Issue(s): Nightstalkers #12, Nightstalkers #13
Cover Date: Oct-Nov 93
Title: "Short Circuit"
Credits:
Steven Grant - Writer
Kirk Van Wormer & Vincent Giarrano / Kirk Van Wormer - Penciler
Bill Anderson & Vincent Giarrano / Bill Anderson - Inker
James Felder - Assistant Editor
Hildy Mesnik - Editor

Review/plot:
Steven Grant's first issues on this series are a back to basics simple story with the Nightstalkers getting a job to investigate a problem at a prison, where it turns out that a prisoner who was given the electric chair is half-Lilin and now has electricity powers plus the ability to open portals to other worlds.

Early in the story, it seems like Blade and Hannibal's dislike for each other has mellowed into Fantastic Four style humorous bickering.

But during the fight with "Short Circuit", Blade and Hannibal are thrown into a vampire dimension where Hannibal's counterpart has become a vampire king. Hannibal saves Blade from Alternate Hannibal.

But realizes that that's the danger that Blade sees in him. So they reconcile for real.

Short Circut is defeated by turning off the power at the prison, giving him no energy to feed on.

At the very beginning of this story, the Nighstalker's are fighting Stonecold's skin, which turns out to be sentient.

I almost wonder if it should count as a Stonecold appearance. It's almost like the skin was the real controlling factor, and it's not like Stonecold ever appears again anyway).

This is like fill-in quality. It's a perfectly average generic adventure. Which actually makes it better than most of the series so far.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: The Nightstalkers get a vision of Ghost Rider and Blaze in New York, setting up for the Siege of Darkness story that begins next issue. But they don't treat it with urgency (it's what Hannibal is shouting "It can wait!" about above).

References:

• Stonecold lost his skin in Nightstalkers #9.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

I think Hannibal forgave Blade way too easily- just because Hannibal could be a threat, it's understandable that Blade made a deal with a demon and killed a dozen people? Admittedly, as we'll see, Johnny Blaze still holds a grudge.