Writer: Mike Mignola
Artists: Guy Davis, Dave Stewart(c)
Publisher: Dark Horse
As much as I like Guy Davis' artwork, and I do. There's no disguising the disappointment one feels in Mike Mignola not rendering the illustration. Still, Davis has a set of stones. He must have known how Mignola fans would feel, yet he decided to take the BPRD challenge. Davis in the end does a spectacular eerie job that's worthy of Mignola's trademark weirdness.
Mr. Davis throughout Plague of Frogs composes suitable representations of Abe, Liz, Kate, Roger and Johann. He provides the draftsmanship for solid interiors at BPRD headquarters and engineering for the BPRD helicopter. After the team leaves their HQ, Davis provides a strong imitation of Mignola's staging and with a sure hand manifests within the panels an uneasy mood.
Mr. Mignola has come up with better stories. His premise in this latest mini-series at best is shaky. Why would the BPRD grow a potentially lethal fungus instead of torching it? Mr. Mignola does not give very satisfying answers.
The contrivance provides the core to the plot, but it's a major conceit one must accept. The fungal remains of Cavendish Hall provide also a scene-stealing performance worthy of Tim the Enchanter, and it really does not work. Part of Mignola's storycrafting charm is in the subdued nature of his informative scenes that contrast the explosive action panels. "Tim" stands out like a loud sports jacket among a rack full of tuxedos.
Mignola's story is far from mediocre. While he has done better work in the past, Plague of Frogs is stil a Mike Mignola story. Once the team leaves the somewhat crowded BPRD HQ, Mr. Mignola throws a pair of dice to issue some unexpected consequences. From this point in the story, we do not know who will survive, and that's the sign of good horror. We do not know what will happen next, but we're eager to find out. That's the sign of a good story.
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