B.P.R.D., Vol. 14: King of Fear

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW! Great piece! Thrilling end to the War on Frogs! The return of The Black Flame! Lobster Johnson reaches his final “resting” place! (Maybe we'll see him again. I certainly hope we do.) Johann has resumed his “form” and has been released from the ghost of the Lobster. We've got hints of a future where Hellboy has returned to his position with the B.P.R.D. - photograhic evidence of the future! The Ogdru Hem are gone, for a while at least. Let's catch our breath with something a bit different for now. Some crazy international stuff, with political intrigue!

Questions regarding Abe's species: I can't believe that he would be a future incarnation of the frog people, but in this universe, it does seem a likelier story than being inhabited - taken over? consumed by? - an alien species, especially since his origin story comes nearer the beginning of this series. But I just don't feel that this storyline had so much plotting to it to have allowed for such a major revelation to have been so carefully planned... I don't feel like Davis and Mignola write these characters with a clear idea of who they are going to become and where they're coming from. They are so organic and human.

Questions regarding Liz' powers: So... she's in Bangkok (and, as a side note, what's with the dickish French?) and she needs a light for her cig? She's never been one for masking her power in public, which I kind of love about her. Does the new, international gig, sanctioned by the UN, disincline her to scare people with flaming fingertips? Or is this the big bang, grand finale of the firestarter that we've been waiting for? Memnan Saa has hinted that this was the battle she was born to fight - and win. If we've won, does Liz no longer have any powers because they would no longer have a purpose?

Just great. Just absolutely great. ‘Scuse me now, while I go get the B.P.R.D. emblem tattoed onto my body.