Blood of the Demon #2
Originally presented at Comixtreme.com on April 4, 2005
Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Hunters
Jason and Etrigan strike an uneasy truce.
Plot: John Byrne
Script: Will Pfeifer
Pencils: John Byrne
Inks: Nekros
Colors: Alex Bleyaert
Letters: Rob Leigh
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Cover Art: John Byrne
Publisher: DC Comics
Review: The new status quo for Jason Blood and the Demon is established this issue, and while it’s not what I expected, it’s an interesting take nonetheless. Last issue, Etrigan was fully unleashed in the midst of an arcane ritual to bring an “Elder God” to Earth. This issue the demon revels in his freedom as he does battle with the creature, only to find a new obstacle he didn’t expect.
I’m not entirely sure what I think of this new arrangement. It reminds me quite a bit of another DC hero (and I can’t say more without spoiling it) but it may be a bit more interesting in this case, as our two main characters have often been at odds - Jason’s heroic tendencies clashing with Etrigan’s basic evil nature. That part of the arrangement, at least, seems to have remained intact, and I think that’s important to keep. Although I’ve got to do on record as one of the people who misses the rhyming Etrigan - he never feels quite right if he’s not rhyming to me.
This is a heavy action issue, but we also get some development and some additions to our supporting cast, whom I suspect will be rather important to this series - some of them in a “support crew” kind of way and some in an adversarial “Jean Valjean” way. Both of these have a lot of potential for this series.
Byrne seems to have a lot of fun with the artwork in this issue, particularly with the rather Lovecraftian “Elder God” that gives us our Maguffin. He has an interesting take on Etrigan himself as well, making him look more beaten up, more weathered than most interpretations of the character.
Like the first issue, I feel like this is a solid start to relaunch the character. It’s interesting - not so long ago I remember reading an interview with Byrne where he said he had no jobs lined up after he finished Superman/Batman: Generations 3. Between this, Doom Patrol and his return to Action Comics, he’s not hurting for work anytime soon.
Story: 8/10