Hack/Slash #17 – Review

By Barry Keating (Story), Tim Seeley (Story & Script), Emily Stone (Art), and Mark Englert (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: While I have enjoyed the Hack/Slash crossover with the Re-Animator for the most part, I can’t help but be slightly disappointed by how Herbert West continues to feel like more of a plot device than a distinct guest star. I give credit to Barry Keating and Tim Seeley for making West’s appearance feel right at home within the overarching plot of the series. However, the last two issues have left me wanting more interaction between Cassie Hack and Dr. West. That said, if the ending of last issue is any indication, the conclusion should deliver what I’ve wanted since I first heard about the crossover arc.

The Story: The re-animation of Cassie’s mother means the return of the Lunch Lady. With her emotions cranked up to eleven as a result of the re-agent used on her by Dr. West, the Lunch Lady picks up right where she left off in an effort to regain her former appearance. Cassie, Vlad, and Dr. West are the only ones that can stop her before more victims are added to her “stew.”

What’s Good: Despite my qualms with the way this crossover was used, the violent, character-driven conclusion is actually quite satisfying. It’s tough not to feel for Cassie after seeing how things play out. Also, I must once again mention how well Tim Seeley writes Dr. Herbert West, as it comes extremely close to bringing Jeffrey Combs’ iconic performance to the page. It definitely leaves me wanting more.

What’s Not So Good: Visually, Hack/Slash #17 is average at its very best. While there are a few good looking moments and some particularly nice panel layout near the end, the book just seems to lack any sort of polish whatsoever. The characters look inconsistent, some of the pencil work looks downright sloppy, and the coloring makes everything look muddy. Disappointing in every way.

Conclusion: If you can ignore some of the glaring artwork issues, you are sure to find a lot to like here if you are a fan of Hack/Slash or The Re-Animator. While not everything that I hoped for, the conclusion definitely makes up for the arc’s slow start.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #16 – Review

By Tim Seeley (Script & Story), Barry Keating (Story), Emily Stone (Art), and Matt Englert (Colors)

The Story: Cassie Hack finally gets a chance to speak with her long lost father face-to-face. Meanwhile, Dr. Herbert West (of Re-Animator fame) continues his experimentation with the body of the Lunch Lady, Cassie’s slasher mother.

What’s Good: Hack/Slash, as a series is at its best when dealing with what made the series a hit in the first place, namely slashers. I mention it because Hack/Slash #16 is definitely at its best when slashers figure into the dialogue or action. Tim Seeley and Barry Keating bring an interesting twist to the slasher formula by attempting to break down their very nature through the discussion between Cassie and her father concerning Mr. Hack’s former line of work.With the well-written guest appearance by Dr. West (I can almost hear Jeffrey Combs speaking his lines), this book serves as a very satisfying read for any horror fan.

What’s Not So Good: The fact that the issue as a whole is extremely hit or miss. The artwork suffers from a few odd angles and the same facial inconsistency that continues to plague the series. I enjoy Emily Stone’s work for the most part, but the same type of artwork snags continue to pop up. On the writing end, my biggest complaint is that Cassie’s reunion with her father falls a bit flat. It feels both rushed and incredibly generic, making it fall a bit short of packing the emotional punch needed to make it resonate with readers.

Conclusion: I was hoping for a bit more from this crossover as a whole, but I have to give credit for how well it is succeeding in advancing the overall plot of the series in a natural manner. There is some good stuff in this issue, and it only looks to get better. I just wish Dr. West functioned as more than just a plot device.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #15 – Review

By Tim Seeley, Barry Keating, & Brian Yuzna (Story), Emily Stone (Art), and Mark Englert (Colors)

I was sold on the Hack/Slash Vs. Re-Animator crossover the moment it was announced. Two of my favorite comic characters against an 80’s horror icon? Sign me up! Now, the fanboy in me loves that the tone, use of continuity, and characterization are spot on. The critic in me is forced to acknowledge the slow burn storytelling, disappointing artwork, and the sense (so far) that Dr. West seems to exist more as a storytelling device than the classic character he is.

The storyline for this crossover arc is, surprisingly, quite continuity heavy. It mostly revolves around clearing up the mystery surrounding Cassie’s father (going by the clever alias of Gordon Stuart) as he assists in Dr. Herbert West’s quest to “cure” death. Cassie and Vlad play a fairly minor role in the issue as their scenes mostly center around the search for Mr. Hack. It is a slow and fairly uneventful issue, but it works rather well putting the plot pieces in place. I can’t help but wish that the story wasn’t so steeped in continuity though. While Dr. West’s appearance feels shockingly natural given both Hack/Slash and The Re-Animator storylines, I wish he had gotten some chance to interact with the main characters. At least for this one issue, he feels more like a (well written) plot device than a villain. I hope there is some sort of confrontation before this is all over or else the Herbert West appearance will have been wasted.

I can’t stress enough how well written Dr. West is. Tim Seeley absolutely nails the character and manages to fit him into the Hack/Slash world in an incredibly smooth manner. As for the rest, it’s standard Seeley stuff. He writes a well told story, good character interactions, and clever in-jokes.

Emily Stone’s artwork is solid though somewhat underwhelming. Everything has a somewhat sketchy look to it and the coloring does nothing to hide it. While I generally enjoy her style, I just don’t feel that it fits the story well this time out. Still, as a whole, it’s a book that presents well.

Hack Slash #15 is a solid start to what I hope will turn into a great story. The necessary background is given, the pieces are moved into place, and the guest-star is (for the most part) used quite well. While not quite as strong as I was expecting, it holds loads of potential. Hack/Slash and horror fans in general should make sure to give this one a look. (Grade: B-)

-Kyle Posluszny