Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest #1
Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Art by James Harren
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Clem Robins
Covers by Dave Johnson, Francesco Francavilla
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: September 28, 2011
Cover Price: $3.50

Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest #1 was a twisty little read. Abe is one of my favorite characters from Mike Mignola. Unfortunately, a lot of folks have only the most basic exposure to this character thanks to the Hellboy movies, which don’t portray him in his best light. This comic brings a combination of Abe’s intellect and badassery to the printed page.

A simple trip to meet an acquaintance’s relative leads us to the beginning of a warped tale. A lot of this story is a build up to the last few pages, of which I can tell you nothing without spoiling it for you. That said, in this issue Abe brings the pain. Everything he does to his enemies is calculated and deadly…totally laid the smackdown on the hellish minions.

I loved the story that Mignola and John Arcudi put together for this two-issue arc. James Harren‘s art is typical of any Hellboy/B.P.R.D.-related comic, good but not great.

Overall, the comic was a pretty good read, but so little of the story is connected at this point that it’s hard to tell what the next step is going to be. I plan on checking it out, mainly because it’s Abe. But if you know how Mignola rolls, you know that these super short story arcs are typical and may only occasionally be referenced in times to come. Grab this if you want to complete your collection or want a good short read. I’m pretty sure most of the action is coming in the next issue, but this one was mostly build up and lacks any sort of cohesion. I’m on the fence as to whether or not I would recommend this, I certainly didn’t hate it but can’t tell if I love it either. I’ll leave you with a confident “it’s so-so.”