The Demon
Chad Burdette
Recap
The world is infested with a darkness it cannot see. Beasts from Hell feast on humanity’s soul. Enter: Jason Blood. A man alive too long. Witness to centuries of Hell’s victories. A wanderer with a shattered mind and a split soul.
Comic Watch Next Level Reviews:
Next Level: One Shot #1
Legion of Super-Heroes
Doom Patrol
Teen Titans
Batwoman
- Batwoman #1: The Devil Inside
- Batwoman #2: The Streets Run Red With Bats
- Batwoman #7: A Dark Mission
Deathstroke: The Terminator
- Deathstroke: The Terminator #1: Next Level, Next Contract
- Deathstroke: The Terminator #2: Hunt or be Hunted
- Deathstroke: The Terminator #3: Dead to Rights
- Deathstroke: The Terminator #4: Sins of the Father
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- Lobo #2 ; Lights , Camera, LOBO!
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- Lobo #4 – How The Main Man Got His Groove Back
- Lobo #5 – Back In The Saddle With A License To Lobo
Barbara Gordon: Breakout
- Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1: Orange is the new Bat
- Barbara Gordon: Breakout #2: Despite All My Rage, I Am Still Just a Bat in a Cage
- Barbara Gordon: Breakout #3: Do (Not) Fear the Reaper
- Barbara Gordon: Breakout #4: I Think We’ve Seen This Already
- Barbara Gordon: Breakout #5: Locked Up but Not Locked In
The Deadman
- The Deadman #1- Wake Me Up Inside Bring Me To (UnLife)
- The Deadman #2: Take A Look…It’s In A Book
Zatanna
- Zatanna #1: Prime Magus To The Stage!
- Zatanna #2: The Magic of the Muse
- Zatanna #3: ID NAM NI KCALB
- Zatanna #4: I’ve Got Stories To Tell
- Zatanna #5: All That’s Hidden Is Not Safe
Superstar writer/artist James Harren creates a brand-new epic starring the mightiest demon of them all!
A haunted Jason Blood walks the edge of Hell as a familiar fire stirs beneath his skin. As the world slips toward shadow, something ancient strains to rise again
Review
The Demon #2 continues the slow-burn following the cursed Jason Blood and his struggle to contain The Demon Etigran and setting the status quo, post-DC K.O. and his cameo in the Deadshot Next Level teaser oneshot.
In the first issue, Harren established Jason as a vagrant, living in the streets of Gotham City and dealing with his demonic alter ego, the return of the villainess Morgan LeFay, who has been stealing the magic of a severely de-aged Merlin. However, LeFay’s number seems to have been punched as Etigran’s brother has been pulling the strings, disposing her, claiming that she is in fact the one hiding Etigran from him.
Issue #2 begins with a flashback to the days of Camelot, when Blood was an Acolyte of Merlin protecting the Kingdom, as a vigilante, following Merlyn’s disappearance and after the reign of King Arthur.
Back in the present, the now-released Etigran faces his brother, who reveals their family is larger than originally thought, and they are all looking to take Etigran.
Harren does a good job of bringing the weird fantasy to the page with both the story and art, as the color work from Stewart and lettering by Clayton Cowles are the cherry on top of the sundae, which makes this comic fire on all cylinders. The issue is well-paced, giving equal time to both events in the present and filling in Jason’s backstory, building the larger story themes, and growing the supernatural aspects of the issue. The expansion of Etigran’s family unit is a solid direction, and the idea that they are gunning for him is a nice direction for this Next Level story to take.
Final Thoughts
The Demon #2 continues the slow burn that began in the first issue, balancing present-day events with backstory that will connect to the series' larger story and making it a must "Top Of The Stack" read for the week.
The Demon
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10
