Friday the 13th: Bad Land #2
Friday the 13th: Bad Land #2
Written by Ron Marz
Art by Mike Huddleston
Released: February 2008
Publisher: Wildstorm Publishing
Story: Bad Land Part 2
Premise: Wildstorm Publishing continues their “House of Horror” titles based on New Line Cinema characters. Friday the 13th: Bad Land is a two issue mini-series featuring a short story about Jason Voorhees and the violent past of Crystal Lake.
Plot Breakdown (spoilers): In the past, one of the fur trappers panics about the wounded Indian man, repeating “bad place, bad place,” and flees into the woods. The remaining two trappers argue over going after their colleague, and after some sharp exchanges, one of them leaves the tipi in pursuit. In the present, Philip sets out into the woods to walk off his anger over Diane and Jeremy’s relationship. Diane, thinking him foolish, pleads for Jeremy to go after him and bring him back. Jeremy sets off after Philip, only to run into Jason Voorhees. Jason decapitates him with swift efficiency. Back at the tipi, the remaining trapper dismisses his colleagues’ worries, only to be killed by the wounded Indian’s tomahawk. Diane, worried about Philip, is surprised when he returns to the cabin. Distraught after finding Jeremy’s body, he begins to barricade the cabin against possible intruders. Philip explains the situation to Diane, only to be killed by the unstoppable Jason. Jason then moves in on Diane for the kill, but she manages to escape into the woods. In the past, the following fur trapper comes across a clearing and finds his colleague severely wounded, still muttering, “bad place.” While the wounded trapper finally dies from his wounds, the Indian surprises his new target and kills him. In the present, Jason continues to track Diane, eventually catching up to her. Hopelessly trapped, she mutters, “this is a bad place, bad place” as Jason delivers the killing blow. Afterward, he drags her body into the icy lake and joins her in the watery grave. Jason’s actions mirror the wounded Indian, who in the past, dragged his dead mate and child into lake and joined them in their icy resting place.
The Good: An adequate resolution to last issue’s setup. The time shifting is still a welcomed change, as are the story parallels between characters. Whereas last issue focused on character buildup, this issue focuses on action – lots of it. Gore fans will especially enjoy the bloody attacks and gruesome ways the victims meet their ends.
The Bad: The story, now complete, is basic filler. Nothing new is really introduced, or makes you think of Jason differently. The setup for this story builds upon Wildstorm’s Friday the 13th six issue series, where Crystal Lake’s bloody past is mentioned. Unfortunately, nothing here warrants expanding the concept further. The artwork also suffers a little this issue, as Jason and the trappers are sometimes drawn in strange perspectives.
Final Comments: An acceptable resolution to this two part story, with solid dialogue and semisolid artwork. Unfortunately, being a filler story, it offers nothing of substance.
Grade: C
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