Review: Army of Darkness: Furious Road #5
“I recognize the chin.” – Brother Jianjun
The beginning of this issue of Army of Darkness: Furious Road shows Mike informing Ash of plan B. The plan was conceived by Mike, Vlad and Heckuba in case the mission to the cathedral failed. Vlad found a different location for the brainwashing and they didn’t let the humans know where the location was. The reason for this is because the humans were susceptible to the deadites and, because they were legion, what one deadite knows they all know. Mike’s body was destroyed in the previous issue and he needs a new one. Ash and Mike locate a new body amidst the debris. We also come to see a sensitive side to Dracula with more revelations about his relationship to his daughter.
The Creative Team
Nancy A Collins brings her ironic humor to vivid life in this issue. The situations get sillier and yet she makes it all work in a way that makes us care about the characters. From the opening scene where Mike has to find a new body for his severed head to the final page which leads us to believe the best is yet to come the humor is equal to the horror of the situation. The gang is now following plan B and, instead of a church this time, they wind up at a Shaolin Monastery. Here is where we learn the truth about Michael and how he met Eva. It seems that Mike found religion and joined his own monastery called The brotherhood of St. George. It was that brotherhood that had been raising Eva. The pacing is once again a true build up of suspense as our heroes race against time to stop the deadites.
Kewber Baal has grown so comfortable with rendering these characters. One scene that I really enjoyed is when Eva approaches the monastery and knocks on the door only to be greeted by a storm of arrows. She yells at the monks telling them that she’s not their enemy. The look on her face is priceless as she holds up the Necronomicon while addressing the monks from their doorstep. As always Baal and Baal make good use of contrast and shadow to give the right feel to this title.
In Conclusion
The characters grow in each issue. In this issue we see a real bond between Dracula and his daughter. In previous issues those two had locked horns and one got the impression that nothing could bring them together. But here we see Eva being carried to her destination by her father, who explains to her why he, nor the other monsters, could tell her about plan B. It’s a nice moment between father and daughter. Collins and Baal are a great creative team. Another one of my favorite moments comes when Ash, after revealing to Michael his past, asks him if he’s afraid of what Dracula might do to his girlfriend (Eva) and Michael snaps that she isn’t his “girlfriend.” The team winds finally reunites at the Monastery. Will they be able to implement plan B before being destroyed by the deadites?
To be continued.
Army of Darkness: Furious Road #5
Writer: Nancy A. Collins
Art: Kewber Baal
Colors: Schimerys Baal
Letters: Simon Bowland
Cover: Gabriel Harmon, Jordon Boyd
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Publication date: July 6, 2016
About the Author
Kevin Given Kevin Given has studied with "Longridge Writers Group" and "Writer's Boot Camp" a speech/communications major from the University of Maine Presque-Isle/Orono sites. He has created the "Karl Vincent Vampire Hunter" franchise which includes 2 novels and 8 comic books. They can be found on amazon, Indyplanet and Kindle. For a limited time you can get digital copies of "Karl Vincent: Vampire hunter" #1 and "Files of Karl Vincent" #1 for free on Indyplanet. Kevin is producing the third novel in the series "Dracula Rising" (working title) and developing "Foul Blood" into comic book form.
Related Posts
Army Of Darkness Christmas Horror With Inkwell Awards BLACK (INK) FRIDAY with Original Art by Dave Simons →
Preview: Army of Darkness/Xena Complete Omnibus →
Previews: Sacred Six #9 + Sonjaversal #4 + Vengeance of Vampirella #18 →
