BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER – Issue #9
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Brian K.Vaughn Art by Georges Jeanty
Took me awhile to read this issue because I felt death coming to my favorite girl. Then the last page shows up, and dumb George Michael pops into my head. “Cuz I gotta have faith.” Brian K. Vaughn wraps it up here as Faith takes on the Lady G. and her wee-yatch boyfriend Roden with the help of Giles. It all ends well, for me at least, and we see a new friendship born that was long overdue. Faith needed stability, and Giles needed someone to guide. A match made in slayer heaven, right? Vaughn’s recap of the TV show with Faith’s past history with the mayor was brilliant to start off with, and captures the needs of the character while pushing her forward to the future. And Buffy finally gets a hint that she’s a selfish bee-yatch sometimes, and takes a breather. The best issue of Season 8 so far, and even Georges Jeanty kicks it up a notch with the likeness of Giles and Richard making the story more dramatic and believable. I’m very happy that it was Faith that stole the show for Season 8… well, so far. I have faith that more great stories in the Buffyverse are on their way.
GRADE: A CONTINUE READING? Would Andrew allow you to stop reading? Didn’t think so.
HACK/SLASH – Issue #6
Written by Tim Seeley Art by Fernando Pinto and Tim Seeley
Devil’s Due Publishing
Wow… that was a crazy issue. Inventive… sure… but crazy as heck. Cassie and Vlad visit a fairly religious community of Haverhill, and when they get there… they turn Archie. No, it’s not a form of vampire or zombie. It’s worse. It’s a world where Betty and Veronica tease you until blue balls become prunes. Emily Stone needed a month off, and this is actually a creative way to take a vacation. Rather than grab a fill-in artist to sort of copycat the main artist, bring in a crazy idea of making everything look… well… Archie Comics-like. And not many can pull this off, I tell you. Tim Seeley’s strong writing keeps the crazy train going along with Vlad’s new hunger for “The Sex” now that he has lost “The Virginity”. I have to admit the new art style and idea didn’t warm up to me until halfway through, but when we did see the Archie sinners do it in a school shower, it was worth it. I felt dirty, and it was nice. The villain, Father Wrath, or the new taker of the helm, is not too bright, and the costume choice is a bit generic for Seeley’s taste. Then again, it appears that this was just a one-issue breather for the artist, so it needed to be contained. But back to the vanmobile Cassie and Vlad. You’ve got work to do, entertaining all of those Hack/Slash fanatics! Leave Archie-land behind.
GRADE: B CONTINUE READING? Of course, my horse. Keep on riding this pony.
THE WALKING DEAD – Issue #45
Image Comics
Written by Robert Kirkman Art by Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn
So I decided to stick with this on an issue by issue basis for now. Writer Robert Kirkman suggests big things are a coming, so me being a fan of the original 24 issues had to see a great series gone down come back up the hill. And it does. This issue shows a fast pace leading up to the last page that’s a real shocker, but also one that forces you to buy the next issue. Clever, Kirkman, clever. Rick is in need of blood, Dale loses patience and gathers up some folks to head back out in the RV, and Tyrone and Michonne decide to become assassins and strike out on their own. The end result is of course, not too pretty. This issue marks the return of The Walking Dead to full throttle as Kirkman ditches the Cadillac and hops into the Ferrari. The characters are finally reacting on their own, no longer in need of a leader and letting their minds finally function again. Whether it was intentional for Kirkman to parallel our survivors to that of the zombies is a good question, but I think it stretched on too long for folks to be lost in such a confined place, especially a prison. To see people want to survive again brings blood back to the book, and I’m excited to see this series kicking some ass again. Bring it!
GRADE: A- CONTINUE READING? Supposedly it gets better. Alright Robert… the spotlight is on.
THE ZOMBIE: SIMON GARTH – Issue #1
Marvel MAX Comics
Written by Eric Powell Art by Kyle Hotz
My first review for Horror Yearbook was with the first series, Zombie, and I love that book. Mike Raicht did a great job at making the zombie comic book cinematic with artist Kyle Hotz, and it was a sleeper hit. Now, Simon Garth is back, along with Kyle Hotz and new writer Eric Powell. (I think he writes The Goon, yes, another book I desperately need to check out.) In this second series, we pick up where we left off from the first with the helicopter crashing into some backwoods where Wrong Turn rejects wait for hot chicks to pee in a bush. Before they can do their hillbilly humping, Simon appears out of nowhere and lays the smack down. In the meantime, the doctor argues over whether or not Simon is zombie. Well, yeah he is. It’s the name of the book! While I’m excited to see this series continue, the pacing is a bit off and much slower than the first series. Eric Powell is either taking his time to set something big up, or just writes slow, but the difference is huge from Mike Raicht’s running zombie tale. Kyle Hotz also slows it down a bit, so I’m thinking now the first issue is just the curtain to the show. So, we’ll just have to wait and see when the curtain opens what kind of show we’re in store for!
GRADE: B CONTINUE READING? I think the story will begin in the next issue. This one is just a warm-up, so I’ll be there. I’m always there for my boy, Hotz.
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