Hack/Slash #18

Two young women press together in near-total darkness — Cassie Hack, dark-haired and collar-wearing, thrusts a blinding flashlight toward an unseen threat while her wide-eyed blonde companion grips a knife at her side, both of them radiating that perfect mix of dread and determination that defines this series. Matt Merhoff's painted cover work is striking in its moody, photo-realistic style, using deep shadow to keep the danger just out of frame and the tension very much in it. A solid entry in Image's horror-action series, issued during the publisher's 20th anniversary year, and a fine showcase for what Hack/Slash does best.