I’ve been following Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden’s expanded Outerverse series with interest and curiosity. Where is all of this going? I wonder. A slew of new characters are being introduced, some known characters are being brought back, and all of the stories tend to follow a certain map: Ur-witches show up and cause mischief and our heroes bat them away. Even more than Hellboy, this feels like an ongoing serial which makes sense since most of it takes place during WWII. Even the title feels like a 1940s/50s serial.

I was a fan of the Joe Golem series. It was really well done, and the visuals – especially the first story arc or two – were genuinely terrifying. It had this zany, Cthuluesque energy to it that I freaking loved. I was very excited when the Golem, minus Joe, made its appearance in these earlier tales, and now it gets a two-parter of it own.

Once again, Ur-Witches are up to no good. The story almost goes in the direction of something a bit different, which I would have appreciated, and maybe it will swing back around to it, but the focus mostly remains on the witches and the Golem stomping them.

Peter Bergting has a very Mignola-like style, keeping it in the family while still allowing it to be fresh and unique which I like. Paging through it again, I also really love the color job here. And while Golem may not be as charismatic or personable as Hellboy, I do enjoy his attitude. I do love how cultists scatter when he arrives, and I simply love the world building happening in this issue. Once again, an enjoyable turn in the Outerverse.

Creative Team: Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden (story), Peter Bergting (art), Michelle Madsen (colors), Clem Robins (letters), Katii O’Brien (editor), Jenny Blenk (associate editor), Patrick Satterfield (designer), Ann Gray (digital art technician)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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