The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Grind #2
Written by Brian Pulido
Art by Daniel HDR
Released: 2006
Publisher: Avatar Press
Premise: In 2005, Avatar Press began releasing titles from New Line Cinema’s “House of Horror” license, which includes A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and Platinum Dune’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Picking up after the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Special, Avatar began publishing the three issue mini-series: The Grind.
Leatherface lives on! Writer Brian Pulido returns to unleash more psychological terror now teaming with sensational new artist Daniel HDR. Fuller Texas. Summer 1972. The Jefferson Girl’s Choir is traveling across the state for a revival meeting and makes the horrible mistake of a stop at the Hewitt family General store. They enter a horrifying world of madness and depravity that their bible-fearing beliefs couldn’t prepare them for as Leatherface, Sheriff Hoyt, Old Monty, Luda May and the entire Hewitt clan hunt them down and torture them. Can any of them survive or will they be the new masks of Leatherface?
Plot Breakdown (spoilers): Sheriff Hoyt questions the remaining choir girls on who is next to meet Leatherface. Julie Ann volunteers, and stabs Hoyt in the hand with the pen she was using earlier, knocking him down in the process. She and one of the other girls, Rosa, escape the Blair Meat facility and into the woods, with Leatherface close behind. The two other girls, Sadie and Marsha, are held at gun point by the staggering Hoyt. While running through the woods, Julie Ann and Rosa notice Ellie being taken into the Tea Lady’s trailer. With Leatherface soon upon them, the two escapees continue to run until Rosa is caught by a bear trap. Julie Ann tries to free her, but is forced to hide when Leatherface arrives. Leatherface murders Rosa with swift diligence and takes her body back to the Hewitt house, where he makes a mask out of her face. Meanwhile, Hoyt has arrived back at the Hewitt home with Sadie and Marsha. Chaining them up in the backyard, he motions to kill Sadie, but is interrupted by Leatherface showing off his new “face”. Disgusted, Hoyt berates Thomas on wanting to wear a girl’s face, which angers Luda May, who then orders them both inside the house. After Hoyt and Leatherface go inside, Julie Ann appears and rescues the two captives. The three girls manage to escape and take refuge in a nearby barn, where they discuss why these events are happening to them. During the discussion, Sadie reveals Julie Ann’s criminal record is true, a result of saving Sadie from the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of their father. Just as Sadie apologizes for her rude behavior earlier, Leatherface bursts in with his chainsaw at the ready.
The Good: The chase is on here, with a lot of action and panel time given to Leatherface himself – showing Leatherface making his mask from the victim’s face was an excellent homage to the 2003 film. There are a few “real life” moments here, especially Julie Ann’s choice to hide while Rosa is killed, her anguish afterward, and the girls wetting themselves in the back of Hoyt’s car. All of these little touches put an authentic spin on the characters’ horrific situation. The pacing continues to be solid here, as does the artwork. Dialogue between the characters flows easily, and Sadie’s backstory doesn’t come across as forced exposition.
The Bad: Not much with this issue, however, the artwork does take liberties with the girls’ figures. Julie Ann is illustrated too mature for her assumed age, with a body type that very few real teenage girls have. The rest of the girls are illustrated in a similar way, and it would have been more realistic to have their body types vary. Also, gore fans will no doubt be disappointed, as most of the blood and violence happens off panel. Again, multiple covers released for this issue, and it is clear Avatar is stuck in the mid 90’s, when this practice was acceptable.
Final Comments: A major step up from last issue, with more action and a feeling of empathy for the characters’ situation. Gore fans might be disappointed in the lack of blood and visual violence.
Grade: B+
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