3 out of 5

How do you like your comics – very recappy?

I guess I understand the necessity of this two-parter, which was essentially “B.P.R.D.: guest-starring Sledgehammer!” but it’s interesting that they took this route – literally spending the majority of issue 133 summarizing the Sledge minis – since the Hellboy world is generally so mythology heavy and pretty much relies on dedicated readership to pick through it…  It makes me wonder if, pending Arcudi’s leaving the book in few issues, the Mignola crew is playing the long plan of turning the Mignolaverse into something more and more resembling your Marvel or DC “join at any time and get the gist” thing.  Time will tell.  …As it has told (via me) my skeptical take on the way their release schedule has ballooned over the past few years…

But besides the point.

Which is: Arcudi makes the summary work by layering it with a present day narrative, which has Johann studying the destroyed Sledge suit to determine if it can serve as an alternate for his sweet, sweet plasma.  Meanwhile, the Hell creatures are getting closer to the compound.  Sure would be a good time for the multiple presences of the suit to reach out and grant Johann some of their ghost powers…

While some of the panel transitions are a little confusing – scope suddenly changing, locations hard to determine – newer house artist Julián Totino Tedesco takes over Laurence Campbell’s sketchy style and sharpens it up with more balanced mid-ranges (Stewart gets to work with greys for what seems the first time in a long while) and clearer paneling.  The story itself is definitely more of a bridge between larger pieces than anything else, but it effectively brings SH “home” into the modern BPRD world without it feeling forced.