Dark Horse Comics: Empowered and Sistah Spooky’s High School Hell. From a fun premise, does the promise come true? Let’s see.
The premise of this comic title from Dark Horse is that Empowered and Sistah Spooky are together, reminiscing about their origins, and remembering their unhappy relationship from prior days. It seems that Empowered was a bully to SIstah Spooky. Well, Spooky has apparently retired, and the two women are meeting for coffee. But then, the Devil interferes!
It you are more familiar with these characters than I, it’s to your advantage. The comic begins with a one panel synopsis about the relationship between the two women. And I thank the story creative team (Writer Adam Warren and artist Carla Speed McNeil, colors by Jenn Manley Lee) for that!
The first dozen pages of the story fill us in on the pain that Spooky endured in her high school years. This is told while the two colleagues are sitting in a coffee shop. From there, a situation develops that puts both characters in danger, and we are left with a cliffhanger ending.
The characters are strong, the drawings are funky and ‘hand drawn’ looking, That is, not slick or polished with high realism. The story could have progressed faster, with less time spent lingering on the various trials and tribulations and resentments that could be called “unfinished business”. But that’s my take on things, and younger readers might find the obsessive rants and raves to be cathartic and well expressed. Mileage can vary.
In addition to the 23 page story is a two page explanation of sorts, from Adam Warren, with a rough sketch of his original vision of the cover.
Dark Horse Comics Empowered and Sistah Spooky’s High School Hell #1 of 6 $3.99 for 27 pages of content Not rated, rough language
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