Hoax Hunters #5 Review


After a pretty good warm-up arc, Hoax Hunters continues with a solid fifth installment. This one is a little different, more of a mystery and the main characters aside from Jack don’t really appear. Instead it focuses on the  story revolving around the Jersey Devil. It’s definitely a refreshing issue, a one-shot that a new reader can pick up and enjoy. Good characters, solid writing, and a demonic beast makes this issue a worthy pickup. (And for just $2.99, you can’t go wrong.)

Here’s the official description from Image:

“TAG”
In 1984 New Jersey, a young woman runs from her hidden, devilish past – and the monster that may be hunting her down. Special guest artist EMILIO LAISO (HACK/SLASH) delivers this chilling tale from the Hoax Hunters archives!

A bit of Twilight Zoneish tale, it begins with a flashback to 1967 at a orphanage. A nurse and doctor run out, shocked of what they saw inside. Turns out its a demon-like creature. (It’s not really clear if it’s an actual demon or not, but it looks like one, so we’ll leave it at that.) Six years later we see that this thing resides inside a small fence in the orphanage.  Fast forward to 84, this thing has escaped. Dubbed ‘The Jersey Devil,’ it’s truly a sight to behold. The story follows Lauren whom is a little haunted by this thing. The characters are well-written, you feel for Lauren. If a comic can have you feel for a character, you know it has succeeded. Surprisingly only Jack appears, none of the other cast. It’s really a self-contained story filled with emotion.

Emilio Laiso’s art is near perfect. There are some really memorable pages, such the Jersey Devil standing over a fallen Lauren. (This guy can draw a mean demon.) The cover is pretty good, although the Devil doesn’t look like that in the comic. (He looks a lot better within.) Only negative thing is that it doesn’t really have a satisfying ending. You’re don’t feel fulfilled and you’re left wondering “So…what happens to it?”

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Overall, a pretty solid standalone issue of Hoax Hunters. It features a good story with a few twists. While the ending may leave you a little unfulfilled, it’s no reason not to pick it up. Plus a Pac Man arcade machine makes a cameo, so there’s always that.

4/5

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