"Hack / Slash: Son of Samhain #1" Comic Review
Written by James Ferguson
Published by Image Comics
Written by Michael Moreci and Steve Seeley
Illustrated by Emilio Laiso
2014, 32 Pages, $3.50
Comic released on July 2nd, 2014
Review:
What's that saying from The Godfather? “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” That's probably what Cassie Hack is thinking right about now. After facing some immense forces of darkness, she attempted to put her life as a monster hunter behind her, trying to create something normal. Instead, she's become a bounty hunter, tracking down lowlife criminals to collect some quick cash. When a cowboy named Delroy offers her the chance to take down a horde of nearby monsters, she jumps at the chance to hit something ugly again. Hack / Slash is back.
It's been some time since the last volume of Hack / Slash. Writers Michael Moreci and Steve Seeley provide enough background to get the casual or new fan up to speed while sprinkling in bits that hardcore readers will appreciate. The best part of this catch up is a two-page spread showing the words “Hack Slash” that manage to fill in the gaps in the timeline without a single piece of text (aside from the actual title). Each letter is actually an image, showing what Cassie has been up to since the last comic. You see here standing in front of Vlad's gravestone, cutting ties with her friends and loved ones, and becoming a bounty hunter. It's a brilliant layout that works incredibly well.
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Moreci and Seeley capture the voice of Cassie Hack perfectly. There's a hefty dose of attitude with a bit of honor tossed in, then mixed together with a heaping helping of badassery. While Cassie is an attractive female, she's tough as nails and doesn't take shit from anyone. Despite this, she's having trouble adjusting to her new status quo to the point where she's hallucinating. Maybe now that she's scratching the monster hunter itch she'll return to what she can consider normal, which includes bashing in some skulls with a bat covered in nails.
Artist Emilio Laiso completes the overall design of Cassie. She's definitely a sexy character, but she's far from your typical super heroine. She has a slight frame instead of a big, busty look often seen in comics. She's the kind of girl you'd love to hang out with, but you'd never be cool enough to talk to. What really stands out in Laiso's depiction of the character is her eyes. He conveys so much in just a glance. Whether it's her boredom as she tracks down her latest bounty, the determination as she gets ready to capture him, or the vulnerability when she begins hallucinating, there's a lot going on behind those baby blues.
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Of course, Hack / Slash is more than just a cute chick. There are creatures aplenty too. Delroy is hunting a monster king named Morinto, who has a bunch of demon-esque followers. These things look like a zombie version of the orcs from Lord of the Rings. That doesn't stop Cassie from jumping in and literally knocking one of their faces off in one of the most gruesome and downright awesome panels I've seen of late.
Hack / Slash: Son of Samhain is a welcome return for Cassie Hack. The subtitle of the series promises a tie-in to the big bad of the last volume, but little has been seen of this just yet. Instead, this issue gets Cassie back to doing what she does best, and that's kicking ass and looking good doing it. The character is in good hands with Moreci, Seeley, and Laiso.
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