REVIEW: 'Drive Like Hell' #1 by Rich Douek and Alex Cormack

 

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DRIVE LIKE HELL #1 

Writer: Rich Douek

Artist: Alex Cormack

Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Release Date: October 25, 2023

Cover Price: $3.99

Bobby Ray had it made. One last big job, then it was splitsville, set for life with his girl by his side! Then everything went wrong, and poor Dahlia took a bullet to the brain as they made their escape. Thing is, dear Dahlia didn't stay dead. Now Bobby's found himself plunged into a battle of otherworldly proportions, and if he wants to get out of dodge with his skin intact, he's gonna have to Drive Like Hell!

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

QUICK REVIEW: Some comics will be described by their publishers as "hardcore," "rock n roll," or "punk rock."Usually, the comic turns out to be fine and good but I'd hardly describe it as innovative or rebellious as punk rock. Dark Horse's 'Drive Like Hell' by Rich Douek and Alex Cormack wasn't marketed that way but it certainly could have. It is a relentless blistering action crime drama with a visceral adrenaline rush that keeps readers on their toes. You can almost hear the heavy metal soundtrack blaring in your mind as you read it. It's about stealing a car from the wrong guy to do a heist that goes sideways and the getaway that puts 'The Fast and the Furious' to shame. Douek combines these different genres including the supernatural in one big bombastic adventure that recalls the works of Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, and Sam Raimi. The story bounces back and forth in time to remix the events to provide background as things ratchet up in intensity. With a menacing villain and irreverent characters, there's never a dull moment. Cormack's visuals are dark and brooding but set in fast forward. The car chases have great choreography and a build-up that is jaw-dropping. The creative team goes all-out with this Faustian 'Smokey and the Bandit.'