HACK/SLASH #3
Written by Tim Seely Art by Emily Stone
Devil’s Due Publishing
PullBox Online

I always knew Elvis was evil. I knew because I liked him, and because he made me dance. PURE EVIL! Issue #3 hints that the man behind all this might be the one and only King of Rock N Roll, and surprisingly, it works. As for his minions in Acid Washed, it gives them a better place in the villain ladder because I never saw them as the ultimate bad guys. Now the highlight of this book is Vlad and his quest in losing “the virginity”, and I’m impressed with how it turns out. (No I won’t spoil it! I’d never.) Cassie and Georgia Peaches talk about sex, and we learn something about Cassie that kind of catches us off-guard. And it’s in this moment that Tim Seely really shines because it fits perfectly within the psychology of Cassie’s character. There’s real evidence there rather than a simple label, and it’s brilliant. Emily Stone continues the eye-bulging art with some nice facial expressions and realistic movement within the pose. I’m starting to wonder if she sold her virginity to Elvis to draw this good! Kudos to Seely and Stone for putting out a book I look forward to every month, and would curl up in an alley and beg if I didn’t get my fix. This stuff is pure paper crack. And yes, I own that tag now. Pay up.

GRADE: A CONTINUE READING? I’m pretty sure you’re dying for the next issue like me.

MARVEL ZOMBIES VS. ARMY OF DARKNESS #5
Written by John Layman Art by Fabiano Neves, Fernando Blanco, and Sean Phillips
Dynamite Entertainment
Marvel Comics

So who saves the day in this final installment in the ever popular Marvel Zombie vs. The Army of Darkness series? Will it be our hero, King of the S-Mart Shoppers, King Ashley J. Williams, or the disliked but envied metal man, Dr. Doom? While we all knew the fates of Dazzler and Scarlet Witch, we didn’t know what Dr. Doom would do when it came to the end of his reign. It’s believable in a way, but a little stretch from the norm. And the inevitable battle between the Marvel Zombies and the Necronomicon Zombies was very short and kind of lacked in excitement after Moon Knight gets torn apart. Still, the ending makes up for the shortcut as a crazy dimension appears before Ashley when exiting the Marvel Z world and into one seemingly familiar, but just a tad bit different. Let’s just say things get a little “hairy” in this dimension. A fun treat, but a rushed story and three different artists brings the grade down a bit in this issue. Still a great series and I highly recommend getting the trade paperback when it comes out. Or if it comes out? I’m sure it will. If not, go buy them all right now. GO!

GRADE: B+ SERIES GRADE: A-

FRIDAY THE 13TH: PAMELA’S TALE – Issue #1 of 2
WildStorm
Written by Marc Andreyko Art by Shawn Moll

Now this book had me excited from the get-go. One – It features one of comic’s biggest underdog writers in Marc Andreyko. His work on the critically acclaimed and much-loved DC Comics series, Manhunter, is to be savored and remembered. I’m a big Manhunter fan, and the series with Mark Shaw is actually the very first one I ever collected back in 1988. (Crap, I just showed my age there, didn’t I?) Two – It’s Friday the 13th and the Jason Voorhees mythology is always fascinating to me, but then… Three- We finally get to learn about Jason’s mum, Pam Voorhees, and how it all began. From the start, we get the familiar ride in the Jeep with Pam, and then head down memory lane from where it all started and how Pam would eventually lose herself and her mind. Blame Jason because he’s the devil child. For those that love their Jason quiet and mysterious, you’ll be discouraged that he turns into a coffee-shop gabber inside mommy’s tummy throughout the book, but don’t turn away. It does say Pamela’s Tale on the cover, so you get what you paid for. I enjoyed this book, and I look forward to the second part to see how it goes into what I assume to be the first Friday the 13th movie.

GRADE: B+ CONTINUE READING? Yep. It’s a two-parter, so if you buy the hamburger, you gotta get the bun.

CREATURE FROM THE DEPTHS – One Shot
Image Comics
Written and Drawn by Mark Kidwell

Mark Kidwell is a machine. I’m not joking. He draws and writes most of his work, and he does it well I may add. His run with Fangoria Comics and the many titles he’ll put out there including the well-received Bump series will really put a stamp on his name as a horror comic favorite. With Image Comics, Kidwell continues his solid work with a classic story based upon The Creature from the Black Lagoon. I’m assuming for legal reasons or perhaps just wanting to be a little more artistic with the story, the name changed to Creature From the Depths. Anyhoo, the one-shot book starts out with that classic Tales From the Crypt feel, and reels you in like a dumb bluegill biting a huge earthworm. The originality and freshness is wanted, badly, as the story swims in a pool overcrowded with zombie and werewolf books, and Kidwell delivers for the most part in satisfying that urge. A few hiccups toward the end with the climax being muddled in panel display and actions being a little stretched-out, but overall, this was a solid read with a classic feel to it. Kidwell is an excellent artist too, and his Gil-Man looks pretty darn cool as well as his new creature, Dr. Ahto. Creature From the Depths will immediately satisfy those memories from the 3-D adventure experienced as a kid. Definitely check out this book if you want a new take on an old fishy friend.

GRADE: B WANT MORE? Yep. We need more “Black Lagoon” stories on the comic book shelf. Wanna do another one, Mark?

THE ASTONISHING WOLF-MAN – Issue #2
Image Comics
Written by Robert Kirkman Art by Jason Howard

Remember I was worried about this book after reading the Free Comic Book Day first issue? I still am, only with my eyes drooping a little more and my lip-biting turning into a full-blown frown. I’m not digging the pacing in this book at all. It’s scattered like a dead dandelion wish, and really off-beat to the point where the book is more corny than fun. Robert Kirkman seems to be channeling his other book, Invincible, in this issue with a more superhero-like push, and while that series has a strong foundation, The Astonishing Wolf-Man lacks any at all, and struggles to find solid ground. A lot of it seems borrowed and forced, and I don’t see why it can’t slow down, especially since Kirkman’s other book, The Walking Dead, crawls like a snail in the sun. Jason Howard keeps the hope alive with his fun, animated style, but I’m really surprised on how Kirkman seems to be missing the boat with this idea. Not to mention the very recognizable Thundercats symbol being used as Wolf-Man’s logo. I can only hope that Lion-O appears in issue #3 to file a lawsuit against the Wolf-Man, and Snarf then takes over as the series talented superhero. And this apparent nod leads me to one conclusion… this book is poking fun at certain things in pop culture and comic books, and to be honest, it’s just not working. It’s one of those inside jokes that nobody gets, and if you do, you just shrug, shake your head, and get the hell out of the room. It’s a shame really because I want to love this book. Well, at least Ultimate X-Men is getting more interesting. Keep up the good work with that one, Kirkman.

GRADE: C- CONTINUE READING? It will be extremely hard for me to pick up issue #3. At this point, it needs to be free for me to consider it really.

CHUCKY #2
Written by Brian Pulido Art by Josh Medors
Devil’s Due Publishing
PullBox Online

I now present to you a love letter to Brian Pulido, and yes, I do love him like a brother, but this needs to be said:
Brian, Brian, Brian, Brian. We know Chucky is a sick, twisted little bastard. We know he’s sexist, and thinks about sex as if his jimmy-john was real. BLOT: We know that Chucky is pure evil. But what we really DO know is that Chucky can be written better than this, as demonstrated in the first issue. Right away, the dialogue is all sex talk from Chucky, and it’s like looking at Courtney Love and believing for a second that she’s not wasted while she screams out to us, “I’m sober, dammit!” I cringe, dear sir, as the train slides off the rails! And then we go to the bedroom where Chucky acts very girlish while he lies on a bed with his feet behind him in the air, pondering what he should do with the rest of his life. I can’t believe I almost puked out my White Castle slider while reading this scene, channeling my inner thoughts of Lindsay Lohan talking to herself in Mean Girls. (I’m a huge fan of Tina Fey, and so are you.) I was really impressed with the first issue, and now, I’m shaking my head and raising my hands, screaming, “I’m sober, dammit!” Credit given to a good cliffhanger and that saves the book from last week’s missed appointment with Dr. Pullmyteethout. So here’s the deal, Brian. Channel the energy you put into the first issue, and bring about a Chucky that we will love and adore. Because honestly, issue two of this series has Chucky holding hands with Teddy Ruxpin. I believe in you buddy, so get writing, and make Chucky evil again. Love, Fish.

GRADE: C CONTINUE READING? I’m serious. I believe in Brian, so I’m sticking with him!

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