THE ARMY OF DARKNESS VS. REANIMATOR: NECRONOMICON RISING #1, from Dynamite Comics on July 13th, 2022, imagines a worst-case scenario when an archaeological dig uncovers a perfectly preserved head belonging to the cloned arch-nemesis of the Chose One.
The Details
- Written by: Erik Burnham
- Art by: Eman Cassallos
- Colors by: Jorge Sutil
- Letters by: Troy Peteri
- Cover art by: Tony Fleecs (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: July 13, 2022
Was It Good?
“Sally Fo… Sally Fo… Sally forth.” If you get the quote, you not only have our respect, but you also know which head is found and why it spells trouble for Ash Williams. Burnham finds a perfect way to blend the worlds of Army of Darkness and Reanimator by finding one of Ash Williams’s enemies from the past and putting that discovery in the hands of an unethical Miskatonic doctor with a penchant for bringing the dead back to life. What could possibly go wrong?
The expert way Burnham mashes up two beloved horror franchises is the highlight of this inaugural issue. You never know when two great tastes will taste great together until a capable writer finds a way to cross their respective canons in a way that makes sense. Burnham finds a perfect intersection point that not only uses both properties in a wholly original story but also acts as a respectful pseudo-sequel to the Army of Darkness.
Beyond the original premise, the pacing and plotting are excellent. The dialog captures the spirit (no pun intended) and unique voices of the lead actors. And the setup immediately grabs you.
Cassallos, Sutil, and Peteri do a fantastic job bringing the horror icons to life in a way that looks familiar to the real-life characters but still suits the comic medium. The linework is clean, the character designs are a perfect homage to the actors, and the action is suitably bombastic. In truth, we’d like to see a little more over-the-top gore in keeping with the franchises, but this is a solid start.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with an archaeological dig in the UK. The diggers make a surprising find – a deformed but perfectly preserved head dating back centuries. The head researcher excitedly packs up the head for shipping to his research facility back at Miskatonic university.
Later, Dr. herbert West is busy in his lab when he hears about the arrival of a preserved head found in an ancient dig. Using his secret formula, West sneaks into the lab at night and injects the head for reanimation so that he can learn its secrets. The head awakes and introduces itself as Evil Ash. Suddenly, the head begins to regrow an entire body using dark magic, and it informs West that it can help him learn even more medical secrets if West helps to locate the fabled Necronomicon.
Meanwhile. Ash Williams tries to enjoy his burger in a quiet diner when yet another person looking for the Chosen One sits down to chat. We conclude the issue with bad service, prophecies, and explosions.
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Final Thoughts
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THE ARMY OF DARKNESS VS. REANIMATOR: NECRONOMICON RISING #1 is a super-solid start to a horror adventure that blends two great horror franchises with a pitch-perfect hook. The art is great, the character voices sound authentic to the actors, and the setup feels like a faithful homage to the films.
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