If any comic book was born ready for the big screen, it’s “Hack/Slash.”
That was a sentiment many were feeling back in 2004 when Tim Seeley’s title first appeared on the stands as a one-shot (called “Euthanized”) under Devil’s Due Publishing. Readers were introduced to the cynical, insecure, socially inept misfit Cassie Hack who, with her mammoth, deformed sidekick Vlad, scours the country saving irresponsible teens from sundry ghoulish “slashers.” Cassie represented the brains and wit, a teen forced to grow up fast after she was forced to put down her own mother who returned from the grave. Vlad was the innocent thug, abandoned and homeless. And as “Hack/Slash” made the leap from one-shots to a monthly series, fans watched the Cassie/Vlad dynamic grow and witnessed their heroine come to grips with not just her past but herself. Furthermore, for the horror nuts, the world of “slashers” expanded in the series, introducing readers to religious nut jobs, crazed imps and wannabe rock stars who strike demonic bargains.
Like everyone said, the series was ripe for adaptation and was equipped with franchise potential. Sure, it was Buffy-esque, however, Joss Whedon’ slayer had long come to an end by the time Hack/Slash’ made its debut. And Seeley not only created his own mythology, but he opened the door to a wealth of cross-over possibilities. Cassie did take on Chucky from Child’s Play in one mini-series, but imagine if the bat-swinging gal went head-to-head with Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger?
