Written by: Tim Seeley
Art by: Daniel Leister
Colours by: Carlos Badilla
Letters by: Crank!
Cover by: Tim Seeley and Mark Englert
Published by: Image
Cover Price: $3.50 (USD)
I like reviewing Hack/Slash. It’s trashy and immature and sometimes I enjoy it and sometimes a really don’t. This is one of the times where I find myself having far more good to say than bad.
This issue sees Cassie, Samhain (Vlad is still in bed recovering from his strange condition) and Cat Curio heading off to a Jungle Island in South America where they are searching for a cure for slashers. What they find however is far more dangerous than they could have imagined.
The dynamic between the characters is really good. Samhain brings something different to the mix as he is both feared and fearful. Everyone knows that he has done terrible things, but he is trying to better himself and this makes his varied interactions with Cassie and Cat all the more engaging.
The other aspect of this issue that I really enjoyed was its balance of mockery and awe. What Cassie and co find on the island makes best use of the clichés of the horror genre and uses them in a way that is fun, without simply tearing them down. With Nazi’s, zombies and massive monsters hitting each other, it’s hard not to be entertained by Hack/Slash when it is like this.
It is also a fun little twist that the horror films that Cat watches seem to be a reality on this island, as it complements the key idea behind Hack/Slash.
The art from Daniel Leister is also excellent. To be fair to the art team, they always produce quality work, it is only what they draw and how they draw it that I sometimes have problems with. Sure, there’s still some cleavage on show, but not so much that it distracts and detracts from the other elements of the storytelling. I don’t know if I need to say it again, but, Nazi’s, zombies (with green blood!) and massive monsters.
While Hack/Slash can certainly be juvenile (the story is called monster baiting) it can also undoubtedly be highly entertaining. More like this please!
8/10
