Written by Bill Willingham
Art by Tom Derenick; Wayne Faucher; Pat Brosseau; & Mike Atiyeh
Cover Art by Tom Derenick; Wayne Faucher; & Mike Atiyeh
SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for April 2007, this issue, as narrated by the Phantom Stranger, is entitled “Cursed, Part Two of The Demon Triptych.” Ragman and Nightshade accompany teenage sorceress Laura Fell back home from the Dark Tower to the Shadowpact’s Oblivion Bar clubhouse.
While under-age Laura acclimates to the supernatural bar scene, an exhausted Enchantress reveals to Ragman her prolonged efforts to keep an impaled Jim “Nightmaster” Rook alive. Encountering the demonic messenger, Vortigar, Blue Devil finds out where to retrieve his stolen trident from a corrupted Etrigan, who intends to rule Hell itself. A short-handed Shadowpact recruits three inexperienced allies to join their excursion into Hell.
Note: Despite her cover presence, Zatanna Zatara doesn’t appear in this issue.
REVIEW:
The issue is mostly well-played, aside from a sarcastic exchange between Blue Devil and bartender Eddie Deacon referencing “retard jokes at the Special Olympics.” Despite this dubious scene, writer Bill Willingham sets up this transitional issue well for the Shadowpact to regroup before its showdown against Etrigan.
For the most part, the art team’s visuals are excellent. The only caveat are images of Etrigan decapitating a demonic guard dog and ripping an appendage off of another. This carnage isn’t super-grisly, but it merits a parental advisory (that DC Comics didn’t bother to include). Still, the macabre cover image reflects the issue’s contents.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Dan DiDio’s single-page DC Nation column (with an image of Clock King) ‘obsesses’ over the fifty-two minute countdown he has to write this installment. Thumbnail cover reveals are for Shadowpact # 11; 52 # 42; Brave and Bold # 1; and Helmet of Fate: Black Alice # 1.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
