B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth #115

Released by: Dark Horse Comics
Release on: January 15, 2014

This story is part one of five, titled The Reign of the Black Flame. At its core, the Black Flame has seeming released hell on earth so two B.P.R.D. teams make their way to his Manhattan HQ to stop him, once and for all.

One team is on foot, with the apparition-like Ludwig at the lead, on the surface streets of the decimated city. They don't like what they're finding as a result of the catastrophe but, even worse now, they find they're being pursued by a group of humans who don't appear to be the friendliest of survivors. They're also soon horrified to discover that this tragedy didn't happen overnight - that, apparently, it took quite some time and many survivors lost any hope of rescue.

The other team is in armored carriers, trying to gain access from New Jersey. This is a mix of U.S. and Russian teams and soon also find themselves on foot as well once their path becomes blocked. Making their way instead through the sewers, they're soon beset by more beasties. This, however, provides an opportunity for the team members to learn more about each other's capabilities, especially their own “supermen.”

Each team begins tediously making their way across broken bridges and devastation toward their target. Team One has to set up camp, finally, figuring to push through the next day. They're awoken, though, by some of those not-so-friendly survivors who don't seem thrilled to have them there…

Mignola and Arcudi are really stretching their legs here, getting to fill in more and more details in this universe with new, exciting stories. James Harren's artwork is excellent suited to this task as well, appropriately detailed and then nicely subdued when, say, the teams encounter the horrors of the Black Flame. Nicely dreadful and moving along at a good pace this storyline is set up for a read well-worth following.