"Your son. He is special." -- Silas

Last time we were left with a cliffhanger of gigantic proportions as John was being attacked by a demonic, colossal humanoid train golem (or something like that), while Sam is having something magical done to him by his demon possessed teacher. Luckily, 12-year old Dean pops up and helps his dad exorcize the demons. John calls his old friend Bobby for a place to stay and a lead on help. It is becoming obvious that the demons see Sam as special. John is determined to find out why.

Bobby sends John to a blind soothsayer named Silas. But it turns out Silas lapsed into a coma on November 2nd, the same day that John's wife Mary died. Shockingly, Silas awakens from his coma when John visits him in the hospital.

After a chilling disappearance by Sam, who is found talking to a mysterious man in black, John is determined to train Dean about hunting. John knows that he needs Dean to grow up fast, so he can protect Sam. So, John takes him on a hunting trip, but things go amiss and Sam appears from nowhere to save Dean. Now it's obvious that something is wrong with Sam and John takes him to the healed psychic for a reading, but things take a dark turn.

I've enjoyed this mini-series prequel to the CW's Supernatural television series. The first issue was good and the second issue was even better. This issue isn't at the same level of the last, but it is moving the mystery forward.

The art by Diego Olmos is a vast improvement over the art in the first mini-series, Supernatural Origins. It fits much better with the style of the show.

The writing of dialogue is top notch, capturing the characters well. The scenes between John and Dean are powerful. They help fill-in why their relationship is the way it is in the TV series. It was also great seeing Bobby appearing in the mini-series.

My only complaints are that the exorcism in the beginning was hard to follow. It would probably confuse readers who are not familiar with the show. Also, by not showing the exorcisms effect on Ms. Lyle it was even harder to understand what happened to her. I can easily fill in the blanks because I know the show well, but if Wildstorm hopes to reach a wider audience they need to come in with the assumption that not all the readers are familiar with the "rules" of this world.

I also feel that it may have been more dramatic if Dean's 'prey' had been something more dangerous, although I did appreciate the surprise at the end of the hunt. That panel showing the dead prey and the reveal of the killer was well done.

The ending was shocking, but honestly predictably. I'm curious where the book is taking us. Is the man in the black car who I think it is or is it someone (or something) new?

Final Word: An entertaining book that is a must for Supernatural fans.

---

What did you think of this book?
Have your say at the Line of Fire Forum!

---