I normally avoid BPRD releases because they scare me. Having people tinker with the makings of the Mignola universe is, in a word, unpredictable. sometimes you have a great story and sometimes you don't, and other times you have little bits and pieces missing that are just too much to ignore. In 1946 I found myself happily entertained, however, because this had so many of the things that older Hellboy stories were built on. We have the Nazis out of power, their labs open, and a race on to see what their occult scientists are into. The little "R.R" project has already happened (which is what brought Hellboy into this reality), and the americans know they need to find out more. Unfortunately for them, their are Russians in power in Berlin, Nazis still active in unseen places, and otherworldly powers prowling the charred landscape in search of - you insert the motivation because there are a lot of them. In the midst of this, we find the lowly BPRD, a start-up group assigned to find out what has happened, and they manage to stumble across something with teeth. It really does transcend the BPRD barrier that I've feared for so long.
If you are like me and you feared the book, check it out a little BUT do not ruin the story for yourself. It explains how the BPRD started out and managed to get itself funded, and it ties in several pieces that are nice to see. I love seeing a certain head-in-a-jar and his monkey army at play, and the thing they uncover is something that has been referenced before but has never been fully discussed. In reading the author's notes, this was taken to Mignola for permission as well, and that could be why it is so much better than many of the tales that go nowhere. Whatever the reason, it and the first few 1947 comics have been superb.
As far as sketches and whatnot, I normally do not have much to say on them BUT I did like the three demons sketch and the explanation that is given. It shows how Mignola had his hands here as well, and explained some of the creative juice flowing here. Whatever the case, tread lightly if you need to (i did ) but do not mistake this for the normal run-of-the-mill BPRD tale. It has a backbone and, in the end, is well worth obtaining.
Also worth noting is the short tale at the end of the book, where we see some Lovecraftian-type horror doing its thing in a story that was worth looking at, too. I liked it quite a bit - it reminded me of some of the short Hellboy tales I had read before, only this - like the book - involves the Professor and what he is like through the eyes of another. A great addition - it also made me happy.
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