Hack/Slash #6 – Review

By: Tim Seeley (writer), Daniel Leister (artist), Mark Englert (colorist), Crank! (letterer) & James Lowder (edits)

The Story: Hack/Slash gets back to some of its early roots with a story involving musicians & the hellish dimension of Nef.

What’s Good: This issue really had all the calling cards of a classically good Hack/Slash.  If you go back to the beginning of the series, there was involvement of the demonic realm of Nef with the slasher killers inhabiting the Hack/Slash universe and it’s fun to see the series going back to that.  That’s especially true because Seeley is doing it in such a way that is very new reader friendly.  So, if you’ve been lingering on the fence, this isn’t a bad jumping on point.

But, what sets Hack/Slash apart from the rest of the horror comics genre is its sense of humor.  This is a really funny comic and credit for that really should be shared by both Seeley and Leister.  The folks who get killed in this album are so annoying that you’re kinda happy when they get it.  One is some kinda shallow pop starlet with some made-up name and a massive following after one album and the other victims are stand-ins for the stars of the Jersey Shore.  I mean, who doesn’t enjoy seeing the slashers get those kinds of people.  Were this a horror movie, the audience would cheer when they die.  However, it isn’t all laughs because the killer really is scary so we’ve got something to laugh at and something to be frightful of at the same time.

There’s also two GREAT scenes with Pooch (the demonic Nef-beast turned good).  I’d like to say that we can never get enough Pooch, but that’s probably not true.  Part of Pooch’s charm is that he flashes through the comic for a few panels, cracks us up with his juxtaposition of earnest attitude and demonic appearance and then is gone.  Pooch always leaves us wanting more.

Hack/Slash #5 – Review

By: Tim Seeley (writer), Kyle Strahm (art), Mark Englert & Nate Lovett (colors), Crank! (letters) & James Lowder (edits)

The Story: Cassie & Vlad run into Fantomah, protector of the Jungle,  in this done-in-one story.

What’s Good: Ya know, sometimes it is nice to have a comic that stands on its own and isn’t part of a 4-6 issue story arc.  It almost doesn’t matter whether the story is good, bad or just kinda “blah” because it changes up the pacing of the series and keeps future stories from being so predictable. This done-in-one story features the “Return of Fantomah” who must have been a character from one of the latter Hack/Slash stories at Devil’s Due Publishing that I haven’t read yet (all on my iPad, just no time…), but no prior experience is necessary because Seeley and Strahm give us a really nice little intro to who she is with a ~5 page intro.  The cool intro is written and illustrated in a very 60’s manner that shows us how Fantomah is some supernatural protector of the rainforest.  Then we cut forward in time to the present day and see Fantomah have a quick adventure with Cassie and Vlad revolving around Cassie’s ongoing desire to rid the world of the Black Lamps.  Not everything is what is originally seems and the pacing of the twists and reveals is really nicely done.

We get an art change for this issue too.  It is probably unfair to do this, but comparing Strahm’s art to regular series artist Daniel Leister’s, you’ll see that Strahm’s art is (mostly) much coarser.  You can see a lot of Chaykin influences and he has that interesting combo of some characters looking rough and scratchy combined with his women looking soft and curvy.  It’s a nice change.  And, the aforementioned intro section of the comic is really great.

Hack/Slash #4 – Review

By: Tim Seeley (writer), Daniel Leister (art), Mark Englert (colors), Crank! (letters) & James Lowder (edits)

The Story: The first story of Tim Seeley’s new volume of Hack/Slash (since it found a new home at Image) comes to a close.

What’s Good: This was a really good issue and you could tell that Tim Seeley was saving some fun bits for this issue.  This will get a little spoiler-y, but I think it’s warranted because it is fun things like this that give Hack/Slash its soul.  First, we have the fact that Cassie has to snap her monstrous sidekick Vlad out of his mind-controlled state so he can help her fight the acid lady (sorry, forgot her name).  Long time readers know that Vlad’s cluelessness about sex, but increasing interest therein, has been a running joke in this series.  So, it was very funny to see Cassie pull up her shirt and plant Vlad’s face right in her bosom.  Sure, enough….he wakes up and joins the fight, but it creates an awkward moment for the two friends.

Next we have a scene where the rest of H/S, Inc. are fighting off zombified animals.  Among the animals are some zombie cats and they get rid of them my having Pooch distract them with a laser-pointer (that he’s holding in this mouth) while someone else shoots them.  Awesome!

But, the best moment is that Cassie and Vlad have their big battle with the acid lady in the Intelligent Design Museum.  Clearly the battle had to happen somewhere, but rather than having it in some parking lot or generic old house, placing the battle in this museum allows the creators to have all kinds of fun with the types of exhibits in such a place (like seeing humans trying to feed a watermelon to a vegetarian T. Rex).  That’s just good stuff!

I’ve been a little hard on the art in Hack/Slash, but it was a lot better this month and I think I know why.  Hack/Slash is probably a very hard comic to draw well.  Beyond the fact that there are a ton of different character types (skinny guys, hulking guys, sexy girls, zombies, etc.), those characters are always doing really dynamic things and it is very hard to maintain that sense of  energy.  That type of problem is going to be most noticeable on full-body panels of two characters fighting.  But, this issue has almost NO full-body panels; many are waist-up or just faces and hands.  And, at that level, the artwork still carries plenty of energy to make us feel the action.  Whether this was an adjustment by the creators or not, I really liked this art a LOT more than the past couple issues (which weren’t “bad”….they just needed a little more umph).

Hack Slash #3 – Review

By: Tim Seeley (writer), Daniel Leister (art), Mark Englert (colors), Crank (letters) & James Lowder (edits)

The Story: Bobby Brunswick is back with an axe to grind against an ex-girlfriend and is using his “reanimate dead animal” powers to their fullest.

What’s Good: There’s lots of typical fun Hack/Slash action in this comic and that means it’s a lot of fun.  One of the villains in this arc is Bobby Brunswick, who old time Hack/Slash readers will remember as the veterinary assistant who had a huge crush on his boss, Lisa Elsten (the town vet and Chris Krank’s current girlfriend).  Lisa’s boyfriend at the time didn’t like this very much and in a prank-gone-wrong, Bobby was killed before coming back to exact revenge and exhibiting this ability to reanimate dead animals.

So, this issue has scads of zombified animals everywhere.  There are crows spying on pregnant Lisa through the window, zombie deer playing kamikaze with the sheriff’s patrol car, and zombie fish and an effing zombie snapping turtle trying to bite people in the river.  It’s both intense and funny all at the same time and that’s before we even get to the scenes of Bobby going after pregnant Lisa and the requisite Pooch humor (he gets locked in his cage for sniffing Lisa’s butt because “he wants to know what she ate for dinner”).

Summing up, this issue is just a lot of fun as Seeley keeps the action rolling and tosses in humor here and there.  If you like a silly take on slasher movies, you’ll love this series.

Hack/Slash #2 – Review

By: Tim Seeley (writer), Daniel Leister (art), Mark Englert (colors), Crank (letters) & James Lowder (edits)

The Story: Old slashers are coming back from the dead!

What’s Good: What do readers expect from Hack/Slash?  They expect slashers/monsters, bloody fights with those slashers and scantily clad women.  It is so refreshing to read a comic that knows its niche and exploits that niche month-after-month.

The story is picking up a really good homage to 80’s slasher films.  What was the first thing that you thought when you watched those movies and the bad guy gets “killed” with 15 minutes left in the film?  Of course he isn’t really dead.  Slashers always come back!  And that theme is running in spades through this action packed issue that brings almost all of the Hack/Slash main characters into the action.

Hack/Slash #1 – Review

By: Tim Seeley (writer), Daniel Leister (art), Mark Englert (colors), Crank (letters) & James Lowder (editor)

The Story: Cassie, Vlad and gang are back!

What’s Good: Tim Seeley does a great job of making this issue “new reader friendly” but without making his loyal readers feel like they’ve gone back to kindergarten.  He pulls this off by giving us 2-pages of character synopsis (picture + 1 paragraph) for the major characters and then just having the characters do a little more exposition than is normal.  All comic readers know that Seeley is walking a tightrope with this type of issue, but he nails it.  New readers and old readers alike are going to love this.

If you’ve never ventured into the world of Hack/Slash, you should really check it out if you’re at all fond of 80’s slasher/horror movies.  The main character is a young woman named Cassie Hack who, along with her monstrous sidekick Vlad, hunts and kills slashers.  There is a lot of other goodness buried in the ~40 previous issues of Hack/Slash, but that’s the basic story: hunting and killing slashers in bloody ways and never being afraid to have the ladies wear revealing clothing.  This issue has plenty of those staples as well as tons of comic relief courtesy of Vlad and his hopelessly naive sensibilities about women and the world.  Toss in the fact that this creator-owned comic is doesn’t chase its own tail like Marvel/DC superhero comics and you have a winner.

This particular adventure is a classic as Cassie and Vlad are after a lover’s lane killer who isn’t all he/she seems.  Plus, while we’re getting our arms around that pretty straight forward story, Seeley gets us up to speed slowly on everything else that is going on with the supporting characters.  Bravo.

Daniel Leister’s art does what it needs to do.  He draws a couple of horribly bloody scenes (with a strong assist from the colorist) and a couple of other really screwed up panels (one of the killers victims is half-dissolved in a hot tub of acid or lye or something).  And he also draws the pretty ladies really well.  That’s kinda what it takes to be the artist on Hack/Slash.  It isn’t JH Williams, III type art, but it isn’t trying to be and nor should it be.

Hack/Slash: Me Without You #1 – Review

By: Tim Seeley (writer), Daniel Leister (art), Mark Englert (colors), Crank! (letters) & James Lowder (edits)

The Story: Where did Vlad (Cassie Hack’s hulking companion) come from?

What’s Good: I don’t think it would be a stretch to say that all Hack/Slash fans love Vlad.  To me, Vlad has become the heart of the overall series with his tireless efforts to stand by Cassie through thick and thin, protecting her from danger, keeping her sane and (of course) helping her to kill bad guys.

Before now, we really didn’t know where Vlad came from, but we did know that he wasn’t a garden-variety human being.  The origin that Tim Seeley gives him fits perfectly with the Hack/Slash universe and sets-up a whole raft of future story angles.  I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of Vlad’s past coming into the pages of Hack/Slash once the ongoing series from gets ramped back up at Image in the next month or so.

All of the things that make Vlad such a great character are on full display here.  We get to see how he remains a kind an optimistic character despite the incredible sadness of his life and his protective nature also shines through as he dotes on a young lady who is in trouble.  And, of course, there are a few trademark Vlad bits of humor.  For example, at one point where his charge says she’ll be his friend, but he has to follow her around all the time, stay out of site and not bother her.  She concludes, “That doesn’t sound like too shitty of a deal, does it?”  To which Vlad replies, “No! It sounds like a fair amount of shit.”  I LOVE those little naive bits from Vlad

Daniel Leister’s art is very effective for this series.  He can do gory (as we see on the first page).  He can draw attractive women.  He can emphasize monstrous nature.  But what I think I like best about Leister is that he varies his panels and his layout quite a bit.

Halcyon #2 – Review

By: Marc Guggenheim & Tara Butters (writers), Ryan Bodenheim (art), Mark Englert (colors), Dave Sharpe (letters) & Aubrey Sitterson (editor)

The Story: The heroes of Earth continue to adjust to a world without crime.

What’s Good: The premise is interesting: What happens if there is no more crime?  What do the heroes do?  In this well written comic we start to see that the heroes are going to varied responses.  For example, the superfast dude is stressed to within an inch of his life because he (and he alone) is fast enough to get to the scene of natural disasters as they happen whereas the woman who is the Superman-analog knows she isn’t fast enough to do that stuff…and is really kinda enjoying relaxing.  They’re all different, and some will be not so noble.

The writing craft of this comic is really top notch.  It is well paced and the story is told in a way that makes it clear that the creators know what the story is going to be .  We’ve all read comics where you get a sense that the creators have a general sense of what will happen, but not a firm outline.  Not the case here and that is something I generally find to be true of writing teams since the mere act of collaboration requires more detailed planning.

We also don’t often get to say something nice about lettering, but Dave Sharpe is showing why lettering can matter as he does some neat things in this issue.  There is one character who is named Null and he doesn’t speak with typical word balloons, he speaks with black background/white text dialog boxes.  It may not seem like much, but it adds to this Null’s character without the writers having to write anything about him.

Finally, let’s cheer for the second issue coming out promptly.  I think a lot of “indy” comics lose momentum with bad release schedules.  My biggest complaint with issue #1 was that it didn’t give much intro, but that is kinda washed away now because issue #2 came out quickly.

Halcyon #1 – Review

By: Marc Guggenheim & Tara Butters (writers), Ryan Bodenheim (artist), Mark Englert (colors), Dave Sharpe (letters) & Aubrey Sitterson (editor)

The Story: Guggenheim & Butters begin to explore what happens when the heroes “win”.

What’s Good: There are a couple of common questions in superhero questions, such as, “Why doesn’t Batman just kill those villains since they just bust out of Arkham and cause mayhem again?” or “Are heroes causing crime by being an attractive nuisance for criminals?”  Halcyon seems to be touching on a tangent to those types of questions: What would the heroes do if there was no more crime?  Would they decide to settle down or would some of them prove to be such adrenalin junkies that they would find a way to create some crime to fight?

This issue only begins to establish the world of Halcyon.  The writers take us through introductions to the main heroes.  This series of vignettes is nicely done as each character gets a box with their name and power.  More comics need to use this technique because it is nice to know what these peoples’ names are.  The heroes are all pretty recognizable archetypes from our Marvel/DC comics, so one wonders if this is a bit of misdirection such that we will be surprised when the “Captain America dude” does something that the Marvel Cap never would.  We’ll see.  But, as the stories unfold, the heroes come to the realization that all crime is coming to a stop.  Not just super-powered crime, but also muggings, et al. Of course, this may or may not be scheme by the one super villain we meet in this issue.  It is an enticing concept and it’ll be interesting to see where it goes.

The art works.  It is serviceable and tells the story written by the writers without trying to show off and free lance.  It isn’t without its flaws (an odd looking characters here and there, sparse backgrounds), but it perfectly fine for the story.

Lettering is one of those thankless tasks where it is usually only noticeable when it is done poorly, so we try to offer praise whenever possible.  In this case Dave Shapre uses a really neat font for a scene in Pakistan that makes it 100% clear these folks are speaking a foreign language without resorting to: “<Drop your gun!!>”*       * – Translated from the original Farsi

Hack / Slash Annual 2010: Murder Messiah – Review

By: Tim Seeley (writer), Jethro Morales (art), Mark Englert (colors) & Crank! (letters)

The Story: A proper introduction to the Hack/Slash universe (since the property moved to Image in Summer 2010) with two stories.  In one, Cassie Hack deals with a serial killer who it hitting close to home and in the future, we see a possible apocalyptic wasteland dominated by slashers.

What’s Good: Too much is made of “jumping on points” in modern comics.  The recently completed Hack/Slash: My First Maniac was such a jumping on point in that it didn’t make any demand that you had read any prior issues of Hack/Slash.  It was a LOT of fun, but at the same time, it probably didn’t do a whole lot for long-time Hack/Slash fans.    Well, this Murder Messiah Annual is not a classic “jumping on point”.  Mr. Seeley is flinging you right into the deep end of the pool and making you very aware that he’s already written 50+ issues in this universe.  If you haven’t read Hack/Slash before, you will understand a lot of what is going on, but you will also be a little confused.

Wait, why is this a good thing?  Well, don’t you hate it when you’ve been reading a title for 2-3 years and suddenly the creators decide they need to create a “new jumping on point” to make the series accessible for new readers?  When that happens, existing readers are forced to sit through a boring 6-issue arc that just chases its tail from a story point of view.  This stuff is why characters in mainstream superhero comics haven’t changed in 30+ years.  If this Annual represents the most Mr. Seeley is going to slow the car to allow folks to jump on, you know that you are not going to feel shat upon in 12 months when we have to have another “new jumping on point” (and again in 12 months after that).  So, don’t be a baby… Grab on and catch up as we go along or go find the back issues which are readily available in collected editions or digitally.

Hack/Slash: My First Maniac #4 – Review

By: Tim Seeley (writer), Daniel Leister (art), Mark Englert (colors) & Crank (letters)

The Story: This Cassie Hack “Year One” miniseries wraps up.  How will Cassie deal with Grinface?

What’s Good: This series did exactly what it set out to do by reintroducing Hack/Slash to its new audience that it gained with its move to Image, while staying true to the issues that Tim Seeley published through Devils Due Publishing.

For a final issue, I thought this issue hit all the right notes as it shows how Cassie is both vulnerable (as a misfit teenage girl) and tough (as a avenging killer of slashers) and it is that balancing act that makes this series such a joy to read (as I’ve been catching up on the series on my iPhone).  If you’re a fan of 80’s slasher movies, there is just a LOT to love here as the bad guy (Grinface) and setting (abandoned barn next to a corn field) could have appeared in any of the horror movies I watched as a kid.

I’d love to see one of Seeley’s scripts because I think there must be constant notes that say, “Lots of blood”.  Good lord is there a lot of blood sloshing around in this as people are hit with hammers (big and small), hit by cars, etc. and it might be excessive if this comic weren’t a loving spoof of those ultra-bloody movies.  Otherwise, the art does a very good job of selling the story.

Hack/Slash: My First Maniac #1 – Review

By: Tim Seeley (writer), Daniel Leister (art), Mark Englert (colors) & Crank (letters)

The Story: As Hack/Slash moves from Devils Due publishers over to Image, we are treated to a fresh jumping on point that explains the origins of Cassandra Hack and why she’s out to kill serial killers.

What’s Good: Hack/Slash is not a new title by any stretch, but when you move from Devils Due to Image, you are going to get a flood of new readers because a lot of LCSs will stock a few issues of Image titles, but won’t touch anything from Devils Due out of fear that they won’t sell.  So, it makes sense that creator Tim Seeley would give us a nice jumping on point for the world of Cassandra Hack now that he’s got a few more eyeballs on the title.

The concept of Hack/Slash isn’t that complicated: Cassandra Hack is teenage girl who hunts and kills serial killers.  That’s basically it.  I haven’t read all the prior issues of Hack/Slash, but it has become a favorite of mine on the iPhone when I have idle minutes in the various waiting rooms of the world.  You really don’t need any prior knowledge to hop on and figure out what is going on in this comic.  It is a very good intro to who Cassandra is.  I think she’s like a teenage girl version of Bruce Wayne, but without the money or compunctions about killing the bad guys.  She’s grim, ruthless and not about to let emotional attachments stand in the way of getting the bad guys.

I think the art goes a long way to selling a book like this.  It is appropriately colorful and descriptive, yet creepy.  I also really enjoy that it isn’t all photo-reference.   Leister doesn’t shy away from showing the blood and guts and he certainly knows how to draw a pretty woman (and how much fun is a horror book without pretty girls?).

Hack/Slash #26 – Review

By Tim Seeley (Writer), Bryan Baugh (Art), and Mark Englert (Colors)

The Story: A slasher from Cassie’s and Vlad’s past is back. But the Mosaic Man’s return is actually a trap set by someone looking for revenge.

What’s Good: Hack/Slash #26 takes the series back to its roots in some ways. By having Cassie and Vlad track one of the killers that’s responsible for starting it all, Tim Seeley does a fine job of looking to the past while moving the series forward a bit. While the predictable Mosaic Man plot isn’t groundbreaking or anything, the latest issue of Hack/Slash mixes violence, sex, and humor in a way that makes the book a great choice for anyone looking for something outside of the usual superhero comic mold.

Writer and series co-creator Tim Seeley clearly has a love for everything that makes Hack/Slash work so well. The smart dialogue between Cassie and Vlad always has a perfect “buddy” vibe that makes the leading outcasts oddly endearing, and the fantasy near the opening and the humorous result of it effortlessly mixes the series’ signature dark sexuality and comedy together in a scene that, surprisingly, serves as a slice of character work as well (though it’s still a piece of gratuitous fan-service almost any way you look at it). As for the hunt for the killer, it’s punctuated by flashes of violence that could only really work in a comic that uses the horror genre as a foundation.

I’ve been a fan of Bryan Baugh’s work since he jumped on board the series with Hack/Slash #24. His style looks decidedly “indie” and a bit surreal at times, but it’s perfect for a series like Hack/Slash. With the help of Mark Englert’s moody, deep colors and some heavy inks, Baugh’s art captures everything it needs to. The violence features some disturbing details, the overall tone is heavy and dark, and the characters almost always look like they should (he especially nails the look for Cassie, the gothic pin-up, and Vlad the likable brute). In addition, Baugh gives his characters a nice bit of personality through their slightly exaggerated body language and facial expressions. It keeps them from feeling stiff or unrealistic.

What’s Not So Good: I understand the need to lay the groundwork for the future. I really do. But I can’t help but consider it a negative when Tim Seeley breaks the flow of Hack/Slash #26 with a random scene that’s going to have meaning later. It’s more pointless and distracting than it is interesting at the moment.

My biggest complaint about the artwork is that facial consistency is something of an issue. Some panels just look a bit weird when considering what a character looked like just a few panels before. Another annoyance is that faces tend to look a bit “samey” at times. It’s a fairly common comic book complaint, I know, but it’s something that has to be mentioned.

Conclusion: Hack/Slash #26 is a fun book that deserves to be given a look. Do yourself a favor and pick it up.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #24 – Review

By Tim Seeley (Writer), Bryan Baugh (Artist), and Mark Englert (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: How fucking cool is the Matt Merhoff cover for the Hack/Slash #24?!

The Story: The pumpkin-headed Samhain approaches Cassie and Vlad about a possible alliance. They both want to take down the Black Lamp Society, which is finally explained in detail, so, as the saying goes, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

What’s Good: I wasn’t a big fan of the Netherworld plot, since it tended to get in the way of the Casssie vs. Slasher storylines that make Hack/Slash the fun series that it usually is. The Black Lamp Society stuff that’s been brewing for the last few issues is something that I can get behind. The Black Lamp Society origin story that’s told in Hack/Slash #24 delivers a nice mix of mythology (True Blood fans take notice) religion, and the supernatural (an explanation for the slashers!?) that, while not super original, fits surprisingly well into the larger Hack/Slash storyline.

Another good thing about Hack/Slash #24 is the artwork by new series artist Bryan Baugh. It’s very stylized (like a cross between tattoo art and sexy pin-up art), but loaded with an impressive amount of detail. Baugh’s work fits the series well and definitely makes the Hack/Slash interiors look quite unique.

As you probably expected, the dialogue in the latest Hack/Slash also scores a spot in the “What’s Good” section. Tim Seeley clearly has a strong handle on the story he is telling and uses smart dialogue and character interaction to drive it forward. While, again, the plot isn’t completely original, it is still fun and compelling. I look forward to reading more of it.

What’s Not So Good: I’m not entirely sure if it’s an issue with the artwork or the colors, but a few panels in Hack/Slash #24 look a bit sloppy. Either lines look extra rough or the colors lack definition. While it’s far from a crippling problem (an extra layer of polish would have helped immensely), it’s noticeable enough to warrant a mention.

Conclusion: Hack/Slash #24 is one of the best issue of the series in a while. The dialogue is sharp, the artwork is well worth checking out, and the storyline shows lots of promise. I can’t wait for the double-sized Hack/Slash #25!

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #23 – Review

By Tim Seeley (Writer), Ross Cambell (Art – Mad, Mad, Mailman), Mike Dimayuga (Art – Blood Blower), and Mark Englert (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ll take two short Hack/Slash stories in an issue any day. Especially if they can stand alone in a satisfying way.

The Story: In “Mad, Mad, Mailman,” a young girl obsessed with crime investigation tries to figure out if a mailman really did murder some sorority girls. In “Blood Blower,” Cassie, Lisa, and Pooch look to take down a snow-blower that has been killing puppies.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: Hack/Slash #23 is decidedly average in every way. Competent, but far from memorable. Not bad, but not particularly good either.

I almost wish I could just stick the comic with a “C” and be done with it, but that would be a disservice to the readers.

The main problem with the Hack/Slash “double feature” is that neither “feature” is all that interesting. The first, “Mad, Mad, Mailman” has an interesting premise (think a morbid version of Harriet the Spy), but it ultimately feels like a waste of time for two reasons: it lacks Cassie/ Vlad and it has an extremely weak ending. The second “feature” is pretty much the complete opposite of the first. It has a weak premise, but it stars the main Hack/Slash cast and ends satisfyingly enough.

On a technical level, Hack/Slash #23 is actually quite good. Though the stories leave something to be desired, Tim Seeley’s character work is, as expected, great all around. As for the visuals, they do a nice job with all aspects of the stories. Ross Cambell and Mike Dimayuga have similar styles, so the book feels like a solid, cohesive package. If I have any complaint, it’s that occasionally Mark Englert’s color work seems to dominate the art. It leaves the work looking a bit less than tight.

Conclusion: Hack/Slash #23 is, as I said, decidedly average. It reads well and looks nice, but there are better comics to be spending money on this month.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

e: C

Hack/Slash #22 – Review

By Tim Seeley (Writer), Emily Stone (Artist), and Mark Englert (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Whether it be through dark comedy or some old-fashioned slasher movie gore, you can always count on Hack/Slash to deliver a good time.

The Story: An unlikely hero emerges as Cassie and Vlad are helpless and at the mercy of the vicious, fear-eating Dread Devourers.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: While I generally prefer a one and done Hack/Slash story, the series continuity has enough interesting elements to keep longer running arcs interesting.  Hack/Slash #22 capitalizes on that fact by drawing on old and new alike to bring about some resolution to the inter-dimensional conflict that has hovered over the ongoing series since the beginning.  And though the plot is quite strange at times, Emily Stone proves she’s up to the challenge by crafting some rather disturbing, disgusting visuals that add a lot to the story being told.  As for Tim Seeley’s writing, it is surprisingly character driven and humorous or tense at all the right moments.

If I have any real complaint about Hack/Slash #22, it’s that the inter-dimensional stuff has always left me a bit cold.  I appreciate the idea of an overarching plot to drive the ongoing series, but I always find myself a bit annoyed when that overarching plot takes front and center.  It’s not that the story is bad… It just takes Hack/Slash away from it’s core strength– the buddy comedy/slasher movie stuff.

Conclusion: As a whole, the latest issue of Hack/Slash is entertaining and, as expected, quite solid.  My biggest complaint is one of personal preference, so maybe you may get more out of the book than I did.

Grade:  C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #21 – Review

By Tim Seeley (Writer), Emily Stone (Art), and Mark Englert (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ve made no secret about the fact that I’m quite a fan of the Hack/Slash formula. It successfully blends a variety of genres into one extremely satisfying product. One part bloody horror story, one part buddy action comedy, one part grounded drama, and one part supernatural thriller, Hack/Slash somehow manages to work on nearly every level. While the series has hit a few bumps here and there, it always keeps me coming back for more because the basic concept is just so much fun. Simply put, you should be reading Hack/Slash.

The Story: The latest chapter of Hack/Slash sees Cassie’s past catching up with her in a big way. Longtime fans will either love or loathe the surprise returns in one of the more oddball issues of the series. Let me just say that it features one of the more interesting uses of an old lady in a comic book. Yep…

What’s Good: Story-wise, Hack/Slash #21 scores more points with me for what it sets up than for what actually happens. Though that’s not to say it isn’t a fun and entertaining issue. In fact, it might actually be one of the funniest comics I’ve read in quite some time. The bits with the elderly lady, Muffy, are so ridiculous that you can’t help but laugh. Cassie and Vlad even get in on it with some great character moments both humorous and, at times, poignant. Good work Mr. Seeley.

Also worth mentioning is the art team of Emily Stone and Mark Englert. They provide solid visuals throughout the book, with a few extremely stand-out moments. I’ve been a bit hard on Emily Stone in the past (mostly regarding facial consistency and the occasionally sketchy panel), but Hack/Slash #21 features some of her best work. And that work is complimented well by Mark Englert’s effective, quality coloring.

What’s Not So Good: A lot of your enjoyment of the latest Hack/Slash arc will probably rest on what you think of the returning characters. I can easily imagine at least one of them annoying or irritating people, so I can easily imagine his (or her?!) return falling flat. Personally, I think introducing new characters might have been more interesting, but I’m not exactly against how things now stand.

Another not so good thing is that some of Stone’s pencils tend to look a bit sketchy and rough at times. While it doesn’t really distract from the otherwise nice visuals, an extra layer of polish would have helped. I say that especially because Hack/Slash is extremely close to being a consistently good to great looking series as Stone’s solid work continues to improve.

Conclusion: Hack/Slash #21 is a surprisingly funny installment to an extremely entertaining series. While some may find themselves a bit irked by the returns, I believe most will be forgiven by the time they hit the cliffhanger of an ending. I look forward to seeing where Tim Seeley and his creative team take things from this point on.

Grade:  B

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #18 – Review

By Tim Seeley (Writer), Emily Stone & Kevin Mellon (Art), and Mark Englert (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The recently completed Re-Animator crossover left me itching for a stand alone, one-and-done Hack/Slash story about Cassie and Vlad taking care of some random slasher. Unfortunately, it looks like I may have to wait at least a little while for something like that. Why? Well, for starters, there is some serious character work to be done in the aftermath of the crossover. In addition, a few overarching plot threads are in serious need of some advancement. Luckily, it looks like Hack/Slash #18 is going to start dealing with those very issues so that the series can get back to what it does best sooner rather than later.

The Story: Picking up shortly after the traumatic events that involved Dr. Herbert West, the latest Hack/Slash finds Cassie and Vlad at a crossroad of sorts. Both characters question the status of their relationship and how they exist in the world in general. Vlad takes his questions to the bar where he finds himself facing off against a plethora of guest stars. Cassie, thanks to Vlad, spends some quality time with her lady-friend Georgia. Meanwhile, the demon from another dimension introduced last issue on a rampage in search of Cassie and the dog-like alien currently living with Cassie’s friends.

What’s Good: Tim Seeley’s character work for both Cassie and Vlad is incredibly effective considering how easily it could have come off as forced or overly dramatic. It’s next to impossible not to feel for the characters in some way, especially considering what went down over the past few months. As for the visuals, the best thing in the issue is Vlad’s brawl with a number of familiar comic characters. It’s a fun, well-choreographed surprise among all the weighty themes.

What’s Not So Good: The whole alien dog storyline just doesn’t do it for me as a whole. It has been going on for a while now and to this very day, it still seems out of place in a series so heavily based around the things that make the horror genre so fun. Hopefully the arrival of the demon-warrior thing signals the beginning of the end for that particular plot thread, because it feels like it just gets in the way of the good stuff.

Conclusion: Hack/Slash #18 is very good when dealing with Cassie and Vlad. On the other hand, it definitely loses a bit of momentum anytime anything else takes the spotlight. That said, the good most definitely outweighs the bad in what ultimately amounts to a strong, character-driven issue of an entertaining series.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

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 #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