REVIEW: 'Vinyl'#2 by Doug Wagner, Daniel Hillyard, and Dave Stewart

War breaks out between the cult and Walter with the most unlikely team of rescuers of all time. 

VINYL #2

Writer: Doug Wagner

Artist: Daniel Hillyard, Dave Stewart

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: July 28, 2021

Cover Price: $3.99

Our serial killer Walter has sealed himself in an underground bunker with a sunflower death cult. Now he's being hunted by an insane myriad of Husks, Sunflower Girls, and monsters. Everything the cult can send at him. Good thing Walter didn't come alone. That's right. Walter brought along

some friends.

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

QUICK REVIEW: Delusional serial killer Walter is determined to save an FBI agent he considers his "friend" from a cult and he's assembled a team of psychopaths to rescue him. Never mind that Dennis the agent has been trying to capture and jail Walter for years, he's now being held hostage by cult leader Madeleine who seems to seek revenge for past grievances. Madeliene intrigues Walter as she poses a formidable adversary in this cat and mouse game with Dennis as the bait. 

Doug Wagner coordinates one bloody extraction plan with Walter running the operation from a bunker. It's a twisted bizarro anti-hero Avengers lead by Nick Fury if he was a serial killer. The set-up is amusing and the action is brutally violent and bloody. Did I say it was bloody? It's bloody. It may not be as easy as Walter thought because Madeleine seems to be anticipating every move. This certainly adds a layer of intrigue and mystery to this gruesome game of chess the two are in. 

Daniel Hillyard and Dave Stewart create such a great-looking comic that even the fountain of blood that emerges from one attack is beautiful. You won't find a comic that's more cleanly designed, penciled, and colored. It's almost too clean for the subject matter. The juxtaposition between the art and the violence is part of the appeal of this black horror-comedy. 

'Vinyl' #2 stages the first battle between Walter and Madeleine in the attempt to save Dennis. If you don't think a team of serial killers on a rescue mission could be fun and disgusting at the same time, think again.