This week, Dark Horse Comics releases issue #2 of Shadow of the Golden Crane, a series by Chris Roberson and Michael Avon Oeming centering on B.P.R.D. Agent Sue Xiang in the 1960s. Sue has often struggled with her prophetic powers, and this series sees her confronted not by the future, but the past. These powerful visions draw Sue back to ancient China and the activities of the Golden Crane Society, a group that, much like the B.P.R.D. in Sue’s time, investigates the paranormal.

Issue #2 opens with Sue and fellow agent Victor Koestler investigating the disappearance of an elderly grandmother in the American Midwest. After a quick conversation with the worried family, Sue is bombarded once again by visions of the Golden Crane Society that hint at a connection between her current case and one from ages past. Roberson captures the feel of a B.P.R.D. book with its expected humor: grandmas leading biker gangs and mystical protoplasmic apes that make me smile every time they shout, “OOK!” Michael Avon Oeming’s artwork perfectly captures the gothic horror aesthetic of Mike Mignola while still retaining his own voice. I’m a huge fan of his work on Powers and Marvel Comics’ Thor, and I can see his influence throughout, from the character designs to the framing of the action. I particularly enjoyed an almost classic action montage page that showcased the martial arts battle in ancient China. It’s great seeing his return to the world of Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.

This series, by splitting its narrative into two time frames, offers two different experiences. The adventure of the Golden Crane Society in the issue read like a buddy comedy fused with a Hong Kong martial arts movie. The present mystery of Sue’s visions provides the classic B.P.R.D. vibe of fantasy horror meets The X-Files that we’ve come to love and expect.

I really enjoyed this adventure into the past of the B.P.R.D., and Sue has been a favorite character of mine from that era. This comic proves once again that there is a lot of story left to tell in this universe, and I can’t wait to read it.

Creative Team: Chris Roberson (writer), Michael Avon Oeming (artist), Chis O’Halloran (colorist), Clem Robins (Lettering)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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