Trudy and Gabby have managed to quell the supernatural horrors plaguing their ranch - but here comes Trudy’s god-fearing ex-military fascistic father Joseph and his sadistic goons to drag back his long-lost daughter from her wicked ways! Ah yes, what’s more horrifying than ghosts and monsters? Intolerant, overbearing religious zealots.
The second and final volume of Kyle Starks and Artyom Topilin’s short-lived series is a disappointing closer to a very strong first book. This title mixes both horror and sci-fi liberally, which wasn’t a huge problem in the first volume, but the balance is way off in this second book so the sci-fi overwhelms what little horror there is - and it’s not good sci-fi either, it’s all overused tropes.
The opening chapter is good with Joseph and his goons tracking down Trudy and Gabby. The series shines when the scale of the story and stakes are both relatively small. I also don’t mind not explaining the supernatural elements - they can simply be just ghosts, etc. because that’s the kind of story being told.
And then Kyle Starks goes and spoils it all
Things get wrapped up too conveniently and then it’s all over. A very underwhelming and uninteresting final book.
Lee Loughridge’s consistently fantastic and eye-catching colours remain one of the highlights of this title and the opening act of the story is entertaining, but unfortunately the story becomes a convoluted mish-mash of hackneyed tropes and dull, predictable action.
I still recommend the first volume of the series - it’s a fun, fresh and compelling horror comic - but, if you’re gonna pick this one up, don’t expect the same high level of quality in I Hate This Place, Volume 2.
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