ARMY OF DARKNESS: ASH GETS HITCHED
Everyone’s favourite deadite-blasting reluctant hero returns to familiar territory in this pseudo warm-up for the Starz TV series (that won’t be set in, or go out of its way to mention, Ash’s medieval adventures).
Having found himself back in the sand and sawdust of the early-1300s once again, been reunited with his medieval love Sheila, and become a bona fide knight, Ash settles into his sworn role of dismisser of the deadites. But these days it seems even smooshing the bile-spitting boneheads isn’t challenge enough as the mysterious Faceless Man has the walking dead running for their undead lives.
As Ash’s biggest threat looms large (very, very large) and Sheila prepares to break the biggest news imaginable to her gallant knight, it would appear that S-Mart may have to post that wanted ad for a Housewares clerk after all.
Written by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and brought faithfully to life by Nacho Tenorio (Ash and the Army of Darkness and Dark Shadows), this compilation of the four-part story really hits the spot. Since Dynamite took up the mantle of continuing Ash’s story beyond the silver screen, Ash’s shark-jumping adventures have been somewhat hit and miss. Subsequently, his return to familiar ground here is most welcome, as are the succession of familiar characters from the 1992 movie (including a certain yellow Delta 88).
It’s not all shits and giggles, though. The much-anticipated reunion between Ash and his first love, Linda, is all too brief (and subsequently massively underplayed) while the ending is just plain frustrating, even if it does play to Ash’s strengths at being a giant horses ass. All of that said, over all Ash Gets Hitched is a glorious return to the genre-splicing franchise that is soon to arrive back to mainstream media and a must-read for fans of the character and franchise as a whole. The writing is spot on – you can practically hear Bruce Campbell wise-cracking on every page – and the art is exemplary, particularly the cover gallery including works from the likes of Lucio Parrillo and Nick Bradshaw.
Let’s face it, if you love Ash and you miss this adventure, you’re a primitive screwhead.
INFO: ARMY OF DARKNESS: ASH GETS HITCHED / AUTHOR: STEVE NILES / ARTIST: NACHO TENORIO, LUCIO PARRILLO, NICK BRADSHAW / PUBLISHER: DYNAMITE / RELEASE DATE: MAY 5TH
