Bureau for Paranormal Research and… DEATH?

If there's one comic book realm where change seems to stick, it's Mike Mignola's "Hellboy" universe. It's certainly a world stocked with ghosts and other supernatural creatures that bounce between planes of existence, but I'm pretty sure the term "retcon" has been purged from the imaginary style guides I pretend Dark Horse editorial consult daily. Still, could newly-released images from next week's "B.P.R.D.: King of Fear" #4 really mean the end for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense? Like, forever?

My instincts tell me that Liz Sherman's assessment of this possible pictured future by artist Guy Davis "can't be real." After all, the organization's survived everything the universe has thrown at it thus far. Then again, the book's next storyline "Hell on Earth" sounds a bit more intimidating than your day-to-day demonic frog plague.

There's also the matter of reveals that may change the way characters see themselves - namely Abe Sapien's link to some of the more sinister forces at work in the B.P.R.D. world.

But why would an ethereal being with the power to project futures waste their time josh'n with a pyrokenetic agent of humanity? That'd be weak on their part. Weak! Check out the rest of DH's cryptic images after the jump to feel your way through what could be major changes to the "Hellboy" and "B.P.R.D." mythos.