HYDE STREET #2, by Image Comics on 11/27/24, digs into Pranky’s history to learn how he became such a naughty boy and the perfect deliverer of lost souls on Hyde Street.
Credits:
- Writer: Geoff Johns
- Artist: Ivan Reis, Danny Miki
- Colorist: Brad Anderson
- Letterer: Rob Leigh
- Cover Artist: Ivan Reis, Danny Miki, Brad Anderson
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: November 27, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of HYDE STREET #2:
First Impressions:
Ahh, now that’s more like it. Writer Geoff Johns builds out the character of Hyde Street’s resident brat for a tale that’s as twisted as it is satisfying. If the first issue didn’t sell you on the concept, Hyde Street #2 just might change your mind.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left the worst street you’d ever want to visit in Hyde Street #1, we learned that wayward souls are “delivered” by an assortment of eclectic characters in service to a mysterious master called The Scorekeeper. The first issue revisited the history of Mr. X-Ray, an unscrupulous adman who lied, cheated, and stole his way through life, leaving broken lives in his wake.
In Hyde Street #2, readers get up close and personal with Pip “Pranky” Peabody as one of Hyde Street’s most prolific deliverer of souls. The issue begins with a series of montage scenes depicting Pranky’s life before Hyde Street.
Raised by an abusive father who lost one arm in the war, Pranky struggled to fit in with his school, the Scouts, and other boys his age. At first, Pranky’s pranks were a coping mechanism to act out his negative feelings. Then, the pranks became harsh, then dangerous, and finally, cruel.
Geoff Johns delivers a flawless setup to explain how so much maliciousness can exist in such a small boy. Pranky had it rough at home and school since the beginning, but once he learned how to take his frustrations out in unconstructive ways, his natural talent for being a holy terror took over.
Now, Pranky enjoys a milkshake in the Hyde Street diner when a police officer named Hank Downs saddles up to the counter for a milkshake as well. Pranky notices another mark for delivering, so he lips off to the Officer and is quickly escorted to the squad card for return to school.
Soon, Pranky’s powers take over. The Officer hears noises coming from the trunk of his squad car that suggest a woman is trapped inside. When Officer Downs pulls over to open his trunk, he finds it empty. After the squad car is back on the road, the incident rattles him so much that he doesn’t notice the car he’s about to hit head-on.
The success of this issue is the relentless buildup Geoff Johns takes the reader on in two directions. On one level, you think Pranky is playing with an innocent cop, trying to drive him mad with illusions and misdirects. On the other, you soon realize Officer Downs is no innocent man, and his appearance on Hyde Street is very deserved.
Officer Downs’s squad collides with the other vehicle. When he races over to see who’s driving, he recognizes the pregnant woman as the only victim ever to escape his clutches as the South Haven Strangler. Pranky taunts the Officer for choosing to let the woman and unborn child die that night rather than risk exposure as a serial killer. Cornered, Officer Downs crosses the uncrossable line.
The issue concludes with a secret hideaway that’s no longer a secret, a summons from the boss, and confirmation that Pranky enjoys his work more than he’s legally obliged to.
Overall, Hyde Street #2 delivers on the promise of the premise by giving readers a satisfying horror tale that shows the bad guy getting what he deserves while building out the world of Hyde Street to show you how things work and what’s at stake for each Collector. As with every Ghost Machine title from Geoff Johns, this one will grow on you.
Artwork and Presentation:
Perfect, perfect, perfect. Gives a chef’s kiss to Ivan Reis, Danny Miki, and Brad Anderson for a comic that’s rich in detail, brimming with evil whimsy, and packed with eye-catching visuals. Ghost Machine continues to set the high bar for top-tier art.
Art Samples:
Final Thoughts:
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HYDE STREET #2 takes the serial horror series up a notch when readers learn the twisted history behind Hyde Street’s littlest devil. Geoff Johns improves on the first issue with more malicious mayhem and insight into the competition between Hyde Street’s collectors. Meanwhile, the art team’s output is jaw-dropping.
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