REVIEW: Nail Biter Hack / Slash One Shot

Story By: Joshua Williamson,Â Tim Seeley
Art By: Mike Henderson,Â Emilio Laiso
Cover By: Tim Seeley
Cover By: Mike Henderson
Price: $4.99
Publisher: Image Comics
Published: March 4, 2015

We are in the company of Cassie Hack and her companion Vlad as they search to rid the world of the Buckaroo slashers.

The backstory is kinda explained in exposition laden speech balloons. This approachÂ can work as a means to bring new readers up to speed, for existing readers it may seem a tad overhanded. This issue has two stories, one leading into another leading you to hopefully buy the next issue.

The first story, written by Joshua Williamson with art by Mike Henderson, does well to attract the attention of the reader. Cassie’s attire will certainly garner some attention but for me, it is the interaction between Cassie and Vlad, whose Solomon Grundy-esque approach to life and situations create a lot of the humor. Â The art is serviceable, maybe on the cartoon-ish side but does have a charm that works.

Onto the second story, written by Tim Seeley with art by Emilo Laiso is a continuation of the previous story as Cassie, and Vlad coming running on the behest of their new best friend. The introduction of a couple of characters helps distract until the main culprit shows himself. Â From here, storywise, we discover that all characters have a dark side, some definitely more than others. We also have a Bane appearance! This is not strictly true but I dare you to read the book and not think the same.

I have given the book four stars as the writing and the art in the first half is the better and whilst the second does continue the solid writing, working in an over reaching arc, the art is heavier which whilst I can understand (with this being a horror book of sorts), but I do prefer the cartoon style.

Reading this, I was impressed and would be interested in how Cassie and Vlad’s mission concludes.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network