by Lewis E. Ryan
Happy Hellboy Week everyone! Today I’ll be looking at the Sledgehammer 44 books, specifically the second published mini-series, Lightning War.
Happy Hellboy Week everyone! Today I’ll be looking at the Sledgehammer 44 books, specifically the second published mini-series, Lightning War.
Lightning War follows on from the story arc contained in the first 2-issue Sledgehammer miniseries, simply named Sledgehammer 44. Set in 1944, as the Second World War draws to a close, it depicts the Vril Energy Suit, inhabited by Private Patrick Redding as he comes to term with his inner turmoil. Although hesitant to re-enter the violent outside world, he reluctantly accepts a mission to rescue a soldier and some secret allied technology, which has been captured by the Nazis. Of course, the mission takes a turn when he encounters the Nazis’ own super soldier, Raimund Diestel, otherwise known as The Black Flame. Very cool stuff. You always know it’s going to be a fun story when you combine Mike Mignola and Nazis. Treachery and black magic lurk around every corner and there are also some cosmic forces at work here, which manifest a little differently on paper due largely to John Arcudi’s influence but still maintain that old-god Mignola touch.
Laurence Campbell handles the artwork on this run to great effect and Dave Stewart’s inks are magnificent. The combination of these two artists really sets and maintains the tone throughout the book, the muted colour scheme emphasizing key moments with flashes of brightness; the red band of a nazi uniform, blood splattered against glass, explosions and gunfire.
Laurence Campbell handles the artwork on this run to great effect and Dave Stewart’s inks are magnificent. The combination of these two artists really sets and maintains the tone throughout the book, the muted colour scheme emphasizing key moments with flashes of brightness; the red band of a nazi uniform, blood splattered against glass, explosions and gunfire.
The writing itself is the same dark stuff you expect from Mignola. It doesn’t rely on shock and awe, gore or sex to appeal to its audience; it’s simply good, believable writing with depth. There is a decent amount of inter-textual referencing, from Lobster Johnson to B.P.R.D., as we are reminded that this is a series of events taking place within the Hellboy Universe (or Mignolaverse). I personally, love that stuff. It really adds an element of mythology in the background that you can choose to read into for added value, but it isn’t necessarily required to enjoy the content.
That’s one thing that Dark Horse does a lot better than the majors and a lot of the indies; spinoff miniseries. Perhaps this is because it doesn’t have to constantly re-envisage its big picture on account of longevity like DC or Marvel, or perhaps it’s simply because the core vision for the world is controlled a lot more closely by Dark Horse’s central players. Either way, the publisher is able to achieve a satisfying congruence that rarely leaves the reader frustrated or lost in the mythos.
This book is a good example of that mission statement. It doesn’t have an incredible amount of emotional depth, which is understandable for a 3-issue miniseries, but it makes up for that in style and entertainment value. Ultimately, Mignola and co deliver a lot of action and a fun book with some really interesting voices and sometimes that’s what you need, someone amusing pounding Nazis in the face… in style. So, for some good, clean, bad-meets-evil biffo, look no further.
That’s one thing that Dark Horse does a lot better than the majors and a lot of the indies; spinoff miniseries. Perhaps this is because it doesn’t have to constantly re-envisage its big picture on account of longevity like DC or Marvel, or perhaps it’s simply because the core vision for the world is controlled a lot more closely by Dark Horse’s central players. Either way, the publisher is able to achieve a satisfying congruence that rarely leaves the reader frustrated or lost in the mythos.
This book is a good example of that mission statement. It doesn’t have an incredible amount of emotional depth, which is understandable for a 3-issue miniseries, but it makes up for that in style and entertainment value. Ultimately, Mignola and co deliver a lot of action and a fun book with some really interesting voices and sometimes that’s what you need, someone amusing pounding Nazis in the face… in style. So, for some good, clean, bad-meets-evil biffo, look no further.
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