Colourist: Frank Martin, Letterer: Travis Lanham
The first two issues of Hellhunters have been a very different kind of read than a lot of other current Marvel work. At a time where it feels like the main line is either pushing for MCU synergy, or moving from one big crossover event to the next it's nice to get a book that draws upon existing Marvel lore but is able to do it's own thing in it's own little corner. The fact that it's also a horror book set during World War Two also sets it aside as something a little special. However, the first two issues kind of didn't give readers much more than this, keeping a lot of details back and giving readers cool vibes and awesome set pieces to draw you in.
Issue three, by contrast, puts a lot of its cards on the table and gives readers some big revelations. For example, this issue we finally get a name for the monsters that our mishmash group of heroes are up against; the Unhallowed. We find out where these creatures came from, and what their plan is, as well as getting another named monster in the form of the new foe Baraphiel, a huge kaiju-sized monster that can swallow people whole. The issue balances lore drops, action, and character development well; particularly with the new team member, Bucky Barnes.
It was revealed that Bucky would be part of Hellhunters when the series was teased, but after the first two issues it was almost easy to forget that he was going to be there. The book felt like the kind of thing that could be going on during the time, sure, but it was different enough from the existing Captain America and Bucky WWII stuff that it was hard to see where the two could mesh together. This issue brings the Hellhunters to a US camp, where they try to give the commander a report that will convince him to lend them more support. They're after Captain America if they can have him, but convincing a military general that monsters from myth are taking over the war isn't easy even in the Marvel universe. The team are on their own, and may even lose Nick Fury and Peggy Carter in a week or two too, meaning that they've got little time to finish their mission.
Whilst the people in charge talk strategy, Romero runs across Bucky Barnes, the young teen 'sidekick' of Captain America. Romero, having thought that Bucky was just a publicity stunt, is shocked to learn that he's an actual soldier. I appreciate how the issue really hammers home how messed up it was that Bucky was at war, how he was literally a child soldier, and how it really messed him up even before he became the Winter Soldier. When we first see Bucky here he's crying because Dum Dum Dugan took away his collection of ear trophies he'd taken from dead Nazis. It's incredibly jarring to see this teen crying over his kill trophies having been taken off him that it makes Bucky being there so uncomfortable, to the point where you even have to question what the hell Cap was thinking having Bucky along at all.
That being said, Bucky actually brings some great energy to the team when he finally convinces them to bring him along. He's full of personality, cracking jokes, and trying to bum smokes off Fury, it marks him as very different from the older, more world weary members of the team. Plus, the full page splash of Ghost Rider Romero jumping his Harley whilst Bucky rides on the back, singing, and shooting his gun with a huge smile on his face is such a weird but wonderful moment that it makes you put your objections to Bucky being there aside so that you can just enjoy the silliness.
Gorham and Martin do a great job with the art this issue, and the just mentioned splash page is one of the best looking parts of the book, and makes for such a striking image that if Marvel don't make it into a poster they're missing a trick. But, this isn't the only good thing about the book, as the art team fill it with amazing moments. The opening page, showing us the Unhallowed, is both beautiful, and evokes the spirit of the supernatural winter that they bring in their wake thanks to the blues and purples that fill the page with ghostly light. The violence and gore are also incredibly well done, with most of the more disgusting moments being implied through clever visuals, rather than turning the book into an off putting splatter-fest.
Hellhunters has reached its halfway point, and it's a bittersweet thing as it feels like the series has really found it's feet here with the introduction of Bucky. It's sad that there's only going to be a couple more issues, but I can easily see this series being held up as one of the best pieces of both Marvel horror, and it's World War 2 catalogue.
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