Army Of Darkness Forever #4 Review

 

Writer: Tony Fleecs

Artist: Justin Greenwood

Colorist: Brad Simpson

Letterer: Troy Peteri

Cover Artists: Francesco Mattina, Arthur Suydam, Tony Fleecs & Nick Dragotta

Publisher: Dynamite Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 17, 2023

 

Trapped in 2093, Ash must track down the scattered pages of the Necronomicon Ex Mortis. In 1993, Evil Ash must confront his thirst for violence and the complexities of the internet. In 1300, Lady Shiela must warn her people of another Deadite uprising. What unites all three time zones, and will heroes in any of them win a happy ending? Let's leap into Army Of Darkness Forever #4 and find out!

 

Story

In the Army Of Darkness Movie Adaptation (written by Sam and Ivan Raimi and published by Dynamite Comics), Ash drank a potion and awoke in 2093. Civilization lies in ruins. In Army Of Darkness Forever #4, Ash’s only hope of returning to 1993 is the Necronomicon Ex Mortis. But before he can recite the incantation, Ash must reassemble the book! Finding the scattered pages may prove more difficult than locating an item wrongly cataloged in the S-Mart storeroom! Thankfully, Ash has handy robots and Lord Arthur’s holographic wizard to aid him on his quest.

 

The wizard proves far more than a recording. He guides Ash on his quest, helps upgrade his firepower, and even compliments Ash on his stylish new haircut. Tony Fleecs pays homage to the patron saint of Time Travel stories with Ash's mention of Morlocks. In keeping with the film's zany mix of horror, comedy, and romance, he puts a humorous spin on H. G. Wells's classic tale.

 

After devoting half of Army Of Darkness Forever #4 to the future, Fleecs splits the remainder between 1993 and 1300. Before Evil Ash can pave the way for a robot apocalypse, he must master the complexities of newsgroups, Netscape Navigator, and electronic mail. Couldn't he just go on a murder rampage instead? It's interesting to think of evil people battling their natures to achieve a goal. But then, focusing on one's goals doesn't make a person virtuous.

 

In 1300, Lady Shiela failed to convince Lord Arthur she knew what she was talking about. His wizard proves more amenable. But as they ride out to the woods, he suggests she imagined the Deadites and reminds her that she's not their champion. They've survived an extraordinary, supernatural battle. Why would Arthur’s wiseman doubt her veracity?

 

 

 

 

 

Art

Instead of Deadites, future Ash battles Droidites. They resemble the dead that rose from their graves in 1300. Yet they're made of metal and circuitry. The robots assisting Ash evoke insects or his metal hand. Yet one projects a beam of light the holographic wiseman inhabits. Ash may be missing his Remington, but a quick buzz cut from his chainsaw helps differentiate him from the wizard. In Army Of Darkness Forever #4, Justin Greenwood delivers a cracking underworld adventure that protects the Morlocks’ decency, highlights 90s posters of videotape aerobic stars and a trilling Trout, and suggests that the wise man has lost his respect for Lady Shiela.

 

Ash fights against purple skies at night, while day turns the air blood-orange. Brad Simpson applies a different palette to each section and varies coloring by day and night. He shows highlighting and shading and applies texturing to his colors. He even captures streaks of light reflected off opaque glass and a mirror. Better be careful, Evil Ash! You remember what Agatha Christie said about mirrors that get cracked from side to side!

 

Troy Peteri conjures large black uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons. The placement of narrative boxes and dialogue balloons is always easy to follow. I especially enjoyed how the ballons arc around Evil Ash and his coworker Ted in 1993. The bug robots' smaller replies scurry inside green boxes. Numbers invade words, forcing the reader to translate the alphanumeric utterances. Sound effects help us hear Ash’s buzzcut, moaning Morlocks, and a squealing modem while a falling horse leaves Army Of Darkness Forever #4 on a chilling note. Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Ash rediscovers the joy of living, his evil self struggles to master his baser impulses, and Lady Shiela battles sexism in Army Of Darkness Forever #4.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.