Advance Review: It’s Halloween Time In ‘Dark Ride’ #9
by Tom Smithyman
The calendar may have just changed to November, but for Dark Ride, it’s all about Halloween. In this case, though, it’s the character, not the holiday.
No, there’s enough people dressing up and terrorizing others in this series already. This Halloween is the daughter of Devil Land founder Arthur Dante, who made a dark deal to make his theme park successful. The young woman takes center stage in this issue, a role typically reserved for her brother Sam. The change of focus character would be welcome if she actually had something meaningful to do. Unfortunately, that’s not really the case here.
Halloween spends a big chunk of this chapter arguing with her dad and then fighting some random guy who worships her. Well, perhaps worship her isn’t quite the right verb. His true intentions are murky. What’s more disappointing is that this muscular bro serves little purpose in the story other than to establish Halloween’s long-neglected backstory and to give her someone to take out her aggressions on. It’s a thin and clumsy move by writer Joshua Williamson, a talented writer who should know better.
While Williamson’s story structure for the issue is awkward, at least he’s moving the overall plot along. Spoilers prevent revealing too much, but readers will learn more in this first issue of the new story arc than in several past chapters. And he weaves in some action to keep the audience’s attention – even though the fight feels misplaced.
That battle gives artist Andrei Bressan something to focus on. The fight is clearly the visual high point of this issue. It is violent, bloody, and even unexpected (which is a polite way of saying it’s pretty forced). Bresson does a good job of capturing the energy as well as Halloween’s rage. His work in the rest of the chapter is much less interesting, though. While he nails the dad’s face every time, Halloween and the other characters are much less precise.
In a market filled with limited series and constant reboot, it’s difficult for an independent series to hit double digits and still remain interesting. Dark Ride is feeling its age. Without some much-needed attention, this Ride may be at its end.
Dark Ride #9 will be available for purchase on Wednesday.
Overview
A paper-thin plot and some questionable illustrations are a poor way to kick off a new story arc. Instead of exciting readers, this issue is more likely to turn them away.
