ALICE COOPER (VOL. 2) #1, from Dynamite Comics on 10/4/23, brings the Devil to town when Lucifer dreams of becoming the world’s most loved musician. He just has to eliminate every musical star first.
The Details
- Written by: Rodney Barnes
- Art by: Edu Menna
- Colors by: Adriano Lucas
- Letters by: Troy Peteri
- Cover art by: Stuart Sayger (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: October 4, 2023
Is ALICE COOPER (VOL. 2) #1 Good?
Short, simple, and amusing. ALICE COOPER (VOL. 2) #1 dreams a simple yet apocalyptic scenario involving the Devil, throws in a heap of classic rock and rollers cameos, and throws down the challenge for the only rockstar with the power to give the Devil a run for his money – Alice Cooper. Rodney Barnes hit the nail on the head with this one.
Barnes’s script centers on the Devil’s latest pastime as a Blues singer. Eager for the love of the world, the Devil decides he has to be the best musician. Since hard work and dedication aren’t the Devil’s thing, he sends his minions to kidnap the front singer from every great band still playing. When the Heavenly Host gets wind of the Devil’s deeds, they enlist the help of the only rocker with the power to put Lucifer in his place.
The comic feels short, but it’s not any different than your average monthly floppy. Barnes smartly lets the art do the talking in the humor department when one famous rocker after the other is swooped up by demonic captors. In short, this comic is one of the better examples of letting the art tell the story.
What’s great about ALICE COOPER (VOL. 2) #1? Rodney Barnes nails the concept and its execution. The dialog is snappy, the pacing is brisk, and the central is as clean and clear as a mountain stream. Sometimes comic writers do celebrity comics, and they try too hard to get fancy or complex. There’s no need for all that, and Barnes proves it.
What’s not so great about ALICE COOPER (VOL. 2) #1? At a macro level, nothing. It would have helped to either recap Alice Cooper’s previous adventures to understand why he’s different or at least give a brief exposition about his power. New readers may be confused without the pretext.
How’s the art? It’s okay. Edu Menna gets the job done with backgrounds and demonic shenanigans, but the celebrity depictions don’t always match the real-life figure. Prince looks great. Miles Davis? Not so much.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s ALICE COOPER (VOL. 2) #1 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Lucifer, aka the Devil, taking the stage at an inter-dimensional bar called the Crossroads to sing before an audience of famous singers and musicians. Lucifer kills, but everyone knows he won’t be a true hit until he earns the love of the living population.
Lucifer sets out to be the greatest singing star by sending out his demons to snatch up every lead from Steven Tyler to Tom Jones. One night, Alice Cooper is playing at his latest venue when he starts to see visions of the undead. Later, the Archangel Gabriel appears to Alice in his dreams with a warning.
We conclude the issue with waking nightmares, the power of rock, and the Devil doing it himself.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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ALICE COOPER (VOL. 2) #1 is quick, engaging, and amusing. Rodney Barnes sets up the perfect scenario for Alice Cooper to do battle with the Devil, and Menna’s art does more than its fair share of telling the jokes.
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