HOLLYWOOD TRASH #4, available from Mad Cave Studios on January 20th, 2021, puts Miss Opez on center stage, literally and figuratively, as we learn of her backstory and a surprising connection to Andi. Meanwhile, the internal loyalties of the cult begin to fall apart.
The Particulars
- Writer: Stephen Sonneveld
- Artist: Pablo Verdugo
- Colors: Jose Expósito
- Letters: Justin Birch
- Cover Price: $3.99
Was It Good?
This is my first exposure to the title, so I was a little lost, but yes, it was entertaining.
It’s difficult to describe this book in any traditional category, but think of crossing a Telenovela with a whacky Manga story, and wrap the whole thing up in really strong West Coast/Southern California art style. That gets you most of the way there. It’s weird and a little ridiculous but ultimately amusing.
Short Story Long
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
We begin with Andi overhearing the cult’s plans to kill James and Billy. Miss Opez notices the eavesdropper but moves to hide her rather than expose her. after the cult’s meeting, Grapevine sees Opez is troubled and begins to lightly interrogate her.
We learn from their exchange that Grapevine engineered Opez’s success by arranging her marriage and her brand to become his greatest achievement. And, Grapevine alludes to the fact that Andi is actually Opez’s daughter(maybe?), squirreled away from Opez when she was a “nobody” to save her career.
Quick note on the art so far. It’s dramatic and skillfully executed. That said, there’s a bizarre amusement in Grapevine acting cruel and intimidating while wearing a giant, purple cape. That’s the charm of this title – serious melodrama mixed with the absurd.
Opez secretly decides she’s had enough of Grapevine’s intimidation and asks Andi to meet her back at the television studio. Later, Andi leaves for the meeting but not before getting into an argument with Grapevine, her adoptive(?) father, about following in her footsteps and following her own path in life. Here again, Sonneveld cleverly shows another crack in Grapevine’s inner circle.
Andi arrives at the station early and schemes to record the forthcoming conversation as evidence to save Billy and James. Meanwhile, Opez attends Papian’s mayoral candidacy announcement to provide some celebrity clout, but she takes this moment to get Papian on her side against Grapevine.
Whew! There’s more scheming and conniving in this book than a 1980s soap opera. Edge of Night, anyone? Guiding Light? Anyone?
Papian agrees to help by getting Billy and James over to the studio. Once our hapless heroes arrive, Opez traps them in giant chair clamps to steal back Grapevine’s “magic bracelet.” Andi records the capture from the studio booth as evidence and exposes Opez on the spot.
Opez goes berserk when she hears Andi’s voice and what she’s done and tries to destroy the recording equipment. In her frenzy, Opez fries all the equipment with the recorded evidence but accidentally electrocutes herself in the process.
Andi frees the heroes and concocts a scheme to expose Grapevine during a fundraiser for Papian’s election. After the group goes their separate ways to prepare, Andi searches Grapevine’s office later to look for more evidence about the cult. When she opens a file she finds in Grapevine’s desk, it sprays her with a knockout gas, leaving her passed out on the floor when Grapevine walks in.
To be continued…
Final Thoughts
HOLLYWOOD TRASH #4, takes the weirdest and wackiest of soap opera tropes, sprinkles on a dash of sci fi/magic (maybe?), but plays it completely straight. Admittedly, this type of comic may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I got a good chuckle out of reading it.