GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: HELLCHILD, from Zenescope Entertainment on January 12th, 2022, reintroduces readers to Angelica Blackstone, a half-god, half-vampire with an ax to grind against a tyrannical crime boss. When Angelica is enslaved by a magical curse, her new boss’s promise to set her free comes with a bloody price.
The Details
- Written By: Pat Shand
- Art By: Sergio Ariño
- Colors By: Robby Bevard
- Letters By: Taylor Esposito, Rieanna Bates
- Cover Art By: Igor Vitorino
- Cover Price: $5.99
- Release Date: January 12, 2022
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Was It Good?
Hellchild hasn’t had her own series that we could find, ongoing or mini, since 2016. That’s a long time to be away from the spotlight, so it helps to get a refresher that catches newer readers up on the character. Does GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: HELLCHILD deliver the goods? Yes. Yes, it does.
For the unfamiliar reader, Angela Blackstone is a supernatural character with the lineage of a vampire AND the Greek god Hades. That’s a lot of supernatural Gatorade running in her veins, and it shows. Shand places this admittedly unique character in the position of underworld muscle, taking out gangsters and ghouls with equal prejudice. She has very few weaknesses associated with vampires due to her demi-god status, but the need for blood to keep her alive and her powers up to snuff is ever-present.
Shand does a fine job of organically working Angelica’s powers into each scene so readers can get a sense of her abilities and limitations without resorting to gobs of exposition. In comics, the best choice is to further the story through the action, and there’s plenty of bloody action in this book. Better still, Angelica overcomes her latest foe with help, so she avoids the trap of becoming so over-powered that there’s no tension or believable stakes. She’s powerful but she gets in trouble, partly through rashness, and it’s good to see a character have to work with others to get out of a sticky situation.
Ariño does an excellent job of fleshing out the main character as a mix of deadly, powerful, and sexy all rolled into one. She fights with ferocity, kills without mercy, and yet, still knows how to intentionally turn guys’ heads when needed as a distraction. To be clear, this isn’t cheesecake art as is so often associated with Zenescope covers. Ariño has simply rendered a character who’s in form, even with all her clothes on.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a moonlit attack on the compound of the mystical crime boss Tor. Angelica Blackstone aka Hellchild is out to put Tor down for his interference in her life and his casebook of criminal misdeeds. Angelica easily dispatches Tor’s guards and confronts him in his office, but as soon as she leaps to deliver the killing blow, Tor activates a blood locket that traps Angelica. Left for days and severely weakened without blood or food, Tor returns to brand Angelica with a sigil that inflicts horrific pain at Tor’s command. In effect, Tor has yoked Angelica with a magical shock collar.
Tor promises to remove the brand if Angelica assassinates a rival crime lord who also happens to be a demi-god. Angelica grudgingly agrees and is dropped off in Mexico to blend in until the bosses gather for a pre-arranged meeting. With a few days to kill (*ahem*) before the meeting, Angelica hunts for a victim to relieve her blood hunger. Before she can claim a hapless local, she’s magically zapped and kidnapped by a shaman who wants to know why she’s in the area. Gruffly but honestly, Angelica divulges the plan to the shaman who also considers Tor’s competition an enemy.
We conclude the issue with a meet and greet that starts as expected but doesn’t end nearly as expected and a reminder that the adage “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” can be quite useful.
Final Thoughts
GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: HELLCHILD is a bloody good time about a half-god/half-vampire who becomes enslaved to a mystical crime boss whose eager to take out the competition. Shand expertly refreshes newer readers on what makes Angelica Blackstone unique via organic dialog and a clever display of powers/limitations through the brutal action. If you’re looking for a unique mix of crime thriller and horror, this is an excellent starting point for the character.
Score: 9/10
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