On Friday the 31st, Cassie Hack met Chucky.

You know Chucky. Even if you, like me, never saw his series of horror films, you know who that walking, talking, stabbing and strangling red-headed doll is, right? He's just the right kind of fodder for Cassie Hack, slayer of slashers, but in this edition of Hack/Slash, Cassie needs Chucky's help.

A spiteful villainous from Cassie's past is back -- no surprise there, as slashers tend to come back from the dead whenever a sequel is needed -- but, badly burned and in incredible agony, she's found a way to switch bodies with Cassie's erstwhile sidekick, Vlad. And she used Chucky's amulet, a handy thing when bodies need switching, to do the job.

Now Cassie, Chucky and Vlad-as-girl are on the trail of Laura Lochs, who wants revenge in the worst way. It's fun, it's entertaining, it's oh-so gory and, with artist Matt Merhoff handling the pencils, it's visually appealing, too. There have been a few weak spots in past Hack/Slash arcs, but Merhoff's work is top-notch all the way.

This volume also includes issues 1-4 of the Hack/Slash ongoing series. The first one-shot tale features Cassie's capture by one of the maniac's she pursues -- this one, lacking skin over his oozing muscles, removes two of her toes during torture -- while filling in some of her background, including the Lunch Lady murders that spawned her, during several flashback sequences. The second three-part story involves a metal band that has, quite literally, sold its souls (and those of any fans they can lure into their trap -- to Hell in exchange for fame. You'll never guess what aging rock star is the power broker in this scenario. Oh, and it turns out to be vitally important that Vlad loses his virginity before time runs out.