow! Like almost as if doom couldn't not come with every turn or bend the more...

I really have this concerning the BPRD and its lovely compelling human versus 'inhuman'(?) kind of focus. Which seems different from Hellboy or LoJo or Ed Grey in that however I like and love those characters, stuff becoming rough isn't ever a bad thing - it couldn't weird me out. But any such with be it Johann or Liz or Abe and I find myself going: "that's it, they're gonna die or snap or break down and any *Defense* would simply fizzle, in vain, etc".

I'm trying to adapt my expectations both as my reading for each new book as much as I can. But it occurs to me some titles seem to need more adapting than others. I won't say writing or art to being "bad" or "wrong" since it basically will be what it will be, whereas I simply need to approach it correctly... But I do agree or feel understanding towards where talk on this could stem from or how it would seem appropriate a topic - as I would feel it is an appropriate topic, so I thought to share on it.

[middenway]

Personally, I find the Abe Sapien Dark and Terrible cycle reads significantly better in the trades. When it's all collected in omnibuses, I'm sure it will be the best way to read it. There's a lot of stuff going on visually that becomes much more apparent reading it in big chunks at a time.

[zerodemon]

Abe is my favourite book. It's the only one with a main character who expresses what he's feeling with his monster face instead of using his words.