In January of 2025, Mike Mignola, comic book legend and creator of Hellboy, released a graphic novel set in an all-new fantasy world. That book, Bowling with Corpses and Other Strange Tales from Lands Unknown, introduced readers to this this thrilling, new concept through a series of short stories that felt like the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales as told through the lens of Mike Mignola’s imagination.
Needless to say, I loved it. Feel free to check out my review; I’ll wait right here until you come back. Full disclosure: I’m a huge fan of Mike Mignola from his work at DC with Cosmic Odyssey to the Hellboy Universe. I’ve always appreciated the atmospheric quality of his artwork and the humor and deep worldbuilding of his writing. That skill at worldbuilding is on full display with his follow-up graphic novel, Uri Tupka and the Gods: Another Story from Lands Unknown. There is a real weight to this new world. It feels lived in and full of wonderfully eccentric characters. Uri Tupka and the Gods veers from the literary structure of the first graphic novel by staying with one main character, the titular Uri Tupka, throughout the narrative.
Uri Tupka is introduced as a religious heretic who has been on the run ever since he escaped his execution. Each chapter of Uri Tupka and the Gods is a separate tale Uri relays to two men who have tracked him down and demand some explanation for his past actions. Uri Tupka is a cleric who is seeking that strength of religious belief that some may have had as children: a pure, unquestionable faith in something greater than ourselves. Uri wants to know that his gods are still there watching out for their people and so he travels looking for answers. I won’t spoil anything in this review, but readers will find horror, adventure, and humor in equal amounts. I found that Uri’s journey really resonated with me. I think we encounter a lot of these crises of faith as we get older. Not necessarily faith in gods or God, but faith in the path we’ve chosen. Were the consequences of our actions worth it? In many ways, we seek the same reassurances as Uri in our everyday lives. As a writer, every time I put a new project in the hands of friends and family, my heart lifts with their assurances that I am on the right path, that I have something worth sharing with my readers. Uri’s choices to stand up for his beliefs against his emperor had dire consequences for him and his followers, and Uri needs to know from the gods that all his sacrifices had not been in vain.
It almost seems silly to review the artwork of Mike Mignola. What more can possibly be said? This is a titan of comics, clearly creating with a strong sense of purpose and delight, and it shows on every page. The Lands Unknown is some of the best work of his career and every fan should pick up these books. There are few comic masters who can layer so much character and mood into their pencils. Each panel oozes emotion and drama from the tight close ups to the wide-screen depiction of ancient tombs. Dave Stewart’s colors provide the perfect palette for Mignola’s work to shine, especially in the depiction of the supernatural elements. Two parts stand out: the first when Uri Tupka literally confronts hell, and the second near the end of the book at the conclusion of Uri’s quest when he receives the answers he’s been looking for.
It shouldn’t be a surprise by now that I would highly recommend Uri Tupka and the Gods to all comic and fantasy fans. This is Mike Mignola at his best, delivering a deep and nuanced fantasy adventure that I didn’t want to put down. With only two volumes out, it is so easy for a new reader to jump right in. And thanks to Lands Unknown, I know that if I ever see an ethereal magic cat and he tells me to run, don’t ask questions: Just do what the feline says.
Creative Team: Mike Mignola (writer/artist), Dave Stewart (colorist), Clem Robins (letterer)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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