Comic Book Review: The Black Hood #2

The Black Hood wreaks vengeance on the streets of Philadelphia while Officer Hettinger continues down a dark drug-fueled path. Is it good?

Duane Swierczynski and Michael Gaydos open the book with an intense action sequence as The Black Hood breaks up a street mugging in an extremely violent manner. The sequence is different than most opening action sequences due to The Black Hood’s self awareness. He realizes he is drugged out of his mind and running around wearing a creepy mask. This doesn’t deter or hinder him at all. It actually empowers him, allowing him to wreak more extreme violence than he otherwise would have without the mask. It is quite something to behold and Swierczynski and Gaydos think so too. There is a panel with the muggers’ victim capturing his image. The victim’s reaction was the same as mine: “Holy Crap!” The Black Hood has a similar reaction when he stares at the aftermath of his violence and bears witness in utter shock.

The extreme violence committed by The Black Hood becomes a running theme throughout the comic. It also showcases Hettinger’s fall into addiction. His violence begins escalating even while in uniform.

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Comic Book Review: The Black Hood #1

A traumatic shooting takes a police officer down a troubled path leaving him scarred both physically and spiritually. How will he deal with it? Is it good?

Duane Swierczynski’s name caught my eye. I enjoyed his run on Deadpool vs. X-Force and figured I would go ahead and give this new title from Dark Circle Comics a read through.

The book reads much like a journal entry being told from the protagonist’s perspective. There is very little dialogue although there is a very good plot reason for this. (The fact the protagonist can’t talk!) The book has exceptional pacing each flip of the page pulls you further into the shoes of Gregory Heittinger wondering where it will take him and how he will function.

Heittinger’s character is deeply compelling and this is an origin story right up there with Spiderman and Batman. It may be even a little better for he is not losing someone close to him, he loses himself. The issue follows him as he makes appearances, goes through rehab, and watches TV all the while trying to make sense of the act of violence he committed.

Continue reading at Adventures in Poor Taste!

Affiliate link: Click here to get your copy of The Black Hood #1.