Hoax Hunters, Vol. 2
Secrets And Lies
Written by Michael Moreci & Steve Seeley
Art by Axel Medellin & Brent Schoonover
Colors by Rosario Costanzo & Charo Solis
Letters by Jim Campbell
Design by Sean Dove
Image Comics
Release Date: May 15, 2013
Cover Price: $9.99

As much as I hate to admit it, there’s one thing I can say for sure about Hoax Hunters, Vol. 2: it’s a MUCH better read in trade than it is in single issue format. Admittedly, I love the monthly form a LOT better, but when you read this trade all in one sitting, it’s just better.

Writers Michael Moreci and Steve Seeley really put the team through the gambit in this chapter, having them deal with everything from lawn gnomes to a reality TV show convention to vampires to a group that hunts the actual Hoax Hunters, to…well, you get the idea. Each chapter flows directly into the next, and without the 30 day wait periods, you really get a much better paced and more exiting story than you’d be reading in the monthlies. Yes, this book is good, but it’s almost great when you read it in this format. The story flows much better, Moreci and Seeley are still able to grab the audience by the shirt with suspense, but again, it’s much more compelling when it’s done this way. Am I saying the book should go straight to trade? No, not at all. I’ve just saying that you shouldn’t feel bad about trade waiting for this great series.

Hoax Hunters #8
Story by Michael Moreci & Steve Seeley
Art by Axel Medellin
Flats & color assistance by Charo Solis
Letters by Jim Campbell
Design by Sean Dove
Cover by Sean Dove
Image Comics
Release Date: March 13,2013
Cover Price: $2.99

Hoax Hunters #8 continues its fun, entertaining, and interesting story that has both features of a stand alone AND continuity, something rarely seen in today’s comic market.

Writers Michael Moreci & Steve Seeley wrap up a Hoax Hunters mystery this issue and set the stage for upcoming story lines. My guy reaction is that this story should’ve been wrapped up maybe a little bit sooner. I read Hoax Hunters on a monthly basis and I have to say, I was almost lost by the time this story was finished. I think if there were maybe a few LESS supporting characters, and maybe an issue less of this particular story arc, it would’ve been a lot more enjoyable. Understand, by no means am I saying that it’s a bad comic, far from it, I just think that this shouldn’t have maybe dragged on as long as it did.

Hoax Hunters #7
Story by Michael Moreci & Steve Seeley
Art by Axel Medellin
FLats & Color Assists by Charo Solis
Letters by Jim Campbell
Design by Sean Dove
Cover by Axel Medellin
Image Comics
Release Date: February 13, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

In Hoax Hunters #7 we get a nice payoff, and we also get thrown for a giant loop with a twist ending that you won’t see coming. It’s a very satisfying issue, but it does have a couple of things that drove me a little crazy. Sink or swim? Let’s find out!

Writers Michael Moreci & Steve Seeley turn out a great story/script this issue. It picks up where last issue left off, and includes a nice recap page for those who might be picking up this book for the first time. There’s all the trademark Hoax Hunters goodness. Mystery, monsters, hoaxes, and more. As I stated earlier, this book has a great surprise ending, and there’s a cliffhanger on almost every page. This book is really starting to mature. It bares almost no resemblance to the earlier issues in the series, and I’m NOT saying that those early issues were bad, I’m just stating that Moreci and Seeley have grown as storytellers.

Revival #6
Story by Tim Seeley
Art by Mike Norton
Colors by Mark Englert
Letters by Crank!
Edited by Four Star Studios
Design by Sean Dove
Cover by Jenny Frison
Image Comics
Release Date: January 23, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

Comics really don’t get more weird than Revival #6. And I mean that in a GOOD way. From cover to cover, the mysteries only deepen this issue, and, I’m enjoying it so much, that I don’t care that we haven’t had any of them solved yet!

Thank you Tim Seeley!!! This issue is, by far, my favorite issue yet of this series. What should frustrate me, doesn’t. I’m a big mystery buff, and by six chapters in we logically should start getting some clues to just what’s going on, but we haven’t (OK, we probably have, but just don’t know it) and that’s FINE because this book is so damned entertaining!!! Things keep happening! Shocking things! Scary things! Strange things! But, it’s SO good that you really do just end up getting lost in this comic rather than trying to figure out just what they hell happened, who did it, and how it’s all going to be revealed. This is a VERY entertaining comic book, folks. In my opinion, the best issue of Revival so far!

Revival #5
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Mike Norton
Colors by Mark Englert
Letters by Crank!
Edited by Four Star Studios
Design by Sean Dove
Cover by Jenny Frison
Image Comics
Release Date: November 21, 2012
Cover Price: $2.99

Revival #5 continues the mystery in that small town of Wausau, Wisconsin. Usually comics with an ongoing mystery lose their momentum around the fifth or sixth issue, if they don’t offer a huge reveal. Does Revival escape that trap, or does is jump over it? Let’s take a look…

Writer Tim Seeley goes outside the box with this issue, and this series in general. What starts off as a mystery in a small town of people coming back from the dead, turns into a LOT more than just that. It’s really turned into a story of basic human survival and with some great characters that we’ve quickly come to love and care about. One of the things that impresses me most is one of the “b plots” that focuses on the officials at the CDC and the drama that’s going on in their lives. Not to be outdone at all, the main focus of the issue is the conflict between EM, a reporter named May and the evil Blaine Abel. There is a great deal of both action and story development in this issue. Seeley keeps revealing just enough of the mystery to keep us turning the pages, but not enough to reveal anything too quickly. Very well written issue.