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View Full Version : Reign in Hell #1 - Spoiler filled review thread


Will.S
08-03-2008, 01:13 PM
http://comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/280/137727_20080801083725_large.jpg

Plot: A province in Hell called the Odium is under attack by Lord Satanus's forces.

Soon after the attack Lord Satanus and Lady Blaze touch down on the defeated city of Odium and Satanus makes a speech about hope in order to bring about a wide scale war, or more specifically bringing the war to Neron. Meanwhile we cut to Pandemonia, the first province of the Infernal Dominion where Neron, Belial, Lilith, and Asmodel are observing the events that had just transpired within the Odium.

Neron is angered and asks Lilith to call her children. We then cut to The Gull which is the third province of the Infernal Dominion where Zatara and Zauriel are talking about Zatara's own resistence movement on top of Satanus's which will indirectly help him. Zatara then speaks of the mystics that will be affected by the Telistic Council if the war breaks out.

Finally go to Gotham city where the Shadowpact are on a mission to capture Linda Danvers who is defeated by the Shadowpact to only be teleported into Hell because hell is recalling it's debts. We then see a final page cliffhanger where all the magic characters that tie into Hell are affected such as Kid Devil, Etrigan, The Creeper, Black Alice etc.

There's also a back up tale which is narrated by Dr. Occult as he speaks to Ralph and Sue Dibney a.k.a Ghost Detectives about the war that's brewing in Hell. I believe that outside of their brief appearance in Outsiders, this is Ralph and Sue's first major re-appearance as Ghost Detectives after 52.

Review: Accessibility might be an issue with some people concerning this issue.

For example,I'm not familiar with Lord Satanus or some of the characters within Neron's domain so they're all new to me. I do know who Neron was thanks to 52 and Teen Titans when he made the pact with Kid Devil, I also know who Zatara and Zauriel are as well as the Shadowpact (who's book I loved) so these characters were sort of my doorway into this book. The only person I was kind of confused about was Linda Danvers since she didn't have the Supergirl look anymore.

But so far I have to say that I'm really enjoying the book. Keith Giffen gives it a very interesting premise and we finally get to see the fates of certain characters that we've been wondering about for quite a while. Lord Satanus seems like he's twisting the concept of hope to wage a total and all out war so I have my doubts that he really wants to bring that about. Most likely he just wants to be the total ruler of Hell and dethrone Neron.

The art looks really great but it's mainly due to Bill Sienkiewicz's grittier inking over Tom Derenick's pencils, hopefully the rest of the series will maintain this visual syle. The back up issue was very interesting as well although it's kind of interesting how this back up uses accessibility with the flashback of Occult's history with the girl. The art on the back up is by Stephen Segovia who still seems to be trying very hard to be Leinil Francis Yu but in any case nice art nonetheless.

Definitely worth a look: 8/10

Nate Grey
08-03-2008, 02:03 PM
Freeread it, put it back. Was hoping it would be interested, was dead wrong. I'm guessing this is an attempt to build-up/bring back Neron as a major player? Never really cared for him, so...

Tien Long
08-04-2008, 05:32 PM
Though I didn't buy this issue, I did do a slight read through. To me, it read very much in the same way as Annihilation War, in that hell is composed of different territorities and areas, ripe for conquest. I was intrigued with the idea that Satanus and Blaze are using the idea of hope as a way to rally the troops. That reminded me a bit of a Sandman issue from a couple of yrs. back.

One of the characters I was VERY surprised to see in the series was the Creeper. Having his 2006 mini series, I don't see how he could possibly be involved with hell, since his powers and origins are firmly rooted with science. Furthermore, it's cool to see Zauriel in this conflict, but, well, he's a favorite of mine. I've always seen him as an honorable and pure individual, but invariably, being involved in a war where the sides aren't too clear cut, I fear that Zauriel's integrity may not come out of this unscathed.

Pixie_Solanas
08-04-2008, 05:43 PM
I bought it strictly for the art.

Will.S
08-04-2008, 08:42 PM
One of the characters I was VERY surprised to see in the series was the Creeper. Having his 2006 mini series, I don't see how he could possibly be involved with hell, since his powers and origins are firmly rooted with science.
I was actually wondering the same thing about the Creeper.

Sean Walsh
08-05-2008, 10:54 AM
I was actually wondering the same thing about the Creeper.

This is the same company that published COUNTDOWN and DEATH OF THE NEW GODS.

So there's your explanation: yet another editor not paying attention.

Cayman
08-05-2008, 11:02 AM
This was awful. Giffen's clunky, overblown dialogue was painful to read.

He should ask Mike Carey for some pointers about how to write infernal intrigue.

The Cool Thatguy
08-05-2008, 11:05 AM
I was actually wondering the same thing about the Creeper.

Personally, I'm kinda curious how an earth angel gets dragged to Hell for an old debt. Is that an old PAD subplot?

Captain Smith
08-05-2008, 01:05 PM
I thought the Spectre 'killed' Satanus when the former was on a Rampage. Or did something with him - Supes let it happen.

Dard
08-05-2008, 02:55 PM
Personally, I'm kinda curious how an earth angel gets dragged to Hell for an old debt. Is that an old PAD subplot?I don't think so. Linda Danvers didn't owe Hell anything AFAIK.
Her shouting "Kill you all!" is also very out-of-character.
Explanations for this range from "we don't know what all happened to her in the meantime" to "yet another villainization/character-assassination from DC".

I am not happy with this. A former favourite character of mine seems to be used just as cannon fodder so far.

The Cool Thatguy
08-05-2008, 03:13 PM
I thought the Spectre 'killed' Satanus when the former was on a Rampage. Or did something with him - Supes let it happen.

If Spectre killed him, where do you think he ended up? ;)

Will.S
08-05-2008, 10:55 PM
This is the same company that published COUNTDOWN and DEATH OF THE NEW GODS.

So there's your explanation: yet another editor not paying attention.

Personally, I'm kinda curious how an earth angel gets dragged to Hell for an old debt. Is that an old PAD subplot?

I don't think so. Linda Danvers didn't owe Hell anything AFAIK.
Her shouting "Kill you all!" is also very out-of-character.
Explanations for this range from "we don't know what all happened to her in the meantime" to "yet another villainization/character-assassination from DC".

I am not happy with this. A former favourite character of mine seems to be used just as cannon fodder so far.I'm not really all that concerned with some of these yet since it's just the first issue. I have enough faith in Keith to explain why certain characters have been affected by what's been happening in Hell but I have to agree that some of his dialogue scenes read very oddly and kind of take you out of it unless you read it multiple times.

Scott Taylor
08-05-2008, 11:52 PM
I'm reading it because its about the only magic-based series DC has going right now. It was pretty confusing and sort of "who cares", though. But truth to tell, this is the DC universe and they just aren't going to make their magical characters play an enormous role. So its a novelty story that is never going to have any impact on the main of the universe. Thats ok, though, i read for entertainment and its entertaining.

G. Wayne
08-06-2008, 11:24 AM
I bought it strictly for the art.

I'm sorry.

NeoStar9X
08-06-2008, 12:53 PM
Is there an image online that shows what the inside art looks like?

Pixie_Solanas
08-06-2008, 02:36 PM
I'm sorry.

Don't be. The art kicks all sorts of glute.

It's Giffen's stilted, biblical talk that made me shudder. Lord Satanus's speech to the unwashed masses, inciting them to riot and "hope", was largely unintelligible.

Momma Lilith? Rowwwwr.

G. Wayne
08-06-2008, 03:25 PM
Don't be. The art kicks all sorts of glute.

It's Giffen's stilted, biblical talk that made me shudder. Lord Satanus's speech to the unwashed masses, inciting them to riot and "hope", was largely unintelligible.

Momma Lilith? Rowwwwr.

More power to you with whatever floats your boat artwise, but yeah, really not my thing here. The inking kills it, in my opinion.

Pixie_Solanas
08-06-2008, 04:02 PM
. The inking kills it, in my opinion.

The legendary Bill Sienkiewicz?

Frankly, i'd buy anything with his name attached.

Karl O'Neill
08-06-2008, 04:10 PM
I love the inks in this book!

Michael P
08-06-2008, 06:26 PM
I don't think so. Linda Danvers didn't owe Hell anything AFAIK.
Her shouting "Kill you all!" is also very out-of-character.
Explanations for this range from "we don't know what all happened to her in the meantime" to "yet another villainization/character-assassination from DC".

I am not happy with this. A former favourite character of mine seems to be used just as cannon fodder so far.

Well, it's not like it's the real Linda Danvers. The real Linda Danvers is running around doing various good deeds on the world of Peter David's Fallen Angel.

JCAll
08-07-2008, 01:02 AM
I like the fact that the first ring of hell is located somewhere in Canada. I always knew there was something fishy about those people.

Anyway, It was meh. I expected so much more, and got generic plot and dialog as a reward. The issue is obviously the set up and I hope it gets better, but I bet it gets worse.

Anyway, I love Etrigan, the Creeper, and Linda Danvers...not to mention my unnatural obsession with Keith Giffen...so I'm pretty much sold todthe end. Pitty.

freddy1428
08-07-2008, 02:25 PM
Very good first issue, Giffen do a great job, I'm more a Marvel fans and I'm not very familiar with the hell of dc comics, but now I really can't wait to see the others issue.