If you haven't, then read it and make yourself understand. "Hack/Slash - Omnibus 1" will be a wonderful little crash course for people wanting to indulge in some ass kicking, self-referential, slasher madness by creator Tim Seeley, and it makes good on its promises on the front page to give you your money's worth. Though the series has been up and running for months now (with no sign of running out of ideas any time soon), this is a compilation of all the Hack/Slash graphic novels leading into other series, and eventually the monthly comic series that will likely be included in Volume 2. I look forward to that. What you'll find it a paper back compendium of Hack's early adventures, along with some excellent little extra features that will get your goat and make you glad you parted with your money. No seriously, I'm not trying to shill here folks, it's worth the money, damn it.

Hack/Slash: Euthanized is a dazzling introduction into the universe Seeley paves on to the comic page with a great introduction into the origin of Cassandra Hack who came from slasher roots due to her horrific childhood of bullying and torture at her school, which led to her inevitable mission to stop all slashers. Here, there's also the story of how Cassie met Vlad and the interesting story of a local veterinarian reviving dead animals at a shelter and turning them into rabid monsters. Cassie and Vlad also meet Lisa, a local vet who'd go on to live in the "Hack/Slash" Series as a recurring character. Euthanized is as dark and gritty as a premiere comic of this ilk should be, and Seeley hits all the right notes featuring some fantastic art work by Stefano Caselli, and a genuinely darkly comical horror tale explaining what the difference between a "Slasher" and "Serial killer" is, thanks to Seeley's wonderful satire and love letter to the sub-genre. Cassie and Vlad are in full force here as well, with some incredible splashes, and taut writing that extrapolate the brother and sister connection the two share as lost souls.

Girls Gone Dead is the prime satirical take on the slasher genre that grants it as the stand out in the compilation. Seeley handles many potential sub-plots and recurring threads here setting the stage for the ongoing struggles with Cassie and her sexuality, the villainess Laura, and Vlad's devotion to Cassie. While lighter in tone, it's one of the wittier entries in the Hack/Slash gamut that feature Cassie and Vlad on the hunt for a killer mutilating sexually adventurous young girls on spring break. This is our introduction to one of the more original slashers of the mythos: Father Wrath, an undead priest sent to destroy the seductive teens having pre-marital sex, and his psychotic conjurer Laura, a Christian girl prone to unleashing Wrath against her better judgment. Seeley extrapolates the inner child and conflict in Cassie here showing her incredible social insecurity when forced to go undercover during a party, which leads to an awfully surprising moment of drug induced pleasure. Vlad is also shown as the constant protector to Cassie, always guiding her away from potential death, and ending on a definite question mark leading again into the monthly series. The art by Federica Manfredi has never looked more dazzling.

Comic Book Carnage is one of the most twisted and hilarious of the bunch with a heavy dose of self-referential humor, and sharp wit that not only satirizes the comic book fandom, but is never afraid to jump out of the confines of the comic universe to acknowledge the inherent silliness of comic book fanaticism. Cassie and Vlad are investigating a series of mysterious mutilations occurring on the cusp of a major comic convention that involves a controversy on the re-invention of a classic superhero by the collective forces of some comic book heavyweights. There are hysterical appearances by (and gruesome deaths of) Steve Niles, Robert Kirkman, Skottie Young, and Messy Stench who are never afraid to spoof themselves in the process of the horrific madness that involves a mad comic geek and an apparent "growth." Among the highlights are the romantic sub-plot between Cassie and Skottie, and Cassie flexing her innate ability to disguise herself and blend in to any crowds. And upon Kirkman being violently murdered in front of a crowd of convention goers, they stand in awe wondering "Is this a "The Walking Dead" publicity stunt?"

Hack/Slash vs. Evil Ernie is a stern sequel and Cassie's first real clashing with a horror heavyweight. Evil Ernie is of course the essential horror comic villain and a sentient being who has taken a liking to Cassie, and who can blame him? The art by Aadi Salman offers a departure from the more fluid style we're used to in the prior graphic novels, and for good reason. This is more Evil Ernie's book than Cassie's, but there's a wonderful romantic backdrop that serves as a catalyst for Ernie's wrath after his reincarnation, and Vlad is almost powerless to stop it. After an introduction into Ernie's back story for newcomers, he happens upon Cassie accidentally after searching for a new love. He's tired of his old undead lover Ophelia, and now seeks a new concubine for his evil palace with the help of Smiley. After an attack gone awry, Ernie reads Cassie's mind and feels her desperation for love, and gains a connection and passion for her, leading into an incredible exchange of kindred spirits, and his anxious attempts to sway and seduce her into being his bride. The head games add a very good insight into Cassie's psyche leading to her first death, and makes this one of the best graphic novels of the bunch.

Land of Lost Toys gets a thumbs down mainly for the wild art work by Dave Crosland, and the sub-par story. Sure, we're introduced to toy collector and rabid fan boy Dan, who would go on to be a recurring character in the series, but there's not too much to the graphic novel that I was able to take away with. Crosland's art is rather unflattering to the the overall tension and suspense of the story, and the character designs just didn't agree with me; he's not a horrible artist, but his style just doesn't suit the tone of "Hack/Slash," for me. Ashley Guthrie is our resident demonic specter who from birth was an evil and sadistic bastard who tortured animals and garnered a collection of toys. His life after death granted him control over dreams and of toys. Thus, a pretty cliché little villain is born and again turns the graphic novel into a basically forgettable little sequel that didn't add too much forward progression into the mythos, even if it does get credit for a back story on Vlad, and his love for toys.

Trailers is just an outright balls to the wall blast of vignettes, outlandish scenarios, and apparent tinkering with potential ideas for Cassie and Vlad. "Blood and Nuts" involves a certain scarred villain turning Vlad's favorite comic character Chippy Chipmunk into a slasher, "Cassie & Vlad vs. Knife: Otai" is a potential adventure featuring the duo in China against two skilled slashers, there's the "trailer" to "Tub Club" the blood soaked lesbian orgy involving Cassie's apparent sexual awakening, Cassie and Vlad in space? Well, it happens in "Orbituary," a killer is hunting celebrities, now Vlad and Cassie must become celebrities in "Dead Celebrities"! Sans the repetition. And there's of course "Once Bitten," involving a slasher--shark? Bwah?

Just when I thought I read it all, and then some, there's Slashing Through the Snow, an astounding vignette and "Hack/Slash" adventure that implements the nursery rhyme method of "T'was the Night Before Christmas" and adds a horror twist, featuring Vlad and Cassie taking on a wannabe slasher named Rudolph with a pair of antlers on his hands for weapons. It's a hilarious interlude only three pages long, and worth its weight in gold thanks to the memorable rhyming, and sharp illustrations, even if the red wording are nearly impossible to read at times. Damn my retinas are burnt!

And then there's Slice Hard. It's another of the "Hack/Slash" graphic novel series I haven't read. Damn it. I thought I read them all, but I didn't, and that saddens me. Slice Hard is the introduction of our recurring villainess, a certain beauty pageant contestant who'd make Cassie's life much more difficult in the future, and there's also the return of Ashley who returns in the form of a not so cute teddy bear. Slice Hard is likely the least favorite of the bunch. I not only think the new incarnation of Ashley is a complete derivation of Chucky, in spite of the attempted foreshadowing, but the writing reads more like terrible fan fiction than actual Seeley. The writing is laden with "fuck" on every other word, everyone is spastic and erratic, and even Vlad acts out of character. The premise is even rushed, in spite of the great potential it bears. There's a corporation storing a gallery of slashers in cells, attempting to learn about their regenerative powers, and Ashley now as a teddy bear, unleashes them, leaving Vlad and Cassie to fend for themselves. It's all potentially great, but fails thanks to the rushed story and lack of character focus. It does redeem itself with the last four pages making the best out of Ashley, and featuring an all out slasher royale. I just wish it had a better focus.

Last, but not completely least is, yes, here it comes: Hack/Slash vs. Chucky! Apparently Cassie and Chucky have met before, and she even knows who he was before his transference into the doll, and we're also given a logical explanation why people fear Chucky! He has the strength of a normal man heightened slightly by that magical spell of his, and Chucky is out for blood after our favorite god fearing maniac Laura returns to assemble Chucky and gain his knowledge of the transference spell. After a bust goes awry, she overpowers Vlad and switches bodies with him. Now Laura has Vlad's towering physique and Vlad is stuck in Laura's wounded weak vessel. Now Chucky wants his damn jewel back and engages in a game of cat and mouse, back stabbing at every turn, and some witty dialogue that convinces us Cassie and Chucky truly hate each other. Personally, Chucky's always been a lame character, but this guest spot allows for some fantastic moments making the doll into a horrific slasher, and opens the door the "Chucky" series that premiered shortly after on the Devil's Due label. If you have to go out, go out on a bang, and the compilation does so by giving you enough back story to dive into the monthly series, and show you where and why the series started in the first place.

As for the extras, there's a fourteen page "Cover Gallery" featuring all the variants, and alternates to the first wave of "Hack/Slash" graphic novels. From photorealistic to splashes, to actual photos, the gallery is fantastic and will inspire some to hack the book up to hang each picture. And how can anyone not love the "Pin Up Gallery"? For geeky fan boys hopelessly in love with Cassie, you'd best bring your towels to sop up the saliva. There are fifteen pin-ups to feast on with Cassie modeling for the art brush, Cassie and Vlad posing for the camera, and Cassie and Vlad just rumbling with some slasher freaks. My favorite is the pin up by Karim Whalem and Zash Howard who pair the duo with a certain cross dressing, knife wielding, motel owner. Wink Wink.

What art aficionados will really enjoy is the "Hack/Slash" sketchbook which shows the progression of the Cassie and Vlad character designs and some of Seeley's personal favorite depictions of Cassie. Seeley shows how series regular Emily Stone instantly clicked with the style of Cassie and Vlad (she's my personal favorite of the Hack/Slash books), and how Cassie was going to be named Andrea at one point. There's also the story of Seeley's involvement with model Sandra Kammerer, and the eventual stage play of the comic. But I won't give it all away. There's also a comprehensive list of the slashers featured in the omnibus with stats, back story, and Seeley's own commentary on them.

There's not too much left to say. You can get it. You will love it. It's worth it. Hack/Slash, bitch.