Writer: Tim Seeley
Artists: Emily Stone, Courtney Via (colors)
Publisher: Devil’s Due Publishing
I’ve never been a really big fan of the slasher/horror genre. Usually slasher movies are a little too over the top for me, and the horror genre has never really been my cup of tea. However, Devil’s Due Publishing has been putting out a number of titles that focus on Zombies, monsters, even little dolls named Chucky that capture the same kind of feel and tone of the slasher/horror genre. The major difference is that I can’t get enough of what Devil’s Due is putting out in this genre. Xombie: Reanimated is a fantastic concept and an amazing series that is the first zombie-type story I actually love. However, Devil’s Due does have one particular series with a film already in development that may be one of the best titles of the year, especially in terms of the horror genre. Hack/Slash is sadistic, violent, and explicit, and I love every damn second of it.
In case you haven’t read the first issue, there are a few basic things you need to know. Our main character is Cassie Hack, daughter of the notorious slasher, the “Lunch Lady.” (See the last issue before you ever demand an extra scoop of potatoes at the cafeteria.) She’s a bit on the punk/goth side, but she’s definitely hot and has an attitude that makes Pink look like Britney Spears pre K-Fed. There’s Vlad, a large, disfigured man who wears a gas mask and brandishes two meat cleavers. Together they hunt down murderers and slashers, essentially being the only important people in each other’s lives. Last issue in a fairly grotesque opening scene, Cassie uses herself as bait and loses a few toes in the process. See the way this series goes?
There’s an insanely great amount to love about this title. It’s violent, the main character is a badass hottie, she hunts down slashers and most of all, it’s an emotional and character driven piece that really puts itself above a lot of other comics out there. But Cassie doesn’t just deal with slashers and disfigured serial killers; there is a great deal of the supernatural at work, and this issue finds Cassie and Vlad encountering a young stripper who is a fan of a Kiss-like rock band called Acid Washed.
Now we’ve all read those types of stories where a rock band makes a deal with the devil to become famous, and the concept behind Acid Washed is really no different. However, this band has a fairly interesting twist. One of their members is female; the three male members' earlier motivation behind making this deal with the devil was to have more women to sleep with rather than some regular barfly. However, it would appear that the fourth member of the band is not exactly from the land of the living and can only be summoned by sacrificing the soul of an innocent girl. This is an interesting twist because rather than falling into the realm of cliché, writer Tim Seeley gives the band a great character arc. The band seemingly has nothing to lose. They trade the souls of innocent girls for a few number one hits. There’s even a great scene where the band transforms into their make-up by singing lyrics from Twisted Sister, Motley Crue, AC/DC and W.A.S.P. Any music fan who loves rock or metal will surely enjoy this issue. There’s even a motherly protester who insists Acid Washed is Satan.
There’s a moment in this issue that really adds a great deal of depth to Cassie’s character. She’s the daughter of a slasher, her adoptive father was killed by a slasher, she runs around killing slashers, but there’s a major character development pointed out in this issue – our main character is pure. Okay, so she’s maimed a few people and seen more grotesque things than any human being should, but we learn she is a virgin. This development should open up possibilities for Cassie and some wild situations considering the fact that she’ll have her toes cut off in order to catch a slasher.
There’s so much to like about Hack/Slash, Devil’s Due resident Tim Seeley has done a great job with the script as Emily Stone and Courtney Via also do excellent work with the line work and colors. The artwork is realistic and dark, a perfect match for this series, the scenes where the rock band becomes the “possessed” Acid Washed are also particularly nice. The artwork really makes the supernatural aspects of this series fit well.
This series really has a lot to offer. It might not be for everyone, but take it from me, someone who isn’t a fan of the horror genre, this series is definitely worth the money. You also don’t necessarily need to read the Hack/Slash saga from the beginning, this story arc acts well on its own with a few places that require some background info, although editor extraordinaire Mike O’Sullivan helps keep everything contained and fluid so that you won’t have to do much digging.
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