Broken Frontier

Laurie Strobe? Stick a knife in her, she’s done…Tim Seeley’s queen of slasher killers is razor sharp in the new ongoing Hack/Slash series.

Following in a long lineage that includes the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis and Adrienee King, Cassie Hack narrowly survived the attack of a killer. Forever changed by that event, Cassie dedicated herself to hunting the terrifying murderers known as slashers. Through a series of one-shots and mini-series, Hack and her monstrous ally, Vlad, have been taking back the night from the likes of zombie veterinarians, homicidal comic book fans and even Chucky from Child’s Play. Are they ready for their greatest challenge as Hack/Slash goes monthly?

Since 2004, Tim Seeley has put out close to a dozen issues of Hack/Slash, each imbued with dark humor, over-the-top violence, satire and a sense of reverent love for that cinematic staple of the 1980s, the slasher flick. The fun of the series thus far has been the quick, punchy style of the stories, making Cassie and Vlad a guilty pleasure once every few months. As enjoyable as the one-shots have been, I’ll admit that I was a little skeptical whether the concept would have the guts for a monthly series. I’m happy to report that Seeley’s first stab at the monthly Hack/Slash hits the mark, mixing all the things fans of the property love, along with some emotional depth, sociological musing and a flowing narrative.

Even though Cassie goes to pieces during her confrontation with Dr. Gross, Seeley uses the opportunity to peel back the layers of our heroine. In addition to some exposition to fill in her back-story, readers are also treated to a look into what lies beneath Cassie’s cool, "tough chick" exterior. Seeley also shifts his satirical gaze at the genre to a more critical style, pointing out how the popularity of movies like Saw have fundamentally changed (corrupted?) the genre of slasher flicks. Don’t let that heady stuff scare you off however – Vlad’s visit to a local coffee house still provides some levity, there’s still blood and the cliffhanger for next month promises yet another cleverly themed slasher.

The new blood of Emily Stone may be the strongest artist tapped into the Hack/Slash vein yet. Borrowing elements of both Seeley and Stefano Casselli, Stone finds a nice balance between the realism needed to put readers in the moment, and a comic book sensibility that doesn’t let the book descend past good natured violence (which may be the oddest phrase I have ever written). Teamed with the subdued, unearthly coloring of Courtney Via, Stone proves to be more than fit to lace up Cassie’s stockings.

Fans have nothing to fear – with this new beginning, the final chapter of Hack/Slash should be a long way off!