BPRD Univeral Machine #3 (Spoiler Spectacular!)

[Hellcow]

Just got it. Read it immediately on the train ride home. Wow, catching the train hasn't been that enjoyable for a long while.

Pacing was excellent. Kept my interest peaked, each and every panel.

Beautiful artwork, very expressive of atmosphere and predominant emotions of each scene.

1st scene with Kate and the Marquis builds slowly, up and up, then BAM! Marquis got the upper hand.

Cut to BPRD HQ where we learn some fascinating history of Johann that is both fascinating where it needs to be and funny in all the right spots. The behaviour and dialogue of the characters feels right.

Cut back to France. Tension builds, more tension... BAM you're in a world of pain now lad.

Cut back to Kate and Marquis. The Marquis gives Kate an impossible choice. Kate doesn't like her options.... so the Marquis changes his mind and gives Kate a WORSE choice. End on cliffhanger.

Nicely executed story, with hardly any "action", but all the more exciting for it. Just like how Hitchcock understood the value of suspense over shock.

Mike, John and Guy.... bravo!

[Gary_B]

I bought it this morning and quite enjoyed it. All of the elements of this story are cooking along. Migonola/Arcudi/Davis/Stewart are continuing to refine their collaboration. It was nice to see a glimpse into Johan’s history that shows him with human faults. BPRD keeps getting more and more polished and so do the letters of Neil Hill. Scott should give you your own column on the next arc, Stygian.:p

[InAdia]

I just read through it. Its really nice that the BPRD books are slowing down as the previous three story arcs were huge in scope. My only concern is for poor Roger, and the possibility that Kate might bite it.

The Real Inadia

[kid cthulhu]

Another great issue. Don't really have much to say other than I continue to enjoy this series immensely, and it was great to see more of Johann's history.

[Cyber_Ghost]

This story has been great from the beginning. Seeing more of what happened to Johann was fun.. yeah, nothing really more to add. Although with all of this information the Marquis guy is pulling from him books, I am a little curious what welse he's got hidden in there.

[Neil Hill]

Loved the issue completely! Every nuance, subtle or hammer blow like, is crafted to resemble simplicity yet one can tell immediately that nothing is left to the whim of chance. Staging was perfect, pacing was excellent, and the multiple story threads weaved one into the next with perfect precision!

BPRD is the best comic book on the stands currently, bar none. I know that's quite a claim to make, but I don't feel it's inaccurate. :D

[Neil Hill]

BPRD keeps getting more and more polished and so do the letters of Neil Hill. Scott should give you your own column on the next arc, Stygian.:p

Wow, Gary, thank you! I'd certainly be up for it Scott would. Sounds like a good time to me! :D

Edit: Ya know, for some reason the first time around I neglected to pickup on the soft sarcasm intent of your post Gary. I guess we do really see what we want to see sometimes. :) That being said, thankfully Scott seems to give me plenty of room w/in any given 3-6 month period to say pretty much anything I intend to say with my letters in various Hellboy title Letters Columns (as he does with many other fans also), so a seperate column just for me may seem self-induldgent, redundant and, in the end, superfilous. Good suggestion though.

[Myron L]

Absolutely loved this ish !!! The little game of "Truth" (who's gonna finally choose a "Dare" ? hehehe) the gang is playing is great for exposition...and damn, how is Kate gonna get outta this one ??? That Marquis drives hisself a hard bargain, eh ? Can't wait to see what Liz's story looks like next time !

[Gary_B]

Wow, Gary, thank you! I'd certainly be up for it Scott would. Sounds like a good time to me! :D

Edit: Ya know, for some reason the first time around I neglected to pickup on the soft sarcasm intent of your post Gary. I guess we do really see what we want to see sometimes. :) That being said, thankfully Scott seems to give me plenty of room w/in any given 3-6 month period to say pretty much anything I intend to say with my letters in various Hellboy title Letters Columns (as he does with many other fans also), so a seperate column just for me may seem self-induldgent, redundant and, in the end, superfilous. Good suggestion though.

Hey Stygian, I am just trying to have a little fun with you but you gotta admit that your letters show up a lot. I grabbed a couple of stacks of comics just now and compiled a little list. I might have missed a couple of letters of yours and my methods are not scientific but from a 5 minute study I found your letters published in...

BPRD: Plague of Frogs #3 & 4,
BPRD: The Dead #5,
BPRD: The Black Flame #2 & 4,
BPRD: The Universal Machine #2 & 3 (so far),
Hellboy: The Island #1 and
Hellboy: Makoma #1.

A monthly column might be a bit much but maybe a special collected works publication might be in order one of these days.:D :p

[morna]

wow

I mean holy shit!

[Neil Hill]

Hey Stygian, I am just trying to have a little fun with you but you gotta admit that your letters show up a lot. I grabbed a couple of stacks of comics just now and compiled a little list. I might have missed a couple of letters of yours and my methods are not scientific but from a 5 minute study I found your letters published in...

BPRD: Plague of Frogs #3 & 4,
BPRD: The Dead #5,
BPRD: The Black Flame #2 & 4,
BPRD: The Universal Machine #2 & 3 (so far),
Hellboy: The Island #1 and
Hellboy: Makoma #1.

A monthly column might be a bit much but maybe a special collected works publication might be in order one of these days.:D :p

So, I may not have a monthly column Gary, but at least I get to say a few things now and again. ;)

Actually, I owe utmost respect and props to the great Scott Allie for printing my letters. I send them as often as possible, just so he knows what the fan reaction is (granted, localized to one person) to the various Hellboy universe books. My thought is that if more people took the time to send him letters and express their thoughts, he'd certainly print at least a few of them. So, get to writing you fanboys and fangirls! Don't waste another minute! :D

[el seth]

Excellent issue, natch. Daimo needs more explaining, but I'm guessing that will be forthcoming eventually. My prediction: Kate takes the book back ot BPRD, can't crack it, and in a fit of frustration tells Abe about the deal when she really shouldn't. Then Abe decides it's a good idea because where he is emotionaly at the moment, and drama ensues.

This story is letting Guy draw some stuff similar to his Marqius series, which is awesome. Guy = Creepy.