Welcome to a very special edition of Parlay Points, the comic book review blog for the ODPH podcast!
Live now on Kickstarter (until July 7th) is the latest campaign for one of the fastest growing Comic book brands at the LCS: Top Hat Studios! Coming out of the gates with “Pocus Hocus”, The creative team of Allen Dunford, Will Radford, Brian Balondo, Jasen Smith, & Dave Lentz have steadily grown their fanbase with each project. With the spin-off character HORUS debuting in his own project, even more fans are dipping into this studios’ work for the first time.
That said, there’s another project from this team currently available as an add-on for the Horus campaign and it’s one fans won’t want to miss! GRANDMA CHAINSAW #2 brings the dark humor and frightening terror fans for this brand have come to know and love. Let’s take a closer look at this issue, shall we?
GRANDMA CHAINSAW #2 - CREATIVE: Allen Dunford, Will Radford, Brian Balondo, Jasen Smith, & Dave Lentz (Credit: Source Point Press/Top Hat Studios)
And before we get into the review, check out this amazing variant cover by the one and only KIT WALLIS!
GRANDMA CHAINSAW #2 - CREATIVE: Allen Dunford, Will Radford, Brian Balondo, Jasen Smith, & Dave Lentz (Credit: Source Point Press/Top Hat Studios)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING *** PREVIOUS ISSUE REVIEW
Haiden, his sister Gabby, girlfriend Haley and Liz started the day together at the beach. However returing home has been the trip from Hell. When their car breaks down, an elderly stranger named Hazel offers help and shelter for a dark night. The group soon finds out that help is hiding an even darker secret. The body count starts to rise as Hazel reveals her true form.
With Haley and Liz not making it thru the night, Haiden and Gabby are on their own. That is until FURY-CHAN, NIGHT MOON, DOC X, BLOOD SPARROW, SHADOW AXE & 2TON aka THE D.E.A.D. SQUAD arrive to …..help?
This issue picks up from the “dramatic superhero” entrance where 2TON takes a metal star to the forehead. Gabby is unimpressed by the “heroes” and plots to escape. Those plans are halted when the squad reveals plans to stop Hazel once and for all. A journal of events is presented chronicling Hazel’s history (as they know it).
Readers witness what she’s been doing this entire time and what she is capable of. Gabby is still ready to go but Haiden talks her into staying and seeing the squad plan through. All the while, Hazel is knitting and patiently waiting for the night’s new visitors.
How does the plan go? Readers tag along for the action as the group enters Hazel’s house. What dangers lie ahead? Are they up to the challenge? Will everyone get out alive…..probably not. What will everyone get instead? An exciting read with gruesome kills and more mysteries unfolding at each turn.
The danger keeps escalading as some continue to move thru the house, until the last page. The final moments leave more questions than answers but that’s a huge win for readers that the story is far from over.
GRANDMA CHAINSAW #2 - CREATIVE: Allen Dunford, Will Radford, Brian Balondo, Jasen Smith, & Dave Lentz (Credit: Source Point Press/Top Hat Studios)
GRANDMA CHAINSAW #2 - CREATIVE: Allen Dunford, Will Radford, Brian Balondo, Jasen Smith, & Dave Lentz (Credit: Source Point Press/Top Hat Studios)
BREAKDOWN: Radford and Dunford skillfully master balancing the horror and humor for this issue. The D.E.A.D. Squad is as ridiculous as it sounds, yet, they provide well-timed humor into the dark tale. Clearly, they are not ready for this job and it’s only a matter of time till their LARPing catches up with them. The banter between them and Gabby’s rationalization makes for the enjoyable break between the terror.
Excellent full-page breakdown of Hazel to give a closer look at what she’s about without revealing everything. Hearing it through the Squad’s voice added a nice layer to the story. Is it true or completely off-base? Only the reader will decide.
The story plays into the classic Horror Movie build and never feels forced or rushed for shock. Solid ending to this issue to continue the mystery for another round. There’s much for Horror readers to enjoy with this tale.
As with every great Horror story, readers measure it by the kills. Balondo and Smith bring the OMG to a few noteworthy characters. One that will no doubt have fans talking involves an air tank. No spoilers but you know the team had fun creating that visual (even Lentz writing the “Boop! :-)”.
Balondo constructs the eerie feel of the panels building small then leading into bigger and even full page visuals. One standout page is the group shot with a mysterious figure lurking in a doorway. Another is the creative way to say “Part Two” mixed in the background.
The little touches of detail add more apprehension for the group’s travel leading to the ominous closing visual. It’s another smash success.
GRANDMA CHAINSAW #2 - CREATIVE: Allen Dunford, Will Radford, Brian Balondo, Jasen Smith, & Dave Lentz (Credit: Source Point Press/Top Hat Studios)
GRANDMA CHAINSAW #2 - CREATIVE: Allen Dunford, Will Radford, Brian Balondo, Jasen Smith, & Dave Lentz (Credit: Source Point Press/Top Hat Studios)
FINAL POINT: 8.5 OUT OF 10
Top Hat Studios plays to their strengths to give fans another smash fusion of horror and humor. Taking Radford and Dunford’s lead with doubling down on classic set-ups and timely banter, Balondo, Smith and Lentz run with striking visuals of the unlikely survivors’ plight to avoid being the next on Hazel’s “Eat, Slay, Love” diet.
Time is running out on the Horus in Hell project (where you can add this issue onto so don’t delay - sign up now)! Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know what you thought of Grandma Chainsaw #2! Thanks for reading!
