Storytellers: Geoff Johns & Ivan Reis
Inker: Danny Miki
Colorist: Brad Anderson
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Cover Artists: Ivan Reis, Danny Miki & Brad Anderson; Peter Snejbjerg & Brad Anderson; Joe Prado & Wes Dzioba
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 5, 2025
The Scorekeeper brings villains to Hyde Street. He chooses some to be his assistants. After their faithful service, he promises to return them to Earth better than they left. But first, they must deliver 10,000 souls to Hell. Oscar Oddman never wanted this deal. Still, he ended up on Hyde Street. How did Oscar get here? And why does he send souls to Heaven instead of Hell? Let’s have a monster mash, leap into Hyde Street #4, and find out!
Story
Oscar Oddman tried to make it in Hollywood. But the studios saw his height as a disadvantage. Stan worked hard to get the 6’7” man a shot at a leading role like Clark Gable or Jimmy Stewart. But all his agent could scrounge up was the monster part in an Abbott And Costello film.
In Hyde Street #4, Oscar doubts his abilities. However, the director surprises Oscar by seeing his potential. Trouble arises when production takes a hiatus. Oscar is left alone with his fears and insecurities. When he returns to the set, Oscar no longer feels valued.
Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis’ cautionary tale delves into the precarious reality of the mid-20th century Hollywood studio system. One day, you could be a player. The next, you slept on a park bench. As Oscar strives for legitimacy, the voices inside tell him he’s not good enough. Stan and the studio’s secretiveness feeds Oscar’s fears. And like anyone who craves power over others, the Scorekeeper keeps Oscar weak and dependent on him.
While Hyde Street #4 lays Oscar's life bare, it also exposes his tragic afterlife. The Scorekeeper may deal less kindly with Oscar than Mr X-Ray did with Jim Smith. Still, despite the Scorekeeper's abuse, Oscar shows surprising fortitude. Oscar decides he won't let the Scorekeeper, or anyone else, decide what role he plays on Hyde Street.
Art
A gold and brown lamp illuminate Stan’s smile as he hands Oscar the script. The tall man clutches his beaten hat to his chest, surrounded by framed posters of the Phantom, Invisible Man, and Dracula. The giant and his comparatively pint-sized agent frame a poster of Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein’s Monster. Yet, a closeup of Stan’s determined face nestles against a shot of Oscar’s crestfallen features, clarifying who stands higher in the Hollywood echelon.
Six headshots portray the transformation from an out-of-work actor to a green-faced monster. A soulful monster menaces the camera beneath glaring lights amid Greek grandeur in Hyde Street #4. Two pages of red and white reveal Oscar's passage to the Scorekeeper's Twilight Zone via a Time Tunnel. Brad Anderson uses color sparingly in the Black And White transit station. Window shutters glow an infernal red. The purple eyes of Oscar's new master shine as purple flames leap from the white contract in his gray hands.
Italicized uppercase black letters fill dialogue balloons as Stan feeds Oscar’s doubts. White letters in black boxes forecast Oscar’s fate as if spoken by Rod Serling. One giant yellow and red growl shows how a little encouragement can bolster one’s confidence. Red letters in blotchy white balloons solidify Oscar’s place on Hyde Street. White letters in green balloons with jagged edges reveal a hint of villainy amid Oscar’s kindness. Thanks to Image Comics and Ghost Machine for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
Others denied Pranky the satisfaction and love he yearned for. Becoming the Scorekeeper's little helper made the former Boy Scout feel valued. But when Oscar Oddman's actions threaten his dominance, Pranky makes the Matinee Monster his next target in Hyde Street #4.
Rating 9.8/10
For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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