"Hack / Slash: Resurrection #7" Comic Review

After fighting their way through zombies at a summer camp, Cassie and Vlad take some time to visit their friends Cat Curio and Pooch (aka Cat and Dog Investigations). The private eyes have a case that could use Cassie and Vlad's unique skill set. An eccentric husband and wife ghost hunting team needs a hand in their latest mission, specifically, they need someone to hold the camera because they're fighting over who gets to be in front of it. They're pretty weird, so Cat brings her friends along for the ride.

While Cassie is great at fighting monsters of all shapes and sizes, she doesn't do ghosts. She doesn't like what she can't hit with her trusty bat. That's some pretty solid reasoning right there. When she encounters the real thing, she can't do much aside from cursing her head off.

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All of the ghosts in this haunted house are terrifying. There's a stereotypical one in the form of a bride, but the more frightening one is that of a giant angler fish. Those things are creepy on their own, but a big spirit version is just off the charts. Artist Celor even includes the eerie tentacle-like growths that swirl around the fish, which serve to entrap our anti-hero.

Colorist K. Michael Russell gives the ghosts a strange glow, like they could light up the room with their presence. This also highlights their translucent quality. After the twist comes in the story, Russell's colors change to show more of a stark reality in lieu of a shadow-filled haunted house. This coincides with the change in tone and villain, like you're seeing behind the curtain at the real danger that's been lurking nearby this entire time.

Cat Curio is a super fun character and a perfect complement to Cassie's moody nature. She's so upbeat and bubbly, but not to the point where it's annoying. She comes just up to that line and stops short, maintaining a peppy, lovable quality. In some ways, Cat is the kind of person that Cassie does all these things for. Cassie is out there fighting monsters and dealing with the worst of the worst in humanity so someone like Cat can stay somewhat innocent. Cat is not defenseless though, as we see in the final moments of this issue. She can throw down when needed.

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While the ghosts look stellar, some of the human characters can come across as flat or awkward at times. Their bodies are often posed in strange positions, like they're bones are jutting out at the wrong angles. This mostly affects the upper body and the face with some rather odd expressions.

This one-and-done story from writer Tini Howard hits all the right marks. It's got humor, gore, and sex appeal, which is just the right combination for a Hack/Slash comic. I hope we get to see Cat again soon, although I can understand how she might be best handled in small doses. I thought Hack/Slash: Resurrection was a mini-series at first, so I'm glad to see that the bloody adventures are continuing with more issues.