Comics Review: The Army of Darkness 1979 #4

THE ARMY OF DARKNESS 1979 VOLUME 1 #4
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Tom Garcia (pp. 1-12); Edu Menna (pp. 13-22)
COLORS: Dinei Ribero
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
EDITOR: Joe Rybandt
COVER: Francesco Mattina
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Arthur Suydam; Junggeun Yoon; Stuart Sayger; Francesco Mattina; Jamie Biggs
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2021)

Rated Teen+

Army of Darkness is a 1992 comic horror film and the third film in the Evil Dead film franchise.  The film focuses on the series' lead character, Ash Williams (portrayed by actor Bruce Campbell), as he is trapped in the Middle Ages and battling an army of undead warriors.

In 1992, Dark Horse Comics released a three-issue adaptation of Army of Darkness, and in 2004, Dynamite Entertainment acquired the rights to produce comics based on the Army of Darkness film, featuring Ash as the main character.

The most recent Army of Darkness comic book in the Dynamite catalog is The Army of Darkness 1979.  It is written by Rodney Barnes; drawn by Tom Garcia; colored by Dinei Ribero; and lettered by Troy Peteri.  In the new series, Ash Williams finds himself in late 1970s New York City.  Not only is he fighting his usual adversaries, the Deadites and the Necronomicon, but he is also caught in a turf war between rival street gangs.

As The Army of Darkness 1979 Volume 1 #4 opens, Ash talks about the Necronomicon and his trials and tribulations with the book … to himself, but at least the members of “The Half Deads” street gang are listening.  Meanwhile, Lilith is trying to convince Bishop, leader of “The Warlocks,” that she has left The Half Deads and wants in on The Warlocks.  Bishop doesn't trust her.  Luckily (for him, not her), he now possesses the Necronomicon, which can judge if Lilith is being honest...

While waiting for Lilith, Ash and the gang happen upon the legendary club, “Studio 54.”  Suddenly, Ash has a case of “Saturday Night Fever,” but will his antics cause a “Disco Inferno?”

THE LOWDOWN:  Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department recently began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is The Army of Darkness 1979 Volume 1 #4, which is the fourth Dynamite Entertainment Army of Darkness comic book I have read.

With each issue of the series, writer Rodney Barnes digs deeper into late 1970s culture and pop culture and spins it into comedy gold.  Barnes is creating a comic book that is true to the spirit of the Evil Dead and Army of Darkness films.  It's not the scares that made this franchise; it's the snark and the fun.

The trademark Army of Darkness comic horror dialogue, ghoulish wit, and mockery lives well in Army of Darkness 1979 Volume 1.  If this is your thing, hop in a comic book portal and join the fun.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Army of Darkness comic books and of the franchise, in general, will want to read The Army of Darkness 1979.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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