After reading this comic a few weeks ago I was angry. So angry that it took me a few weeks to piece together what I wanted to say in regards to my feelings and opinions on the third installment of the mini-series. I tried to forgive the explosive erection of man in Issue #2 for hopes that writer Tom Waltz was willing to turn it back around to building on the existing cannon with careful thought and detail. But no.
In Issue #3 we find out the sordid details of how far Anne was willing to go for revenge. She felt that sleeping with her boss for the potential of a transfer of the man whom attacked and paralyzed her father, who she identifies as his killer. When you are looking for revenge you take action. You don’t rely on being passive in the hopes that other will provide you the opportunity. Sex for blackmail? Yes, that’s an acceptable response from someone brimming with hate. No wait, it’s not. I even understand the destruction of her marriage to feed her need for justice. It’s an insatiable feeling that you will stop at nothing to fill.
Writer Tom Waltz doesn’t care about Anne. He’s using what’s easy and convenient in regards to over sexualizing her as a reason for her stay in Silent Hill. Where this perspective from another officer, or from the son of the slain officer, this would be a different story. He would not be available to his superior as Anne was to hers. He would beget a more violent path to get his revenge. Just because Anne is a woman doesn’t make it good storytelling to use presumed child abuse, assumed rape, cheating and using sex as a bargaining chip (without any collateral) for revenge. People do bad things to get to where they are within the thickening fog. Being a woman shouldn’t be one of them.
My biggest issue is that I am going to be one of few, maybe only one, who takes offence to poorly written Anne. I love Silent Hill and I’ve tried to play through everything I can get my hands on for every system I’ve owed. I enjoyed going through Downpour and was excited to get something more from Anne’s Story. I’m disappointed as a writer, a gamer, and a woman. You get only one more shot Waltz to make something better. Silent Hill Downpour: Anne’s Story #3 is available now from IDW.
Actually, Anne is one of my favorite characters I’ve ever had the good fortune to be a part of as a writer and her story breaks my heart (as it does hers). I see Anne’s “passivity” differently, I suppose. She’s a woman who adored her father — and respected everything he stood for, which was strict adherence to the Golden Rule: treat others (ALL others) as you would be treated. Now she’s driven by cold revenge but is simultaneously at war with her conscience… she knows, deep down, she’s not following the path her beloved father would have her follow. But she’s NOT her father and that’s becoming a harder pill to swallow with each cursed step she takes toward Murphy’s destruction. You’re right… she could have gone straight to Ryall and just killed Murphy. But she didn’t — she took a circuitous route (sleeping with her boss) that only served to delay the dirty deed. Then, she had Murphy in her sights in the Devil’s Pit tunnel… and she still couldn’t do it. Then in the radio station, she has him again… and again, her vengeance is sabotaged. Always to her detriment… almost like sub-conscious self-punishment. There’s a pattern here… a deliberate one that has nothing to do with me not caring about Anne. Anne isn’t doing these things because she’s a woman… she’s doing them because, in her heart of hearts, she knows that what she’s doing goes against everything her father stood for. All her life she’s wanted to be just like her dad — but, in the end, is that possible? I love Anne and feel not being able to tell her story as a video game for a larger audience was a huge lost opportunity. That said, we have the comic book, at least, and I want you to know, all disagreements aside, I absolutely appreciate that you’ve taken the time to read it and analyze it and I respect your opinions 100%. So, from Tristan, Mike and myself, many thanks! We put a lot of hours into our work and it makes us feel good to know there are readers such as yourself who care enough to take the time to read it, carefully consider it, and share it with others, even if it’s not to your liking. I hope to see a review of issue #4 from you — I think you’ll like it. Talk soon! Tom Waltz