Sir Edward Grey, Witchfinder: In the Service of Angels

Dark Horse's latest Hellboy spin-off is nearing completion, so this seems a good time to review Mike Mignola's latest comics outing. The setting is Victorian London and the hero is one Sir Edward Grey, a character who has had guest appearances in a couple of Hellboy and BPRD stories. The mystery begins with a grisly murder whose victim was a member of an archeological expedition to the Sahara who has discovered the remnants of a Hyperborean city. Later, all the members of the team are picked off one by one by a demon-like creature that the team has inadvertedly brought back with them to London.

The story then continues with Grey's search for the monster which grows more powerful with each killing. Along the way we are treated to a collection of colourful characters, such as a 200-year old Captain lifted from Gulliver's Travels; and a mix of fantastic 19th century myths, such as the Hollow Earth theory which becomes linked to the Hyperborea myth. There are also tie-ins with current BPRD storylines, most notably the grisly frogs which have been at the centre of recent BRP story arcs, as well as the Helioptic Brotherhood of Ra. The latest issue, number 4, introduces Martin Gylfrid, the character at the centre of the recent BPRD storylines.

The story is vintage Mignola then, full of mysteries drawn from all sorts of legends and period literature. The plotting is impeccable, as is Ben Stenbeck's art. In rather simple lines, Stenbeck draws a very moody, very believable Victorian London. Smog-filled streets, overstuffed drawing rooms, a truly menacing East End - highly stereotypical maybe, but well rendered and required to set the scene for readers who know the time period chiefly through movies.

My one regret about the title so far is that the main charctet remains decidedly one-dimensional. We learn about his past exploits, which include saving the queen from witches, earning him the knighthood; we are told that he is in the service of angels and that a dire fate may befall him. But very little of his character is revealed, apart from his penchant for quoting the bible when faced with otherworldly creatures. Unlike other examples of Mignola's creations, this one has no foibles, no character quirks to make him memorable. Not yet, at least. There is a budding romance between Grey and Mary, the medium, which may serve to show a more personal side of him; so there is a chance yet that the writers may rescue Sir Grey from being but a cardboard character. That is the only quibble I find in an otherwise solid, well done and entertaining new series.

Rating (so far): 4 of 5.

Here is a link to an interview with Mike Mignola where he discusses current projects.

(Review updated on 18Oct2009)