REDCOAT #8, by Image Comics on 12/25,24, finds Simon Pure stopping by a lonely farmhouse for food and shelter, but he soon finds the innocent abode is run by a family of killers.
Credits:
- Writer: Geoff Johns
- Artist: Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie
- Colorist: Brad Anderson
- Letterer: Rob Leigh
- Cover Artist: Bryan Hitch, Brad Anderson (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: December 25, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of REDCOAT #8:
Recap:
When last we left Simon Pure in Redcoat #7, he visited the senior, ailing Albert Einstein to reminisce about their many adventures together before the genius passed into the Great Beyond.
Plot Analysis:
In Redcoat #8, the year is 1873. We begin with a lonely traveler by the name of Daniel Heavyside who tops at a secluded farmhouse looking for food and shelter for the night. Heavyside is graciously taken in by the older husband, wife, and alluring daughter. Soon after the meal begins, the couple’s elder son emerges from behind a curtain and bludgeons Daniel Heavyside to death. The family eagerly strips Heavyside of his belongings and dumps him in a pit beneath the farmhouse floor. Welcome to the home of the legendary Bloody Benders.
Soon after, the Bloody Benders hear another knock at the door. This time, the wandering traveler is none other than Simon Pure, aka Redcoat. The scene plays out in an identical manner. After his untimely demise, Simon wakes up in the pit, surrounded by the bodies of unfortunate travelers who had the grave misfortune of encountering the Bloody Benders before him.
The issue ends with Simon Pure emerging from a pit of Hell to repay the Bloody Benders for their hospitality.
First Impressions:
As a one-off issue that connects Simon Pure with a historical family, writer Geoff Johns nails the imaginative concept of what “really” happened to the Bloody Benders. Johns’s plot is a bit basic, which leaves little room for surprise, but Redcoat #8 serves as a decent enough jumping-on point for new readers.
Artwork and Presentation:
The big punch of Redcoat #8 is the presentation of raucous chaos during the multiple fight scenes. Bryan Hitch pulls off that chaos masterfully as Simon fights, loses, fights again, and wins against overwhelming odds. Visually, Ghost Machine is still the best publisher around.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
The hook of this series, not counting what will be Simon Pure’s eventual crossover with other Ghost Machine characters, is Simon’s accidental interactions with several historical figures within this alt-history fantasy. You could imagine a scenario where Simon stumbles upon the Bloody Benders, but using Simon to be the instrument of the Bloody Benders’ end is a fun twist.
The Negatives:
As fun as this issue is, there’s not much meat to the plot or much of a setup for whatever comes next for Simon Pure. In effect, Redcoat #8 is the second cooldown issue in a row, so readers who, like us, slowly bought into Simon Pure’s journey may feel the series is losing some momentum.
The Bigger Picture:
Historical Context:
If it wasn’t clear from the description above, the Bloody Benders were a real family, credited with numerous murders between the beginning of 1871 and the beginning of 1873. According to official documents, the family disappeared when their misdeeds were brought to light, so their demise at the hands of Simon Pure is as good an explanation as any.
Final Thoughts:
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REDCOAT #8 recounts a one-off adventure when Simon Pure’s travels through America run afoul of a family of serial killers. Geoff Johns’s alt-history tale provides an entertaining explanation for the real-life family’s disappearance, and Bryan Hitch’s artwork is second to none.
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