Books like this don't come around often. Fabulous art, amazing characters, an intriguing story, and an irresistible premise culminate into something immaculate in Gerard Way (of My Chemical Romance) and Shaun Simon's “The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys” #1.
Killjoys is a riveting debut issue that begs to be read more than once. So dense and packed with information; even blinking could cause you to miss a beat of the story. The blurb at the beginning tells us about The Killjoys, a beloved team of heroes who hung out with a little girl. However the Killjoys were killed. The girl lived.
WRITTEN BY: Gerard Way & Shaun Simon
ART BY: Becky Cloonan
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: June 12th, 2013
We follow the little girl. Introduced to her through a wonderful bit of radio banter that cements this as one of the most original books on the stands. The disc jockey banter is original and a great expository device that feels refreshing. To give away any beats of the debut issue would be a great disservice to the story.
The adventure begins almost immediately and launches into this musically inspired world filled with horrible creatures and sensational superheroes. The mystery surrounding the little girl is steeped in the intrigue of the characters that surround her. The mystery of who exactly the Killjoys were in this world remains profoundly interesting.
Cloonan's art adds so much to the story. Her character designs are bold and original. She designs the Ultra V's with a style that is reminiscent of anime, with a western influence. The characters spring off the page. The action punches you in the face. Cloonan's excellent sense of visual style creates clean and easy to understand action scenes. A major conflict in the middle of the issue is beautiful, and slowed in the right moments with the little girl.
There are too many good things to say about “Killjoys” # 1. The art, story, and world are absolutely engrossing. The pace is unrelenting and throws us head first into this wild new place. It never feels overwhelming, and through following the little girl we learn as she does.
The final pages of the issue play out like some sort of incredible standoff, but with disc jockey narration. It is so unique and compelling that you'll find yourself reading it two or three times. Cloonan's art sells this moment with distant panels that slowly become more intimate as the action reaches a boiling point. Then BOOM. One of the best final panels ever seen in a debut issue assaults you.
If “Killjoys” wasn't on your radar before, change your mind. This book is unlike anything else on the stands right now. The world is so original. It would be a travesty to miss this. If there’s a good thing to take from the breakup of My Chemical Romance, it’s that Gerard Way will have more time to write. This is comic books at their best, and I honestly cannot wait to get my hands on the second issue. I'm literally frothing at the mouth for more (Editor’s note: it’s true, I saw him frothing).
5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Jimbus_Christ
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