B.P.R.D.: The Soul of Venice and Other Stories

Last updated
B.P.R.D.:
The Soul of Venice
& Other Stories
B.P.R.D. The Soul of Venice and Other Stories.jpg
Trade Paperback Cover
Publication information
Publisher Dark Horse Comics
Format Trade paperback
Genre
Publication dateAugust 25, 2004
Main character(s)
Creative team
Created byMike Mignola
Written by
Artist(s)
Penciller(s) Adam Pollina
Inker(s) Guillermo Zubiaga
Letterer(s)
Colorist(s)
Editor(s) Scott Allie
Collected editions
'B.P.R.D.: The Soul of Venice & Other Stories' ISBN   978-1-59307-132-5

B.P.R.D.: The Soul of Venice & Other Stories is the second trade paperback collection in the B.P.R.D. series.

Contents

Publication history

The series of four one-shot comic books written by a variety of guest writers and artists were published bi-monthly to alternate with sister title Hellboy: Weird Tales in 2003 whilst Mignola was in Prague working on the first Hellboy movie. [1]

Collected stories

The Soul of Venice

This story written by Miles Gunter and Michael Avon Oeming with Mike Mignola and drawn by Michael Avon Oeming was published in B.P.R.D.: The Soul of Venice (May 14, 2003).

In the story, Sapien returns to Venice with Sherman, Kraus and Roger to investigate an environmental disaster in the canals that leads them to the haunted home of the debauched 13th century vampire lord Romulus Diovanni. Diovanni defeats the B.P.R.D. and uses the Tetragrammaton to summon the demonic Lord Shax to whom he offers the spirit of the Roman goddess Cloacina. Shax dismisses Diovanni and Roger is then able to destroy the vampire and release the goddess to restore the city.

Dark Waters

This story written by Brian Augustyn with art by Guy Davis was published in B.P.R.D.: Dark Waters (July 23, 2003).

In the story, when the draining of the town pond in Shiloh, Massachusetts reveals the perfectly preserved corpses of three sisters killed during a witch-hunt in 1693 Sapien and Roger are sent to investigate. Pastor Blackwood a descendant of the town’s original Witchfinder General becomes possessed by the cursed water and attempts to destroy the bodies but Sapien is able to initiate a proper Christian funeral service for the sisters that sends them to their eternal rest taking Blackwood with them.

Night Train

This story written by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins with art by Scott Kolins and Dave Stewart was published in B.P.R.D.: Night Train (September 17, 2003).

In the story, Lobster Johnson fails to stop a Nazi saboteur killing his assistant and destroying a train carrying scientists and equipment for the Manhattan Project in Colorado 1939. Sherman and Roger investigate a vengeful ghost train in present-day Alabama that leads them to the now aged saboteur who imposes his aura on Sherman so the ghosts take her instead. Roger has a vision of the ghost of Johnson who helps him to prove himself by rescuing Sherman and apprehending the real saboteur.

There's Something Under My Bed

This written story by Joe Harris with art by Adam Pollina and Guillermo Zubiaga was published in B.P.R.D.: There's Something Under My Bed (November 19, 2003).

In the story, when young Bobby McKenna becomes the latest child to be kidnapped by a demon called Charlie who lives under the beds in Masonville, Pennsylvania, Corrigan sends Sapien, Sherman, Kraus, and Roger to look over the rest of the town’s children. Sapien hides in a closet to confront Charlie and is teleported to where the children are being held. Charlie turns on his boss Oogie when he threatens to eat the children and Sherman arrives in time to rescue Sapien and the kids.

Another Day at the Office

This short story, written by Mike Mignola with art by Cameron Stewart, premiered in this collection.

In the story, Sapien, Krauss, and Agent Turner from the London Office arrive in Bolgrad, Moldavia in the aftermath of a zombie attack that leads them to a 15th-century chapel where latent psychic Robert Huntley has been possessed by the spirit of bloodthirsty tyrant and national hero Count Yegor Kurya who they quickly dispatch.

Collected Editions

Trade Paperback

The stories were collected into a trade paperback:

B.P.R.D. Omnibus Edition

The trade was later collected as a part of the Plague of Frogs cycle in the B.P.R.D. Omnibus format, along with Hollow Earth & Other Stories and B.P.R.D.: Plague of Frogs . This format is available in both hardcover and paperback editions.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hellboy</span> Comic book superhero

Hellboy is a superhero created by Mike Mignola and appearing in comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. The character first appeared in San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2, and has since appeared in various miniseries, one-shots and intercompany crossovers. The character has been adapted into four live-action films: Hellboy (2004) and its sequel The Golden Army (2008), a 2019 reboot film, and The Crooked Man, another reboot scheduled to release in 2024. The character also appeared in two straight-to-DVD animated films and three video games – Dogs of the Night (2000), The Science of Evil (2004) and Web of Wyrd (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense</span> Fictional government agency

The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense is a fictional organization in the comic book work of Mike Mignola. The B.P.R.D. originally appeared in the Hellboy comics and has since become a major part of its expanded universe, where it was supposedly founded by the United States and United Kingdom governments, and charged with researching the occult, paranormal and supernatural, and also defending against their dangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abe Sapien</span> Fictional character in the comic book series Hellboy

Abraham Sapien, born Langdon Everett Caul, is a fictional character in the comic book series Hellboy, created by Mike Mignola. He takes his name from "Ichthyo sapien", the fanciful species designation chosen for him by his colleagues in the 19th-century Oannes Club, and from Abraham Lincoln, on whose assassination date the Oannes Club abandoned Abe's body in a suspended animation tank beneath a Washington D.C. hospital, leaving only a cryptic note as explanation. He is occasionally referred to as an "amphibious man."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Mignola</span> American comic artist and writer

Michael Mignola is an American comic book artist and writer best known for creating Hellboy for Dark Horse Comics, part of a shared universe of titles including B.P.R.D., Abe Sapien, Lobster Johnson, and various spin-offs. He has also created other supernatural and paranormal themed titles for Dark Horse including Baltimore, Joe Golem, and The Amazing Screw-On Head.

Guy Davis is an American creature designer, concept artist, illustrator and storyboard artist who has worked on film, television, comic book and video game projects. He is known for his collaborations with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, including the television series The Strain (2014–17) and the films Pacific Rim (2013), Crimson Peak (2015) and The Shape of Water (2017). Beforehand, Davis was the regular artist for the Hellboy spinoff comic B.P.R.D. (2003–2010), as well as the artist behind his own creator-owned comic The Marquis (2009).

Elizabeth Anne "Liz" Sherman is a fictional character appearing in the Hellboy comic book series created by Mike Mignola. A firestarter, she becomes a ward of the B.P.R.D. at age 11 after burning her family to death in a traumatic accident. Sherman later hones her abilities and becomes a longtime field agent for the Bureau alongside Hellboy and Abe Sapien.

<i>Hellboy: Conqueror Worm</i> Hellboy comic book mini-series

Hellboy: Conqueror Worm is a Hellboy comic book mini-series, written and drawn by Mike Mignola and published by Dark Horse Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johann Kraus</span> Hellboy character

Johann Kraus is a fictional character in the comic book series Hellboy, created by Mike Mignola. He is featured in the comic book B.P.R.D., published by Dark Horse Comics. Kraus is a disembodied ectoplasmic spirit with psychic abilities, who inhabits a containment suit, without which his form would eventually dissipate and be lost forever.

Katherine Corrigan is a fictional character from the Hellboy and B.P.R.D. comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics and created by Mike Mignola. Her appearance is based on Mignola's wife, Christine. Within the world of the comics, dubbed the "Mignola-verse", Corrigan acts as B.P.R.D. field leader to "enhanced" agents including Hellboy, Abe Sapien, Roger the Homunculus, Liz Sherman and Johann Kraus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lobster Johnson</span> Comic book character

Lobster Johnson is a fictional character featured in the Hellboy and Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. He was created by Mike Mignola.

<i>Hellboy II: The Golden Army</i> 2008 film by Guillermo del Toro

Hellboy II: The Golden Army is a 2008 American superhero film based on the Dark Horse Comics character of the same name, created by Mike Mignola. Produced by Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin in association with Dark Horse Entertainment, and distributed by Universal Pictures, it is a sequel to Hellboy (2004) and is the second live-action film in the franchise. Directed and written by Guillermo del Toro from a story he co-wrote with Mignola, the film stars Ron Perlman as Hellboy, alongside Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Tambor, and John Hurt. In the film, Hellboy and the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense must battle a mythical prince who plans to reclaim the world for his magical kindred.

Hellboy Animated is an American straight-to-DVD anime-inspired superhero film series based upon the Hellboy comic books by Mike Mignola. Both films are anthologies and contain the full-length titles named Sword of Storms and Blood and Iron, received the signature of Mike Mignola and Guillermo del Toro.

<i>Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others</i> Trade paperback collection of the Hellboy series created by Mike Mignola

Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others is the third trade paperback collection in the Hellboy series created by Mike Mignola, published by Dark Horse Comics on August 5, 1998. The book collects various mini-series, one-shots and back-up features featuring the fictional paranormal detective Hellboy.

<i>B.P.R.D.: Hollow Earth and Other Stories</i>

B.P.R.D.: Hollow Earth & Other Stories is the first trade paperback collection in the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.) series.

<i>Hellboy: The Troll Witch and Others</i>

Hellboy: The Troll Witch and Others is the seventh trade paperback collection in the Hellboy series and published by Dark Horse Comics on October 3, 2007. It collects various mini-series, one-shots and back-up features featuring fictional paranormal detective Hellboy.

<i>B.P.R.D.: Plague of Frogs</i>

B.P.R.D.: Plague of Frogs is the third trade paperback collection in the B.P.R.D. series.

<i>B.P.R.D.: Garden of Souls</i>

B.P.R.D.: Garden of Souls is the seventh trade paperback collection in the B.P.R.D. series.

The Hellboy Universe is the fictional universe of the Hellboy comic and its various spinoffs, created by Mike Mignola. Its first appearance was in a black-and-white, four-page promotional comic by Mike Mignola with a script by John Byrne published by Dark Horse Comics in San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2, distributed at San Diego Comic-Con. The Hellboy Universe currently spans over eighty trade paperbacks. It is also sometimes informally called the "Mignolaverse".

<i>B.P.R.D.: The Black Flame</i>

B.P.R.D.: The Black Flame is the fifth trade paperback collection in the B.P.R.D. series.

References

  1. B.P.R.D.: The Soul of Venice & Other Stories. Dark Horse Comics. 2006. ISBN   978-1-59307-132-5.
  2. "B.P.R.D. Plague of Frogs - Volume 1". DarkHorse.com.