By: Tim Seeley (writer), Jethro Morales (art), Mark Englert (colors) & Crank! (letters)
The Story: A proper introduction to the Hack/Slash universe (since the property moved to Image in Summer 2010) with two stories. In one, Cassie Hack deals with a serial killer who it hitting close to home and in the future, we see a possible apocalyptic wasteland dominated by slashers.
What’s Good: Too much is made of “jumping on points” in modern comics. The recently completed Hack/Slash: My First Maniac was such a jumping on point in that it didn’t make any demand that you had read any prior issues of Hack/Slash. It was a LOT of fun, but at the same time, it probably didn’t do a whole lot for long-time Hack/Slash fans. Well, this Murder Messiah Annual is not a classic “jumping on point”. Mr. Seeley is flinging you right into the deep end of the pool and making you very aware that he’s already written 50+ issues in this universe. If you haven’t read Hack/Slash before, you will understand a lot of what is going on, but you will also be a little confused.
Wait, why is this a good thing? Well, don’t you hate it when you’ve been reading a title for 2-3 years and suddenly the creators decide they need to create a “new jumping on point” to make the series accessible for new readers? When that happens, existing readers are forced to sit through a boring 6-issue arc that just chases its tail from a story point of view. This stuff is why characters in mainstream superhero comics haven’t changed in 30+ years. If this Annual represents the most Mr. Seeley is going to slow the car to allow folks to jump on, you know that you are not going to feel shat upon in 12 months when we have to have another “new jumping on point” (and again in 12 months after that). So, don’t be a baby… Grab on and catch up as we go along or go find the back issues which are readily available in collected editions or digitally.
As for the story, it is a 45-page whopper that introduces us to most of the main characters in the Hack/Slash universe (including Pooch, who is my favorite). In the course of the story, you learn who all these folks are and what they are doing as Mr. Seeley walks the tightrope of introducing stuff without having this read like a Wikipedia page. The present day story is more accessible, but it is clear that the future tale has much importance to the overall mythos of Hack/Slash. How neat is the idea of an apocalyptic wasteland that is ruled by slasher killers?
The art is stylish and well done. The female characters are all appropriately sexy in true slasher movie tradition and Mr. Morales mixes up his panel designs enough to keep each panel in this long story from looking the same.
What’s Not So Good: Well, if you want things spoon-fed to you from a story perspective, you are not going to like this at all. You really are tossed into the deep end of the pool with this Annual. Some will grow fins and learn to enjoy the water and some are going to yell for the lifeguard to save them.
Which brings things back to a common complaint: Recap paragraph! Please! Mr. Seeley is to be commended for not dumbing down his story and insulting his existing readers, but a recap paragraph (or two) would have been helpful for readers who have no prior history with Hack/Slash or who have read a few story arcs, but aren’t completely up to speed.
Conclusion: There are a lot of goodies in here if you like horror comics, but you will have to work for them.
Grade: B
– Dean Stell
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