House of Horror

Friday the 13th: Bad Land #1
Written by Ron Marz
Art by Mike Huddleston
Released: January 2008
Publisher: Wildstorm Publishing
Story: Bad Land Part 1

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 early 1800s, a raging blizzard blankets the land, forcing three fur trappers to take shelter in a lone tipi in the middle of the woods. In the present, a raging blizzard blankets the land, forcing three hikers to take shelter in a lone cabin where the tipi once stood, now part of Camp Crystal Lake. Within the tipi, the three trappers find an Indian woman nursing her baby. Afraid, she keeps to one side of the tipi, while the men take refuge on the other side, eating the fish roasting on the tipi’s spit. In the cabin, the three hikers, Diane, Jeremy, and Philip, make a fire and find cans of tuna in the cupboards. Philip has a crush on Diane, but she sidesteps his advances. Later, Diane and Jeremy retire to the bedroom, leaving Philip asleep in the living room. While the two covert lovers consummate, Diane notices a hockey masked figure watching them through the window. In a panic, she screams, waking Philip. In the tipi, two of the trappers, now “hungry for something else,” attack the Indian woman and rape her. Afterwards, while she tends to her baby, one of the trappers notices her reaching under a blanket. Thinking she has a weapon, he shoots and kills her and the baby. While the men argue over the killing, the woman’s mate enters the tipi and finds the bodies of the woman and child. Enraged, he attacks the trappers, only to be shot in the face. The man, now wounded, escapes into the woods, while the trappers debate following him. In the cabin, the three hikers debate what Diane saw. Philip, hurt over her interest in Jeremy, leaves the two to “finish what they started.” Unbeknownst to the hikers however, Jason Voorhees is waiting in the woods, paralleling the wounded Indian man waiting to strike back at the trappers.
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Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #4
Written by James Kuhoric
Art by Jason Craig
Based on the treatment written by Jeff Katz

Premise: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash was originally the proposed sequel to the hit film Freddy vs. Jason. Jeff Katz, formerly of New Line Cinema, wrote the original treatment in late 2003 for the Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash project. This treatment added the character of Ashley (Ash) Williams from the Evil Dead film series; giving audiences an already established hero to take on the two villains. Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash was New Line’s best idea on how to continue the Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises, but Sam Raimi (Evil Dead writer/director) decided to not let New Line use Ash in the planned sequel. Due to an agreement could not be reached between the different camps concerning the use of the Ash character, Wildstorm Publishing and Dynamite Entertainment came together to release the sequel as a comic book limited series titled: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash. The first issue (of six) was released in November 2007, with subsequent issues released monthly.

Plot Breakdown (spoilers): Ash, thinking he is back at the cabin from Evil Dead, strikes out to find the chainsaw in the cabin’s shed. Once found, he cuts off his Freddy infected hand. As he sits and gloats about defeating the Deadites at their own game, he suddenly remembers he has done this before and must be dreaming. As he comes to this conclusion, Freddy Krueger makes himself known. He explains to Ash that he will be keeping the Necronomicon, and unveils a shelf full of Freddy infected hands waiting to strike out at Ash. Before the hands attack him, Ash uses the barrel of his recently used shotgun to trigger himself awake. When he awakens, he finds a burn mark on the wrist where the barrel touched him. Ash, piecing together what happens in the dream happens in real life, wakes the kids before Freddy can get to them. Unfortunately, he is too late for one of the teens, as the kid’s sleeping body is crushed by Krueger. Freddy, proud of his recent kill, returns to Jason’s subconscious and orders Jason to find and kill Ash. Meanwhile, Ash, Caroline, and the few surviving teens plan to take back the Necronomicon; Ash believes he can use its passages to eliminate both Freddy and Jason. After breaking into the S-Mart for supplies, the group returns to the old Voorhees house for the book. Ash, now carrying an upgraded chainsaw, ventures into the house, while the kids stay outside and try to lure Jason out of hiding and into an explosive trap. The kids manage to get Jason’s attention, but he doesn’t fall for their ploy – his new intelligence at work. While the kids confront Jason, Ash finds the book (again) in the basement of the house. As he reaches to collect the book, Freddy comes up from behind and stabs him in the shoulder. Freddy, standing over the wounded Ash, explains he has read enough of the Necronomicon to take dominion over reality, to bring nightmares to the waking world. As Ash tries to escape, Freddy summons the Freddy hands from Ash’s dream and uses them to pin Ash against the wall. While the energies of the Necronomicon flow around Krueger, Jason senses something is wrong and breaks onto the scene looking to stop Freddy. Freddy, in retaliation, summons the ghosts of Jason’s victims to rise up and destroy him.
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Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #3
Written by James Kuhoric
Art by Jason Craig
Cover by Eric Powell
Based on the treatment written by Jeff Katz

Premise: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash was originally the proposed sequel to the hit film Freddy vs. Jason. Jeff Katz, formerly of New Line Cinema, wrote the original treatment in late 2003 for the Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash project. This treatment added the character of Ashley (Ash) Williams from the Evil Dead film series; giving audiences an already established hero to take on the two villains. Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash was New Line’s best idea on how to continue the Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises, but Sam Raimi (Evil Dead writer/director) decided to not let New Line use Ash in the planned sequel. Due to an agreement could not be reached between the different camps concerning the use of the Ash character, Wildstorm Publishing and Dynamite Entertainment came together to release the sequel as a comic book limited series titled: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash. The first issue (of six) was released in November 2007, with subsequent issues released monthly.

Plot Breakdown (spoilers): As Ash and Bree flee from Jason’s deadly grasp, both are saved by Caroline, who followed Ash to the Voorhees house. Ash instructs Caroline to drive them back to the S-Mart, so he can decipher the Necronomicon and come up with a plan on how to proceed. Freddy, enraged at Jason losing the book, picks (literally) through Jason’s memory and finds a brief glimpse of Ash’s S-Mart nametag. Freddy instructs Jason to go back to S-Mart and retrieve the book. Meanwhile, Ash, Bree and Caroline arrive back at S-Mart and have little time to plan before Jason walks in the store. Jason begins to slaughter customers and staff alike (ala the Freddy vs. Jason party scene), until Ash confronts him with chainsaw and shotgun in hand. The battle between the two is short, with Jason tossing Ash aside, and then later throwing him through a wall. Caroline tries to intervene, but is easily discarded. Bree, mentally unstable from the night’s horrors, tries to escape with the Necronomicon, but is quickly killed by Jason. With the Book of the Dead now in his possession, Jason leaves the scene and returns to his shrine in the woods. After arriving, he turns Freddy’s severed head toward the propped up book. In the dreamscape, Freddy is able to decipher the necessary resurrection spell and escapes from Jason’s mind, returning to reality. Now free, Freddy attempts to leave, but Jason stops him, remembering their agreement. Freddy makes good on his promise, using the book to grant Jason “some intelligence.” Later, Ash, Caroline, and the few surviving teens from the store, retreat to Caroline’s parent’s house to make a plan on how to get the book back. When the group decides to get some sleep, Ash volunteers to keep guard, only to fall asleep himself. He awakens in the cabin from Evil Dead, with his normal hand intact, only to have it mutate with Freddy’s blades.
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Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #2
Written by James Kuhoric
Art by Jason Craig
Cover by Eric Powell
Based on the treatment written by Jeff Katz

Premise: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash was originally the proposed sequel to the hit film Freddy vs. Jason. Jeff Katz, formerly of New Line Cinema, wrote the original treatment in late 2003 for the Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash project. This treatment added the character of Ashley (Ash) Williams from the Evil Dead film series; giving audiences an already established hero to take on the two villains. Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash was New Line’s best idea on how to continue the Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises, but Sam Raimi (Evil Dead writer/director) decided to not let New Line use Ash in the planned sequel. Due to an agreement could not be reached between the different camps concerning the use of the Ash character, Wildstorm Publishing and Dynamite Entertainment came together to release the sequel as a comic book limited series titled: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash. The first issue (of six) was released in November 2007, with subsequent issues released monthly.

Plot Breakdown (spoilers): As Ash walks up to the S-Mart entrance, he manages to hit on three young girls who pass him by. The manger of S-Mart meets Ash at the door, escorting him in and detailing the work that needs to be done in time for Christmas. Jason, who had been watching Ash from the nearby trees, engages the three girls Ash was hitting on and kills them. An old woman near the scene sees Jason and screams. Inside the S-Mart, the manger introduces Ash to the teenage staff in the housewares department, only to have Ash run out of the store when the scream is heard. Ash questions the old lady on what had happened, but her only response was, “Jason.” Later, after the police depart, Ash recounts his experiences with the Deadites to the teenagers. They laugh him off, thinking him old and crazy. When Ash goes on break, one of the teens named Caroline questions him further about the Deadites, and later recounts the legend of Jason Voorhees. Ash, taken back by the story, believes Jason is a Deadite and must have the Necronomicon. Meanwhile, Jason continues his way to his old house and happens upon a group of carolers. As the group begins practicing, they are quickly slaughtered by the masked murderer. Later on, as Ash’s shift is about to end, an attractive girl named Bree introduces herself and suckers him into purchasing overnight goods for her and her friends. One of the friends explains they are going to stay the night in the old Voorhees house before the city tears it down. The group leaves Ash in the dust after he loads their supplies, laughing all the way. When they arrive at the Voorhees house, the group pair off, not noticing Jason watching them from an outside window. Ash, who followed the group to the old Voorhees home, breaks into the basement and finds the Necronomicon. While Ash uncovers the Book of the Dead, Jason slays the teens upstairs, leaving Bree the only survivor. Ash, summoned upstairs by the commotion, meets up with Bree, only to have Jason bearing down on him. After a brief skirmish, which leaves Jason unfazed, Ash and Bree flee the house with Jason in pursuit.
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Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #1
Written by James Kuhoric
Art by Jason Craig
Covers by J. Scott Campbell
Based on the treatment written by Jeff Katz

Premise: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash was originally the proposed sequel to the hit film Freddy vs. Jason. Jeff Katz, formerly of New Line Cinema, wrote the original treatment in late 2003 for the Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash project. This treatment added the character of Ashley (Ash) Williams from the Evil Dead film series; giving audiences an already established hero to take on the two villains. Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash was New Line’s best idea on how to continue the Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises, but Sam Raimi (Evil Dead writer/director) decided to not let New Line use Ash in the planned sequel. Due to an agreement could not be reached between the different camps concerning the use of the Ash character, Wildstorm Publishing and Dynamite Entertainment came together to release the sequel as a comic book limited series titled: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash. The first issue (of six) was released in November 2007, with subsequent issues released monthly.

Plot Breakdown (spoilers): Five years after the events of Freddy vs. Jason, the town of Forrest Green (formerly Crystal Lake) has opened a new Super-Ultra-Mega S-Mart shopping center. It’s the Christmas season and the official town naming ceremony is planned to be part of the holiday festivities; an effort for the town to rid itself of its deadly reputation in time for the New Year. Lori and Will, the survivors from Freddy vs. Jason, return to Camp Crystal Lake for closure and confirmation that both Freddy and Jason are dead. While investigating the scene, both are dispatched by the machete wielding behemoth Jason Voorhees. Afterward, Jason delivers their bodies to his mother’s alter, which holds the severed heads of Pamela Voorhees and Freddy Krueger. Freddy, who has been trapped in Jason’s subconscious since his defeat in Freddy vs. Jason, learns of the Necronomicon ex Mortis (the Book of the Dead) from Jason’s memory. The long lost book was last seen in the old Voorhees home. Freddy manipulates Jason into getting the book, promising to make him a “real boy” if he can deliver the demonic book to Krueger. Unbeknownst to Jason however, Freddy has another agenda for the book’s knowledge. While Jason lumbers his way back to his old home, he notices the newly arrived “Housewares Domestic Engineer” walking into S-Mart: Ash. Ash, drawn by the Necronomicon, has arrived in Forrest Green to destroy the book once and for all.
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