Bunn and Hurtt finish up The Damned here (for now). Apparently, Prodigal Sons was nothing but a bridging series to the next storyline, where the demons are at war once more. This series, in some ways, serves its goals—it introduces Eddie’s brother, it introduces Eddie’s parents, it explores the underworld.

It’s also a complete and utter waste of time. This issue, in particular, is pointless. It’s action scenes punctuated with hints at some further secret, undoubtedly to be revealed in a subsequent series.

The problem’s Bunn’s handling of such an inconsequential followup. Instead of just doing a nice standalone sequel, he brings in all sorts of contrived elements. I mean, the demon girl is scary—but where’s her mom? Where are the other demon girls? And how interesting is the story behind Morgan’s tattoos?

These questions may go forever unanswered, but Prodigal Sons doesn’t make me care about them.

And here’s where The Damned falls apart. The entire first series, it was implied if not directly stated people knew the demons lived among them. This issue establishes people do not. Only a select few (namely, all the humans in the first series). Why they don’t tell other people? Bunn doesn’t explain.

This issue is full of action. It’s so full of action, it’s the first time I’ve seen Hurtt get a little light on the facial details. The entire issue feels perfunctory, like Bunn and Hurtt agreed to do Prodigal Sons then realized they didn’t want to do it anymore.

What’s so funny about the issue is how little happens. Eddie travels the underworld or wherever while Morgan fights demons. Morgan doesn’t do anything else, doesn’t get a character, he just fights demons.

I remember this series being a real disappointment, but I’d forgotten just how much of one.

I’m not sure when Bunn and Hurtt came up with the idea for Prodigal Sons, but it seems like it was during the last issue of the first Damned series.

Here, Eddie’s not the protagonist. Instead, it’s his brother (Morgan, I think). And we find out Eddie was always cursed, ever since he was a little kid. Sins of the father it turns out.

Bunn’s story explores a little of Eddie’s past, but mostly it’s just one surprise after the other (the demon and Eddie’s father, the demon’s daughter eating a dove, Eddie killing himself, the singer at the club about to touch him). There’s no thought to the pacing.

There’s very little story here. The first series had all sorts of layers. This issue suggests there will be none in the sequel.

Hurtt’s art is still fantastic… even if he isn’t illustrating as engaging of a script this time.