Alice Cooper discovers just how chaotic the Chaos! Universe can truly be, as he faces off against the horrific monsters of his own mind. Meanwhile, the Chosen tangle with a monstrous tree, while Evil Ernie is the prisoner of an even more evil pharmaceutical company! Can the unlikely alliances of Alice Cooper, the dream witch Vex, and the vampire assassin Chastity escape from a twisted nightmare realm and stop the badder guys from beating the bad guys?

Alice Cooper vs Chaos #5 takes a shift from the world of nightmares to reality, or at least what passes for reality even if it is filled with creatures from the world of nightmares. With the change of setting, comes a change of focus in the story. However like the previous issues, there is plenty of bouncing around character wise as Evil Ernie and his crew fight back against Hel. As that happens Voodoo Childe, Oblivia, RIP, Serendipity, and Carcass try to stop the tree golem and contain the portal that lies within. This issue reveals who the red skinned woman who is featured on each of the five covers so far.

The art work by Jim Terry continues to impress, blending in the supernatural aspects, as well as the aspects of the real world.  Of course the panels about midway through or so, where Smiley explores Ceutotech Pharmaceuticals. Even the large “body farm,” where a sinister orange rooted tree is plunged into the minds of those at the body farm is extremely well done. The origin of the tree is unknown, but I doubt it can be good given the color scheme of the tree and its location.

Story: Tim Seeley, Jim Terry Art: Jim Terry
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Dynamite Entertainment provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

The Chosen are on the run from a monster tree, Evil Ernie and Purgatori are guinea pigs for a pharmaceutical company, and Alice Cooper is trapped in a horrific asylum by a familiar enemy! How does the old saying go? “It’s always darkest before the dusk”?

Unlike the previous three issues of Alice Cooper vs Chaos! where the book is almost balanced in reality, or the world of nightmares. This issue takes almost entirely in the world of nightmares, excluding a few panels. The story takes place in the strange home/palace concept that is home to the things that used to scare his younger-self growing up. The comic is clearly influenced by old horror comics and movies. That influence and homage comes off as a fitting tribute to the older horror comics and movies of the 50’s and 60’s.

In a similar fashion to the other issues, the artwork is superb. I wish I could show you a panel of the “Nightmare version,” of Alice Cooper. There is something almost ringmaster in appearance, with a slight hint of Victorian dress. If you look at the monsters close, you may recognize the artist doing his best to recreate famous movie monsters. Including one that isn’t in a movie, but is an extremely well known as a literary horror, and cosmic being.

Story: Tim Seeley, Jim Terry Art: Jim Terry
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall Rating: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Dynamite Entertainment provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

The Chosen are in hot pursuit of…a giant evil walking tree? Meanwhile, Ernie and Purgatori are “guests” of the maker of “Mr. Nice Guy” happy pills, and Alice Cooper must venture into the world of nightmares, without his powers!

Alice Cooper VS. Chaos #3 contines where the last one left off, the creatures that exist only in nightmares have come to earth through a “living” tree. This is issue defiantly tunes up the pace, as the world of nightmares fully collide with reality. Of course the events humble him some, as he realizes it his fault. The question is does the humbling continue, or does that cause him to become impotent in his powers.

The color scheme is starting to lose its balance as Alice, Vex, and Chasity enter the dark world of nightmares. In contrast reality seems to get darker, and more intense as the ones left behind try to defend reality from the inhabitants of nightmare.

I have started to notice that the cover of all three issues, have two things in common. One of them being Alice. While the other is the odd red skinned demon women, who is usually lurking in the background. If that is artists, and writers hinting at something, is unknown to me, but I’m curious to find out.

Story: Tim Seeley, Jim Terry Art: Jim Terry
Story: 8.5 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

Dynamite Entertainment provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review