This book, this series, has the piece that's been missing from the big craziness going on in the rest of the Mignolaverse: a look at the experiences of ordinary people living through it (or trying to). Amusingly, Abe, one of the most interesting (and mysterious) of the BPRD's elite freaks, is our guide through this mundane side. Of course, he still has to occasionally fight a boss monster, I guess (but does he? Does he really? Can't he just walk the earth and learn? Ah, me), but that's secondary. I hope it stays that way. This is promising. ( )