New-Reader-Unfriendly relaunch
So far the new Hellraiser book, which I was psyched about for Leonardo Manco's art, hasn't made much of an impression on me. I actually had to flip through the first issue again after reading this new issue just to refresh my memory on what had come before; and that's something I pretty much NEVER have to do for a monthly book, so it's not a good sign.
This title suffers from terrible vagueness. Seemingly big things are happening, with some sort of plot from the cenobites drawing Kirsty Cotton and a new team of Harrowers together to hunt down and destroy various objects that open gateways to hell... maybe. This issue just pretty much throws the new characters and their mission into the mix without actually doing much of anything to introduce who they are or explain what they are doing. Kirsty is affiliated now with a group of people called "The Harrowers", which IS a team of cenobite-battling people from the 90's Marvel/Epic Hellraiser books... but different people, with enchanted weapons and powers, and perhaps a whole different purpose. If there is any connection between these new Harrowers ad the older concept is unclear as no reason is provided for why these people are together, why they are doing what they're doing, or even WHAT exactly they even ARE doing. This issue is largely a jumbled mess that, if not for Manco's gorgeous art, would be a near complete loss. New readers who don't have at least SOME idea of the history of the Harrowers concept will be even more lost as this issue provides no background whatsoever. Too much exposition is a very bad thing, but no exposition whatsoever when relaunching concepts from 10-15 years ago can be just as bad.
I've got a bone to pick with the art, too. This pains me as Leonardo Manco is just about my favorite comic artist. If he's attached to a book, I'm buying it. When this title was announced, I was super excited because of his involvement with it as I figured it was the PERFECT project for his hyper-detailed, ultra-grisly art style. And it IS a match, but at the same time... he's kinda phoning it in. The art in this book feels like Manco's early work from mid-90's Marvel on Hellstorm and Druid. Which is fine; those books were beautiful too, but... Manco has grown as an artist in the following 15 years. He'd shown in Marvel's Apache Skies and Vertigo's Hellblazer, among others, that he's gotten even better over the years and had upgraded his technique. Yet here, his art seems to have backtracked about 10 years or more. It's still gorgeous to look at but it seems as if he's not utilizing his whole toolbox.
I was in this book from the get-go for the art only, with the potential to be hooked by the writing too. If not for Manco's involvement, I'd have passed. I'll give the book to the end of its first storyline, but if it's still doing no better than this for me, I just might drop it, Manco or no Manco.
