Publisher: Zenescope
Writer: Pat Shand
Artist: Vincenzo Riccardi
Colourist: Eleonora Bruni
Release Date: 15 June 2016
Price: $3.99

How many times have you heard stroppy teenagers moan about their parents: ‘My Dad’s the King of Hell and my stepmother’s a vampire hunter…’ Not very often probably but in Angelica’s case, it’s the literal truth which gives us a whole other perspective on teenage angst in Zenescope’s Hellchild #4.

Brought back from the dead as a vampire by a witch’s spell, Angelica teams up with a gang of vampires led by the charismatic Olaf and sets out to take her revenge on the person responsible for her demise, her very own daddy dearest, the aforementioned Hades, God of the Underworld.

Over the millennia it seems Hades has had a change of heart and now fights evil alongside his paramour, vampire hunter Liesel Van Helsing. Confused? You should be, but hey, it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Bad guy turns good, devil child wants to be good but ends up being a blood-sucking demon, happens all the time.

Hellchild #4 has biker werewolves, Monster Fight Clubs and lesbian witches, so pretty much every box is ticked. Hades himself could have looked scarier: the pale skinned, red-eyed hippy look just doesn’t do it for me and I’m betting Crowley from Supernatural could kick the brimstone out of him in a heartbeat.

Hellchild #4 is the penultimate episode of this story arc so everything is a frantic race to the finish line. The cover art by Richard Ortiz is stunning and the interior art by Vincenzo Riccardi is workmanlike but doesn’t set the pulse racing. Despite the many and varied story elements, this is actually very easy to follow and fans of Vampirella or Angel and Faith will find this everyday story of the dysfunctional family from Hell very much to their liking.

 

 

Reviewer: Gary Orchard
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker