HELL HEIST #1, by Zenescope on 11/6/24, proves not all theft-for-hire jobs are created equal when a crack team of robbers is tasked with stealing an ancient, deadly artifact.
Credits:
- Writer: Ralph Tedesco
- Artist: Al Barrionuevo
- Colorist: Grostieta
- Letterer: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Artist: Caio Cacau
- Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
- Release Date: November 6, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $6.99
- Page Count: 34
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of HELL HEIST #1:
First Impressions:
Writer and Zenescope Co-founder Ralph Tedesco emerges from the shadows to regale readers with a non-Grimm adventure that finds a team of thieves in for a bad time. Hell Heist #1, the first of a two-part story, has the heart of a cinematic crime thriller with a supernatural twist, so hardcore Zenescope fans looking for something a little different may enjoy this cross between Parker and Demon Knight.
Plot Analysis:
Hell Heist #1 begins with a brief prologue to an undetermined time in the ancient past. A man is entombed by his enemy, Suriel, in an ornate sarcophagus and buried somewhere in what is now known as the American Southwest.
Tedesco begins the tale with an epic sense of size and scale. Hidden histories can be a wellspring of creative fun, so painting a picture that visitors from Eurasia arrived in America centuries before any official record is a strong hook.
Now, a crew of expert thieves meet to discuss their latest job. An anonymous, wealthy source wants an object retrieved from a private residence, but the crew needs to obey a peculiar set of rules. First, the source will have its own man on the crew to oversee. Second, the crew must not touch the object with ungloved hands.
Tedesco smartly uses the rules to foreshadow to the reader that this heist is no simple snatch-and-grab. Why does the source need a man on the crew to oversee? Why can’t you touch the object with your bare hands? Given the context, you know something bad will happen, so the rules are a great way to build anticipation.
Of course, the heist goes off like clockwork until it doesn’t. Opposing forces show up to stop the getaway with deadly force, leading to a series of truck swaps, car crashes, and explosions. Before the issue is done, you’ll learn exactly why you shouldn’t touch the artifact with your bare hands.
Overall, Tedesco presents a rock-solid crime thriller with the right mix of energy and action to give you something different than standard Zenescope fare. Plus, the ending is intriguing enough to bring you back for the second issue. That said, it’s unclear why a 30-ish page comic has a $6.99 cover price.
Artwork and Presentation:
Al Barrionuevo, commonly known to Zenescope fans for his cover art, takes up internal page duties with generally successful results. Barrionuevo’s level of detail, compositions, layouts, and action choreography are on point. However, the issue would have benefited from cleaner hatching on the close-ups and sharper details in the wide shots.
Art Samples:
Final Thoughts:
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HELL HEIST #1 begins a two-part tale that mixes fast-paced crime thrills with ancient evil for a solid first issue. Ralph Tedesco ticks the right boxes regarding plot, pacing, and dialog, and Al Barrionuevo’s art is very good. That said, some readers may balk at the excessively high cover price.
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