BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER – Issue #10
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Joss Whedon Art by Cliff Richards
Faith no more. Joss Whedon returns to writing duties along with long-time artist Cliff Richards to start the new story arc featuring Buffy and Willow exploring the future. Pause. “The FUTURE Conan?” Yep, and they get disciplined by an ugly, toothy vagina from Hell. I think I was more grossed out than intrigued anytime the monster talked except when the Andy Warhol painting would reflect how quickly this thing was created by Joss. I can hear him say it now, “What? I was in the john reading Vogue magazine when I thought it up.” The issue is basically a return to the scattered thoughts of Joss Whedon during the first four issues, and it struggles at times to keep me reading. Some of it works, and some of it appears to be homage to the Gilmore Girls. I actually enjoyed the subplot with Xander and Dawnie more than the main story, even though the revelation was a hook without bait attached and the added “Who?” dumped into the overflowing, Buffyverse “mystery” box. I begin to feel Season 8 is forced here, and Joss is doing it only to please his fans rather than let things out of his system. I’ll admit, I’m more of a fan of Angel than Buffy, but I still love Buffy as much as any other TV show in the past 30 years. It featured some of the best writing on television, so I guess that’s why I feel a little let down here with the comic series. Maybe it’s the smaller scope that holds back Whedon’s key dramatic trigger in his characters, but I have to be honest. I’m just not feeling it from him. I think it was right to have other comic book writers enter this series as Brian K. Vaughn’s run clearly outshines the rest. So hopefully, more chair-changing will happen in the future to show Whedon what needs to be done in graphic novel form. TV-speak is just not working. So say The Gentlemen. Shhhhhhhhhh
GRADE: C+ CONTINUE READING? I won’t quit. Nope. Keep on trucking, Smokey. This rig still has some tricks to show.
HACK/SLASH – Issue #7
Written by Tim Seeley Art by Rebekah Isaacs
Devil’s Due Publishing
And from Buffy we move to the heir apparent. Hack/Slash is for those that want that first fresh season of Buffy again, and Tim Seeley…apparently… has not seen the TV show. Which is good. Don’t ever watch it either, maestro, because you own this show. The dynamic between Cassie and Vlad is fresh and original, but more importantly, relatable to the audience. Jokes are aplenty, but not so much in the speech but moreso in the content. Seeley really cares about this book, and it makes the reader feel like he’s talking directly to them. I really enjoy the structure and set-ups as he uses the pinpoint tack to twist the plot when it’s ready rather than where the template says it should be. It keeps the energy flowing, and the audience engaged. Especially with Cassie’s progression into becoming a woman and leaving the troubled teenage girl behind. Her phone calls to Miss Georgia Peaches to talk about girl stuff is something many writers would, well, write off. Instead, Seeley grabs this idea and molds it into Cassie’s blooming nature. Poor Vlad though. She’s his only friend, and yet, he can’t even get in a good game of SlapJack with her. And that’s where the last dazzling star comes into play. The cliffhanger. Seeley drops a small firecracker on us when Vlad might have another friend after all. Well, the kind that punch you in the back of the head rather than play Slapjack that is. From start to finish, Hack/Slash is the best damn ride on comic book boulevard. And from the looks of it, Seeley’s gas tank is still very much full after issue seven. Ride on, brother.
GRADE: A CONTINUE READING? Don’t stop now. Willy Wonka would envy this magical ride of originality.
FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH – Issue #3
Dynamite Entertainment
WildStorm Entertainment
Written by James Kuhoric Art by Jason Craig
On. Off. On… off. On… and off. That about sums up this issue as the triple BK broiler of a deathmatch turns into more of a triple layer of winter clothes. It’s a lingering freeze, and sometimes the reader is ready and prepared, and other times, the unexpected occurs. However, the unexpected is labeled more towards the swan dive in pacing, writing, and artistic expression. This issue seems a bit rushed in areas, especially with Jason Craig’s pencils showing Ash age faster than his Army of Darkness ending. He’s literally gone from suave ladies man to old man river with Craig’s art in this issue. However, the on button is used when Craig gives us some cool new “Jason Kills” when he takes a shopping cart and makes sliced pineapple from an S-Smart shopper’s head. That was pretty cool! But the inconsistency ruins the flow and causes me to kick the chair when the air gets stuffy and the writing brings on the choke. Either James Kuhoric was stressed out from the holidays and pumped this sucker out quicker than a changing room quickie at Sears, or he’s receiving pressure from others to drag things out a bit. Freddy is still sitting on his ass complaining about Jason failing his task. Come on! You didn’t exactly pick a rocket science major to do your dreamy bidding, butternuts! And the ending? Oh boy, what a turn-off. Such a nice build-up, with Freddy finally getting his freedom (though uneventful in that transition) and then Ash falling asleep. Freddy invades his dreams and Ash grows some metal knives where his boomstick would be, and then falls to his knees… and cue carbon copy Evil Dead 2 scene where he lost his original hand. Granted, some people love to rehash old tricks or pay homage to classic scenes, but I’m not one of them. “You took my hand… again!” whines Ash. Again? AGAIN??? Dramatic impact?? Hell no! Do you hear me screaming folks? Because I think I can hear others scream just as loud when reading that. Light switch off.
GRADE: C CONTINUE READING? Might as well. Namely to see what part is taken from which movie and added to this series… and ask why.
MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 – Issue #3
Marvel Comics
Written by Robert Kirkman Art by Sean Phillips
Holy schmoly, Captain America is back in black!! Now that’s how you do it folks! Yeah, I totally ruined the ending, but so what. It’s the Cap! Gotta do it. Robert Kirkman finally gets on track with this series after all the goofing around in the first two issues, and lays down the law with this here portal plot for more fresh meat. Gladiator starts us off with some ground and pound, UFC-style beatings, and tearing Spider-Man a new one. From there, a long mistreated character steps to the forefront as Forge puts on the old tin can, Iron Man armor, and beats down the wanna-be night elf Mohawk. (World of Warcraft on the brain indeed.) Just keeps getting better and better too. The only major downfall is when writer Robert Kirkman finally adds a bit of drama to the story, a la The Walking Dead, with Black Panther’s grandson saying he wants to be a zombie when he dies. When the page is turned, Black Panther becomes ambivalent and totally avoids the encounter! What the hell??? It’s like Kate on Lost telling Jack she loves him, and Jack going, “So how does the Hatch work again, Locke?” I’m not even sure why Kirkman added that if he’s only to drop it faster than 50 Cent’s new album. Sean Philip’s art is still a treat, making dead flesh tear easier than Posh Spice’s skirts. This book is a lot of fun, and I’m glad to see everyone firing on all cylinders again.
GRADE: A- CONTINUE READING? I’m excited to see Zombie Captain America kick some zombie ass.
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