Comics Review: The Army of Darkness 1979 #5 Ends the Series with a Battle Royale

THE ARMY OF DARKNESS 1979 VOLUME 1 #5
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Edu Menna
COLORS: Dinei Ribero
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
EDITOR: Joe Rybandt
COVER: Francesco Mattina
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Arthur Suydam; Junggeun Yoon; Stuart Sayger; Ken Haeser; Francesco Mattina
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2022)

Rated Teen+

Army of Darkness is a 1992 comic horror film and the third film in the Evil Dead film franchise.  The film focuses on the series' lead character, Ash Williams (portrayed by actor Bruce Campbell), as he is trapped in the Middle Ages and battling an army of undead warriors.

In 1992, Dark Horse Comics released a three-issue adaptation of Army of Darkness, and in 2004, Dynamite Entertainment acquired the rights to produce comics based on the Army of Darkness film, featuring Ash as the main character.

The most recent Army of Darkness comic book in the Dynamite catalog is The Army of Darkness 1979.  It is written by Rodney Barnes; drawn by Tom Garcia and Edu Menna; colored by Dinei Ribero; and lettered by Troy Peteri.  In the new series, Ash Williams finds himself in late 1970s New York City.  Not only is he fighting his usual adversaries, the Deadites and the Necronomicon, but he is also caught in a turf war between rival street gangs.

The Army of Darkness 1979 Volume 1 #5 opens with Ash reminiscing.  Of course, it ends badly.  Back to reality:  Ash is now the leader of “The Half Deads,” and he's leading them against “The Warlocks.”  The problem is that Bishop, leader of The Walocks, is in possession of the Necronomicon … and former leader of The Half Deads, Lilith, is now Bishop's arm candy.

So now, it will take a battle royale of all the gangs of New York to stop Bishop and The Warlocks.  Can Ash lead them against an invasion of Deadites?  Can Lilith stay true … to someone?

THE LOWDOWN:  In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is The Army of Darkness 1979 Volume 1 #5, which is the fifth Dynamite Entertainment Army of Darkness comic book I have read.

Writer Rodney Barnes brings The Army of Darkness 1979 to a rousing conclusion.  It's his best issue of the series; not only is the action good, but issue #5 is the funniest.  Edu Menna also turns in the series' best art, topped by Dinei Ribero's hot colors.  It's all under a … dynamite Francesco Mattina cover.

When I finished reading Army of Darkness 1979 Volume 1 #1, I didn't think I want more when I finished the final issue.  But Yes! to more Rodney Barnes Army of Darkness, I say.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Army of Darkness comic books and of the franchise, in general, will want to read The Army of Darkness 1979.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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