B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth

Lore & Background

The narrative follows scattered groups of B.P.R.D. agents who are cut off from command and forced to operate as guerrilla fighters in a dying world. With Abe Sapien lost during the preceding 'B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess' arc, the story primarily focuses on Liz Sherman and Johann Kraus as they face impossible choices regarding the use of their powers and the fate of the few remaining human settlements. The story delves deep into the psychological toll of witnessing the end of everything, highlighting themes of duty, sacrifice, and the fragility of civilization when faced with entities that view humanity as insignificant.

In Their Own Story

The sky above the ruins of Chicago was a bruised purple, choked by ash and the swirling tendrils of the Red Rain. Agent Johann Kraus wiped soot from his goggles, his heavy coat soaked in acidic sludge. Beside him, a squad of survivors huddled behind a barricade made of twisted rebar and rusted car frames. They weren't fighting for victory anymore; there was no victory left to win. They were fighting for the next hour, the next breath. A low, guttural roar echoed from the fog, signaling that the Ogdru Hem had found their position again. Johann tightened his grip on his rifle, knowing this might be the last time he looked at a human face.

Reader's Guide

The story begins in the immediate aftermath of the Ogdru Jahad's awakening, where the world is already descending into chaos. The B.P.R.D. command structure has fractured, leaving agents to fend for themselves against both demonic forces and mutated humans. Liz Sherman and her team attempt to reach a secure location to broadcast a final warning or coordinate a last stand, but they are constantly pursued by the Ogdru Hem, a legion of lesser demons serving the Great Evils. The journey is a nightmare of surreal horror as landscapes shift and reality breaks down under the influence of the Red Rain. As the series progresses, the focus shifts to individual acts of heroism amidst total despair. Characters are forced to confront their pasts and make impossible decisions about who deserves to survive in a world that no longer supports life. The narrative culminates in a tragic realization: humanity's time is over, and the agents must decide how they will meet their end.

Did You Know?

• This storyline serves as the direct sequel to the B.P.R.D. arc 'The Black Goddess', not to the Hellboy arc 'The Wild Hunt'.
• The 'Red Rain' depicted in this story is not a weapon but a specific event involving a rain of blood-like substance, not a consistent environmental change.
• Many beloved B.P.R.D. agents meet their fates during these events, marking the effective end of the organization as it was known previously.