B.P.R.D.: The Soul of Venice & Other Stories | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Dark Horse Comics |
Format | Trade paperback |
Genre | |
Publication date | August 25, 2004 |
Main character(s) | |
Creative team | |
Created by | Mike Mignola |
Written by | |
Artist(s) |
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Penciller(s) | Adam Pollina |
Inker(s) | Guillermo Zubiaga |
Letterer(s) |
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Colorist(s) |
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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.
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]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The stories were collected into a trade paperback:
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.
Hellboy is a fictional superhero created by writer-artist Mike Mignola. The character first appeared in San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2, and has since appeared in various eponymous miniseries, one-shots and intercompany crossovers. The character has been adapted into three live-action feature films. Two starring Ron Perlman in 2004 and 2008 in the title role, and one in 2019 which starred David Harbour, as well as two straight-to-DVD animated films, and three video games – Asylum Seeker, The Science of Evil, and as a playable character in Injustice 2.
The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense is a fictional organization in the comic book work of Mike Mignola, founded by the United States and United Kingdom governments, charged with researching the occult, paranormal and supernatural, and defending against their dangers. The B.P.R.D. originally appeared in the Hellboy comics and has since been a major part of its expanded universe.
Mike 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.
The Ogdru Jahad are fictional supervillains in Mike Mignola's Hellboy comic series. They are the Dragon of Revelation, and are destined to end the world. Though the Ogdru Jahad are the central antagonists of the franchise, they are not active. Their release from imprisonment instead being the object of many other villains' plans, namely Mad Monk Grigori Rasputin and the Neo-Nazi Thule Society and former Merlinean sorceress turned evil Nimue, the Blood Queen. They were imprisoned in their Golden Cocoons by the Right Hand of Doom shortly after the creation of Earth, but not before they spawned 369 children, known as the Ogdru Hem.
Roger the Homunculus is a fictional character featured in the Hellboy and B.P.R.D. comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. He is an unusually large homunculus, a humanoid being said to be created by means of alchemy. Initially revived by Liz Sherman, Roger is one of the early supporting characters of the "Mignola-verse", appearing alongside other "enhanced" B.P.R.D. agents including Sherman, Abe Sapien and Johann Kraus under Dr. Kate Corrigan.
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.
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.
Hellboy Animated are original straight-to-DVD adult animated films based upon the Hellboy comic books by Mike Mignola. Both films take place before the events of the 2004 Hellboy film and contains the full-length titles named Sword of Storms and Blood and Iron, received the signature of Mike Mignola and Guillermo del Toro. Like the live-action films, it was co-produced by Revolution Studios. Both films were distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment, instead of Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, and Lawrence Gordon Productions. A third film was being planned but was never greenlit.
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.
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.
The Right Hand of Doom is the fourth trade paperback collection in the Hellboy series created by Mike Mignola published by Dark Horse Comics on February 4, 2004 which collects various mini-series, one-shots and back-up features featuring fictional paranormal detective Hellboy.
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.
B.P.R.D.: Plague of Frogs is the third trade paperback collection in the B.P.R.D. series.
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 the San Diego Comic-Con. The Hellboy Universe currently spans over eighty trade paperbacks. It is also sometimes informally called the "Mignolaverse".
B.P.R.D.: The Black Flame is the fifth trade paperback collection in the B.P.R.D. series.