Baltimore:The Plague Ships

[Kees_L]

It was good. Does this take place in the Hellboy Universe?

I'm guessing no, judging on the novel (being set around ww1/ww2) and on how Lord Baltimore hasn't yet interacted with Hellboy, in a ghostly form or otherwise.

The more readers that "wait for the trades" the less monthly readers. The less likely they will continue to publish them and therefore the fewer series to collect in trades.
It is a self defeating action.
[...] But to not read them when you know they are available just to wait will eventually deprive you of the very book you want to read.

So by going to bed at night you might send companies and brands into utter ruin? That's a bit grimly put I'd say.
I'd say people are to buy stuff how they want. If tpb's would be more wanted then that's what they would be. As markets adapt mainly to how people will be wanting their stuff.

[Neil Hill]

I'm guessing no, judging on the novel (being set around ww1/ww2) and on how Lord Baltimore hasn't yet interacted with Hellboy, in a ghostly form or otherwise.

Great observation, Kees! You're right in that (at least as has been the case so far) the Hellboy world is populated by characters who have come forward to interact with Hellboy in one form or another regardless of the native time frame in which they existed via the mortal coil.

Also, I believe that Mike has mentioned in a few places that the Baltimore 'world' is separate from Hellboy's. I can't quote scripture and verse mind you, but I believe this to be the case.

[Gary_B]

I picked this up yesterday and look forward to seeing Lord Baltimore's story unfold. Ben Stenbeck's art feels like a perfect match for the dark story. I'm a big fan of zeppelins so I was thrilled to see one in this comic. What could be better than a zeppelin crewed by a bunch of vampires? Why an exploding zeppelin, of course. It was a compelling series of panels that depicted a bird emerging from the mouth of a freshly killed vampire and flying up into the sky. It seemed like a benign bird too. Maybe it symbolises the spirit of the person who became the vampire being released.

Baltimore and his new sidekick Vanessa will learn the nature of the Plague Ships pretty soon. And so will we.

[edhopper]

I'm guessing no, judging on the novel (being set around ww1/ww2) and on how Lord Baltimore hasn't yet interacted with Hellboy, in a ghostly form or otherwise.


So by going to bed at night you might send companies and brands into utter ruin? That's a bit grimly put I'd say.
I'd say people are to buy stuff how they want. If tpb's would be more wanted then that's what they would be. As markets adapt mainly to how people will be wanting their stuff.

To me an analogy would be. "I don't watch that show, I wait for the DVD". Well, if you too many people don't watch the show it gets canceled and then there is no DVD, or at least no new episodes to later become DVDs.
As I said, it is a self defeating action.

[Kees_L]

To me an analogy would be. "I don't watch that show, I wait for the DVD". Well, if you too many people don't watch the show it gets canceled and then there is no DVD, or at least no new episodes to later become DVDs.
As I said, it is a self defeating action.

Ah, well, a lot of people in my surroundings have busy jobs and feel television series proving rather a commodity which would deprive them of what little sleep they'd have left, if indulged at all.
With the dvd recorders and dvd-products around 'though, they relax in front of a tv series thing much more easily, using a dvd or even not.
Like a week ago I found my Mom behind the TV! And it wasn't the news she was watching (but some sense & sensability-thing or other)!
I didn't know how to respond but she immediately gasped: "Hush boy, they're kil-ling eachother...!"

It might not have to be so that TPB's will be killing comics. It might not have to be so that MP3's or the internet is proving to be the death of cd's. Or even lp's. Plus trade-waiters won't have to be any lesser comic fans. I'd say.
For Mignola-stuff I personally buy singles + tpb's + hc's. Plus international formats should I like them. But that's just 'cause I choose to. Plus I try and collect all Mignola issues ever.
I'll make it a point to not be goin' broke or bust however.

[Gary_B]

Doh! I started a Baltimore thread without seeing this one.

Spoilers follow...
I picked this up yesterday and look forward to seeing Lord Baltimore's story unfold. Ben Stenbeck's art feels like a perfect match for the dark story. I'm a big fan of zeppelins so I was thrilled to see one in this comic. What could be better than a zeppelin crewed by a bunch of vampires? Why an exploding zeppelin, of course. It was a compelling series of panels that depicted a bird emerging from the mouth of a freshly killed vampire and flying up into the sky. It seemed like a benign bird too. Maybe it symbolises the spirit of the person who became the vampire being released.

Baltimore and his new sidekick Vanessa will learn the nature of the Plague Ships pretty soon. And so will we.

[Neil Hill]

Doh! I started a Baltimore thread without seeing this one.

Spoilers follow...
I picked this up yesterday and look forward to seeing Lord Baltimore's story unfold. Ben Stenbeck's art feels like a perfect match for the dark story. I'm a big fan of zeppelins so I was thrilled to see one in this comic. What could be better than a zeppelin crewed by a bunch of vampires? Why an exploding zeppelin, of course. It was a compelling series of panels that depicted a bird emerging from the mouth of a freshly killed vampire and flying up into the sky. It seemed like a benign bird too. Maybe it symbolises the spirit of the person who became the vampire being released.

Baltimore and his new sidekick Vanessa will learn the nature of the Plague Ships pretty soon. And so will we.

I thought the same thing, Gary, but was perplexed when I noted that in most cases Mike depicts the spirit as a white gull rather than a red bird, but I'm sure this has some special significance in place of having the vampire's turn to dust (ala' the Blade movie series). Also, I'm glad that you and I both found fascination in the same (seemingly) insignificant event!

[T-Bolt]

I'm curious why you would deprive yourself of the monthlies, and I guess in a larger context why others do as well? (Not necessarily just you here, btw) I read on MB's all the time that so and so feels that they *have* to wait for the story to be collected in order to read it, as if they are involved in some kind of forced fast in service to a higher good, when in reality the motivations rarely seem so altruistic. So, this begs the question (and hopefully not to derail the original topic here too intensely), why do people feel that they must so deprive themselves of the monthlies in order to wait for the TPB? A few dollars saved on the back end? Keeping themselves way from the comic shop because of some social stigma? I just don't get it.

I've been forced into the waiting for the trade route by the lack of LCS's around here. I'd have to drive to Lakeland 20 miles each way to get books, and that increases the cost of the overpriced singles even more. And yeah I know about mail order, but if I do that I might as well wait for the trade on Amazon. Besides all that I am tired of storing floppies and ending up in the middle of a story and have to wait out slow "creators" and other delays.

[PaddyN]

I thought the same thing, Gary, but was perplexed when I noted that in most cases Mike depicts the spirit as a white gull rather than a red bird, but I'm sure this has some special significance in place of having the vampire's turn to dust (ala' the Blade movie series). Also, I'm glad that you and I both found fascination in the same (seemingly) insignificant event!

Count another in on loving those panels...

[Oskar Von Strange]

Count another in on loving those panels...

...and another one. This is my first exposure to Baltimore and so far I'm liking the atmosphere.

I think its safe to say that I'm officially a Mignola/Hellboy convert. I have been missing out.

[Jackson Brody]

"Baltimore" is most definitely not the same universe as Hellboy.

[Kees_L]

"Baltimore" is most definitely not the same universe as Hellboy.

Yeah, I figure such too, especially since I seem to have read that 'Baltimore, Or the Steadfast Soldier' came about as specifically an idea to be worked out between mr. Mike and Christopher Golden, where Hellboy would be too limitedly mr Mike's thing to be getting mr Christophers' involvement into properly enough - or something like that? - I've searched for a source but couldn't find one to be mentioning stuff better I'm afraid.

But I feel Baltimore and Hellboy to be different story settings entirely, since Hellboy seems to have came about from mr Mike going: "what if I was to do my own comic?"
Where Baltimore seems a story around: 'An avenger seeking his vengeance' with the search itself potentially proving more vital than any vengeance to being had - since such will never end or come to be?

You're right in that (at least as has been the case so far) the Hellboy world is populated by characters who have come forward to interact with Hellboy in one form or another regardless of the native time frame in which they existed via the mortal coil.

I would say that Mignola's Hellboy offers interaction and history and ramifications very differently than what seems more specifically traditional superhero comics. Like for example how Ape Sapien developed from having no known origin to where some findings started alluding to one, although to Abe himself only the vibrant or self-felt stuff seemed to be mattering?

Stuff like 'mainstream superhero comic' 'continuity' and 'multiverse-stuff', getting proposed into worrysome encyclopedic detail, is what I normally try and avoid. Like: "If the Savage Dragon didn't dream up that Hellboy-guy, than why am I not seeing more Wild Cats VS Naked Witch Queens?!
Hellboy and Baltimore as well, seem to rather fit themselves well, next to what will just be cool fiction, like Poe or RL Stevenson, or Dirty Harry .

[Neil Hill]

I've been forced into the waiting for the trade route by the lack of LCS's around here. I'd have to drive to Lakeland 20 miles each way to get books, and that increases the cost of the overpriced singles even more. And yeah I know about mail order, but if I do that I might as well wait for the trade on Amazon. Besides all that I am tired of storing floppies and ending up in the middle of a story and have to wait out slow "creators" and other delays.

Thanks for the thoughtful response. Perhaps I latched on too intensely to the words "have to", since no one really 'has to' wait for the trade, they instead choose to (for, as you mentioned, a multitude of reasons).

That being said I'm admittedly part of the generation that grew up on peddling our bikes to the LCS for the latest issue of whatever comic dejour was on the menu that week, and have simply continued the trend into adulthood (only having traded in the Schwinn for four-wheeled transport). In fact, getting that weekly 'fix' is a hallowed tradition of the comic book geek and one I'd never trade for waiting around for a TPB, especially since not all stories are collected and many times the collections are slow in coming. I need a fix which is satiated more often that that.

[thwhtGuardian]

I don't know, it was a good read but it's definitely something that I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I had more background information. I think I need to track down Baltimore, as I missed it somehow, I had no idea this series was a continuation of a previous work. I guess I should have done my homework and figured that out before hand.

[Noct]

I'm curious why you would deprive yourself of the monthlies, and I guess in a larger context why others do as well?

While I was picking up the latest BPRD I could hear your typed words talking to me. So, I had to pick it up. T'hell with a bit of extra weight and space.

That said. I was a little disappointed with the book . Maybe, because I don't know anything about the character. It seems interesting enough but it was just a good looking book with some fun action. Actually, The art was brilliant. I absolutely adore Ben Stenbeck. He's an instant favourite after Witchfinder. However, some of the dialog was cheesy "Back, Witch! You'll not have Me!" I know it's period oriented, but it didn't work for me. In general the characters felt wooden and archetypes. I'm guessing with time things will develop more but based on this issue alone (and I will finish the series, and I'm sure things will change, but,) I don't think I would want to read the book.

I'm conflicted I really don't like writing negative feedback. But I figure honesty is good. But aside from the outstanding art this was fairly standard.

Is the book good? Does it help the enjoyment?