ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL – Issue #6
IDW Publishing
Written by Brian Lynch Art by Various Artists

So here we have the interruption to our story. It chronicles timelines before and after the big throwdown in the alley with three characters. Well, four if you count the fish (not me by the way), but his before story was pretty short and confusing. Was he a part of the Jaws show at Universal Studios? And what exactly did he do? Make out with the shark? So we first dive into Spike, whom has the best pre-Hell takeover of Los Angeles story. Not only is it coherent to the current story and Season 5, but it’s drawn very nicely by David Messina. Spike is badass, if not for a few pages again. This is what I wanted in the first five issues, not some feminine slave-boy to Illyria. The next story is Connor, and right away, he talks to himself like he’s his own father. Not until he gets confused with all the father figures does he actually start talking like a kid. Writer Brian Lynch apparently didn’t know which Connor he wanted to write about. The warrior almost as deadly as Angel from another dimension, or the brat that slept with Cordelia that everyone hated? Mr. Lynch, try redeeming the character rather than throwing in another ten shovels of dirt on his face! The next story is Lorne, and it’s a poem. It’s an interest gimmick, and it’s likeable, but I think more because of artist John Byrne making it fun to look at. And then we’re left with the fish getting ready to get beat up by a vampire. Some cliffhanger there. Yeah. Either I’m having a bad week or April Fools day came way late for this week’s books, because the reviews don’t get much better from here.

GRADE: B- CONTINUE READING? Can you really stop at this point?

EVIL DEAD – Issue #4
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Mark Verheiden Art by John Bolton

To quote an R.E.M song (because it’s fitting, sad, and eyebrow crunching), “that was just a dream?” How could you, Mark? How could it possibly end like that? I almost tore that last page out of the book, and after writing this, I probably will! Like the next review, there were three kickass issues to start this super deluxe, extended, expanded, non-director, director’s cut for the Evil Dead movie in comic book form. We were treated to some cool moments not caught on film, a new perspective on what happened in the first film from Ash, and probably some of the best Bruce Campbell-speak without actually having Bruce Campbell writing the dialogue. Mark Verheiden was a ninja in those three issues! So the all the way up until this last page, Verheiden is basically Bruce Lee, kickin ass and being funny about it. All bloodied up and conquering every bad guy out there, our Bruce Lee writer enters the last page only to lie down next to the dead bodies and slit his own throat. Harsh analogy, I know, but come on! This was ridiculous, especially for the subject you’re writing about! “Evil Dead… just a dream folks. That’s all it was. Have a nice night. Tell your friends. Just a dream. Evil. Dead. Yeahhhhhh.” What-the-fuck??? I’m pissed! Not only does this one stupid-ass page ruin the entire series grade, but it makes me skeptical in reading Mark’s work ever again. Now if this was Hostel or Miracle Mile… sure, bad dream. I’ll buy it. I can live with that. But Evil Dead??? Bad choice, man. Bad choice. Is this really what you wanted, Mr. Raimi?

GRADE: C SERIES GRADE? B

CRIMINAL MACABRE: MY DEMON BABY – Issue# 4 of 4
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Steve Niles Art by Nick Stakal

Demon babies. More trouble than they’re worth. For Cal McDonald, they’re apparently worth dying for. The final segment of My Demon Baby had a lot going for it from the first three issues, but sorry to say, did not deliver in the end. The best friend, Mo’Lock, doesn’t really have any serious injury I guess after getting split in half by the crazy Templar Knight, and Cal quickly changes character around the baby, losing everything in his messed up personality…for baby talk. I know what Niles was trying to do here, basically showing that the magic of babies will smooth the skin of any hardass, but the writer took the wrong approach to get there. It was rushed and out of character for Cal to quickly to succumb to the baby cheeks and cuteness. Not to mention, the baby could be the anti-christ, and even proves the amount of power it has by saving Cal’s life in the end, but then… hey, give it a chance at life Cal says! Just doesn’t make sense, and while Cal never made sense in his decisions, this one is a tough one for the reader to get their noggin around. I feel that a mother figure was desperately missing from all this. The art also gets a little crazy, as I’m not a fan of floating cars much and massive areas of what I like to call, “Swoosh”. Need action? Draw a large area of swoosh! I love ya Steve, ya know that, but this issue made me cry on the toilet. And no man wants that.

GRADE: C SERIES GRADE? C+

JENNA JAMESON’S SHADOW HUNTER – Issue #2
Virgin Comics
Story by Jenna Jameson Written by Christina Z Art by Mukesh Singh

So after a pleasant start, Jenna Jameson’s Shadow Hunter tries to gut the fish and give readers everything… even the unwanted bits. I’m not a fan of books that spell it out or lay it on so thick that your mind walks away to the nearest TV commercial. I like the concept of this book, but in issue two, we’re supposed to know everything about Jezzerie’s power, family and purpose as she talks out loud like a mad Captain Kirk on crack. Maybe it’s just me and my slowrider Harley of dramatic buildup that entices me, but this book made me stop more times than a lost tourist. Luckily, Mukesh Singh is just keeping me dizzy from the excellent artwork he’s pouring into this, but damn does JJ and The Z need to keep the mystery here a little bit. I mean, I’m all for having sex on the first date, but not in the first hour of it. (It takes me about a half hour to read an issue. I savor it. Sometimes read it twice.) So Shadow Hunter plummets from a respectable start, and is in danger of me ditching it like a roast beef sandwhich near a stripper pole. Cradle your characters girls. Take it slow getting to the big reveal. Tease the audience. “Is it her dad? Who’s her mom?” Let me stay on the bike for awhile.

GRADE: C- CONTINUE READING? Shit, I don’t know. This one really played like a bad 70’s flick.

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