A God Somewhere

Written by John Arcudi
Art by Peter Snejbjerg

The last twenty years have seen a long string of books like this, where a Superman character is portrayed as being evil.  Without giving it too much thought, projects like Mark Waid's Irredeemable, and Peter Tomasi and Keith Champagne's The Mighty (which shares an artist with this book) spring to mind, and I know there are many more.

A God Somewhere fits in this milieu, but it also distinguishes itself by being incredibly well written, and by focusing as much on the incidental characters around the Superman figure as on him.

Eric and Hugh are brothers and very close friends.  They share a best friend, Sam, who has always had a thing for Hugh's wife Alma.  One day, something crashes into Eric's apartment building, destroying it, yet also granting Eric great abilities.  He springs into action to help rescue his neighbours, and is immediately exposed to the world as its first superhuman.

Eric is not very well-equipped to handle these abilities and the fame that they bring with them.  He starts to depend more and more on his Christianity, while also distancing himself from his friend and family.  Basically, he starts to lose it, and finds himself giving in to violent and dark urges.  Eventually, he is pursued by the Army, in a number of scenes that remind me more of The Incredible Hulk than of Superman.

I really like the way that John Arcudi explores Eric's reactions to his abilities, and how they affect his relationships.  Sam is the most interesting character in the book - he ends up working as a journalist covering the Army's hunt, but also feeling great empathy for his friend.

Peter Snejbjerg is one of the best artists working in comics today.  His figures are very expressive, and he excels at evoking emotion.  I really wish we would see his work more regularly.

The Hellboy Project: Abe Sapien: The Abyssal Plain #1&2

Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Art by Peter Snejbjerg

Reading this, I don't understand why it took so long for someone to realize what a perfect artist Peter Snejbjerg is for Abe Sapien.  This is a story set in the early 80s, which has Abe traveling on a salvage boat of questionable captaincy, looking for a potentially mystical artifact that was lost when a Soviet submarine sunk in 1948.

It follows the typical type of plot for a BPRD story.  In other words, the object is found, but it has a mystical defender, and so on and so on.  What I like about this particular tale is the way in which it shows Abe's human side, as his instincts tell him to handle this issue differently than his companions.

This is a good story, with fantastic art, and some very nice covers by Dave Johnson.  Recommended.

The Hellboy Project: B.P.R.D. War on Frogs #1-4

Written by John Arcudi
Art by Herb Trimpe, Guy Davis, John Severin, Karl Moline, and Peter Snejbjerg

I'm getting very close to the end of my Hellboy Project, where I've been reading one or two Hellboy or Hellboy-related story a day, in their original order of publication, the vast majority for the very first time.  I've gotten to the point where I've mostly bought individual issues instead of trades, and am beginning to think about the long view when I talk about these series.

War on Frogs was a mini-series that came out between other BPRD arcs, each issue focusing on one of the core BPRD characters who don't usually get much play, and fills in some of the things that happened during the BPRD's string of operations against the Frogs, the creatures that have been plaguing them since their title's inception.  This series was also unique because it is the first that doesn't give Mignola a writing credit, and for the wide stable of artists that it brings into the fold. 

The first issue has a Roger story, drawn by Herb Trimpe.  It's nice to see Roger in action again, and it reminds us of his humanity.  The third issue spotlights Liz Sherman, although it's told from the more interesting perspective of a female BPRD operative who looks up to her, but finds her impossible to relate to.

The best issues of the series are the second and fourth.  The second issue, with art by the legendary John Severin, doesn't really feature any of the main characters in an important role, and instead tells us what happened to a squad of operatives who were checking a boat for Frogs.  This story borrows heavily from Alien, as the single Frog picks off the soldiers.  Arcudi writes with the same suspense and tension of that famous movie, and Severin's more realistic art style helps add to the level of terror and believability.  The final issue, about Johann Kraus, is drawn by Peter Snejbjerg, and it looks fantastic. The story, about some Frog spirits that don't depart when their bodies are killed, is interesting. 

I like the way this series sort of reminds us of what the stakes are as we move into the big King of Fear arc.

Light Brigade

Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Peter Snejbjerg

Of late, Peter Tomasi has been tearing up some of the smaller corners of the DC Universe. His Green Lantern Corps has been consistently good, and I've really enjoyed his The Mighty. I heard good things about his Nightwing run, and have started to see his name attached to more and more upcoming projects.

I originally ignored Light Brigade when it came out because I didn't know his name, and as much as I'm a fan of Peter Snejbjerg, I didn't want to risk getting a prestige book written by an unknown quantity.

This is basically further proof that, even after years and years of buying comics, I don't know what I'm talking about. This is a very good title. Tomasi blends elements of Lucifer and Grant Morrison's Zauriel character with Sgt. Rock and a touch of The Eternal Warrior. It's a pretty good fit.

The story is about a fallen angel, and evil angel halfbreeds attempting to use the chaos of the Second World War to ignite an angelic sword. Standing in their way is a small band of American soldiers, under the command of an immortal Roman Centurion. It has all the makings of a good action comic, but what makes this title worth reading is the nice character work by Tomasi, especially on Chris Stavros, an infantryman who has just learned that his wife has died, and who has lost all faith in God. This character's arc is the most interesting part of the book, especially as his faith remains lost even when speaking to angels.

Snejbjerg's work is as brilliant as his work always is. He makes the fantastic aspects of the story fit perfectly alongside the mundane. I don't understand why this guy isn't appreciated more - he's incredibly talented.

Recommended.

Battlefields: Dear Billy #3

Written by Garth Ennis
Art by Peter Snejbjerg

I think this has to be one of the best books Ennis has written in years. In the first issue, the two protagonists manage to find each other amid the chaos caused by the Japanese during the war, and it is due to their similar experiences that Carrie first feels so attracted to Billy. In the second issue, they both go about their business of killing Japanese - Billy with much bravado as a bomber pilot, Carrie much more furtively and with slighter success.

It is in the third issue though that the differences between them come so strongly to the forefront. Carrie has never really left the atoll where she was raped, shot, and left for dead. Billy, however, is able to separate his past from his present, and views the war as a duty, and killing as his job. Their relationship comes to a terrible end, and we see the circumstances in which Carrie writes the letter that has formed the basis of narration through this whole book.

Ennis's writing is fantastic in this book, and it is aided to no small means by Snejbjerg, who completes the best work of his career. This has been a fantastic title.

Battlefields: Dear Billy #2

Written by Garth Ennis
Art by Peter Snejbjerg

This continues to be one of the better war stories Garth Ennis has written, as he focuses on a British nurse in India who has fallen for a British pilot. The story is told from the point of view of a letter she is writing him, in which she reveals her secrets and actions, which at this point, consist of her murdering any injured Japanese soldiers she can safely gain access to.

This is a form of revenge for her, and it is interesting that there is no real catharsis in it. She marvels at her lover's ability to compartmentalize his feelings about the war and the enemy, especially given the rough treatment that he suffered at the Japanese's hands.

The art in this book continues to be phenomenal, as Snejbjerg is doing some of the nicest work of his career.

Battlefields: Dear Billy #1

Written by Garth Ennis
Art by Peter Snejbjerg

While I enjoyed the first Battlefields mini-series a great deal, 'Dear Billy' is a much superior showing. This is serious-Ennis at his finest, as he tells the story of Carrie Sutton, a British nurse who had been raped, shot, and left for dead by the Japanese in the south Pacific during the 2nd World War, and her budding romance with Flight Lieutenant Billy Wedgewood, a bomber pilot who is recovering from a similar experience (with rifle bayonets symbolically replacing the rape).

This book is 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' meets 'The English Patient' (and perhaps, based on the last page, a dash of 'Misery' to come), and Ennis demonstrates his characters' incredible bravery and strength masterfully.

As good as the writing is, this book's success depends in large measure on the beautiful work by Snejbjerg, one of the best artists working in comics. His work is sparse yet evocative, and is aided wonderfully by the colours of Rob Steen. I've never really understood why Snejbjerg isn't used more in mainstream comics - his Starman run was exquisite, and I would like to see more of his work on a regular basis.

This series is highly recommended.