Hack/Slash 15th Anniversary Special
Cover A by Tyler Walpole
Cover B by Tim Seely and Carlos Badilla
 
This issue was a multi-story issue, having three different stories, and funny joke comic section and some very cool extras.
 
Story #1
 “Your Darlings Kill You”
Written by Tom Seely
Drawn by Dan Leister
Colors by Carlos Alberto Moreno Diaz (p.1-10), Andrew Dahlhouse (11-20)
Letters by Crank!
 
This story starts out at a Comicon and goes from there.  It has murder, blood, gore, action, violence and fantastic sarcasm.  The story itself is good as well.  But it definitely read very well.  It involves Cassie and a villain that wants to replace her.
 
Story #2
 “Abyss”
Written and Lettered by Brian Crowley
Art by Jules Shapiro
 
This story was short.  A quick read and almost sad.  Cassie is chilling with Vlad.  She’s asking her friend to kill her when she is ready to die.  I was like, “WTF?”.  How depressing are we trying to get here.  Geez.
 
Story #3
 “System Ready”
Written by Sam Eggleston
Art by Jay A. Defoy
Colors by Addison Duke
Letters by Crank!
 
This was my favorite story out of the three.  It had the best comedic value.  There was plenty of fabulous bloody gore and action.  A quick read with perfect set ups for dirty jokes and dark humor.  Cassie and Vlad are a dynamic pair in this story.
 
“Random Facts”
Compiled by Jeff Bohn and Gregory Ellner
Deign by Crank!
 
This is a collection of random facts about the Hack/Slash series.  There’s always interesting stuff in those kinds of things.
 
“Timeline”
Compiled by Gregory Ellner
Design by Crank!
 
This is a timeline from the first Hack/Slash publication through the years up to current, showing special editions and collections, etc.
 
“Shit My Vlad Says”
Compiled by Jeff Bohn
Design by Crank!
 
This was a funny section.  It’s a section of illustrated Vlad-isms.  It’s really short and it’s great for a laugh.
 
 
Overall, this was a great special issue.  There were good stories and even better sarcastic and dark humor.  The artwork varies but overall, it’s good.  The artwork for the first and third story is the best.  The second story, I’m sorry, it just kind of makes you want to jump off a cliff, especially in the current global and national situation.  That’s why I preferred the humor.  Story two got all serious and dark.  It was like an illustrated Emo journal entry in the middle of a comic book.
 
This one, I have to say, you really are only probably going to like it if you already read Hack/Slash.  It was a slightly more expensive issue than a regular monthly release issue.  Still, if you’re a fan, you should check this out.
 
RATINGS
Overall 4/5
Artwork 3.5/5
Story 4.5/5

Daphne Byrne #1
Chapter 1 “Chosen” 
 
Written by Laura Marks
Art by Kelley Jones
Colors by Michelle Madsen
Lettering by Rob Leigh
 
Cover by Piotr Jabłoński
Variant Cover by Yasmine Putri
 
Daphne Byrne created by Laura Marks and Kelley Jones
 
This was an interesting first issue.  Daphne is a strange and unique young girl.  She is teased relentlessly at school.  It definitely makes the days long and lonely for her.  It’s just Daphne and her mother.  Her father is dead.  And this poor little girl…her mother is just totally obsessed with going to some medium who claims she can speak to people in other worlds.  
 
This mother just feeds this medium money and believes everything the psychic tells her.  One day she takes Daphne with her.  This is where we find out just how different and unique Daphne really is.  We also find out how smart this child is.
 
Daphne challenges the medium to test her validity.  A very smart and slick move on her part.
 
Daphne also figures out that she is the one that can actually speak to and see people from another world.
 
While this was the first issue, so an introductory issue, it was a good issue.  I have a feeling this is going to be a very creepy and eerie series.  Daphne is like an Emo version of Wednesday Addams.  There is a definite chill factor in the way the art and the story are presented.
 
I do think this is going to be a series worth checking out.  Especially if you like paranormal/supernatural type stuff.  All of the stuff that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up…I think this series is going to be chocked full of that and so much more.
 
RATINGS
Overall 4/5
Artwork 4/5
Story 4/5