---------------------
----------------------
KILLADELPHIA #17
IMAGE COMICS
STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Jason Shawn Alexander
COLORS: Luis Nct
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon
EDITOR: Greg Tumbarello
COVER: Jason Shawn Alexander
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Kent Williams
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (September 2021)
Rated “M/ Mature”
Killadelphia and Elysium Gardens created by Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander
“Home is Where the Hatred Is” Part V: “To Make Man”
Killadelphia is an apocalyptic vampire and dark fantasy comic book series from writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander and is published by Image Comics. At the center of this series is a police officer caught in a lurid conspiracy in which vampires attempt to rule Philadelphia, “the City of Brotherly Love.” Colorist Luis Nct and letterer Marshall Dillon complete Killadelphia's creative team.
Killadelphia focuses on James “Jim” Sangster, Jr. and his father, revered Philadelphia homicide detective, James Sangster, Sr., thought to be dead. He is actually a vampire. Now father and son lead a ragtag team comprised of a medical examiner, a dead president, and a rebellious, but special young vampire (Tevin Thompkins a.k.a. “See Saw”) in a bid to save Philly from an ambitious and murderous former First Lady.
As Killadelphia #17 (“To Make Man”) opens, Tevin visits an old friend … for a little blood. Later, James, Jr. begins the journey that will return him to humanity after being turned into a vampire. To do so, however, James will have to confront the dark legacy of abuse that gets passed down from father to son. In this case, James, Sr.'s legacy represents both. Plus, a we get a first look at the “Dark Realm,” with some help from Anansi.
Meanwhile, Thomas Jefferson makes a move at being a “vampire king.” So what does the “vampire queen” have to say about that?
THE LOWDOWN: Killadelphia is now in the penultimate chapter of its third story arc, “Home is Where the Hatred Is.” This may be the story arc that most reveals the complexities and multiple layers of Killadelphia, making it more dark fantasy than mere vampire comic book.
Writer Rodney Barnes offers a chapter that is a bit more philosophical than usual. It is surprising, especially considering that he is preparing the readers for some red, hot-blooded Armageddon. It can be a surprise, to both characters and readers, when the revelation comes that everything is worse than thought. On the other hand, it is good that we see more complexity in Tevin Thompkins; he is a most human vampire, and I hope he gets his own something – graphic novel, miniseries, one-shot, etc.
Artist Jason Shawn Alexander and colorist Luis Nct are always ready to draw and color the delights and eccentricities in Barnes' scripts. There is an odd balance of surreal, especially in the place where Jim, Jr. must find himself, and artists' suggestions and presentations of the “Dark Realm” are creepy. The other part of that balance is the fire they light back in Philadelphia, conveying through the story that it is about to go down.
I am still impressed that Barnes and Alexander are able to make each issue of Killadelphia unique It blows my mind, and I implore you, dear readers, to drink fully of this cup of red.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of vampire comic books and of exceptional dark fantasy will want Killadelphia.
[Killadelphia #17 has a backup feature: “Elysium Gardens” Part 10 “The End” by Rodney Barnes, Chris Mitten, Sherard Jackson, and Marshall Dillon.]
A+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://twitter.com/TheRodneyBarnes
https://twitter.com/jasonshawnalex
https://twitter.com/luisnct
https://twitter.com/MarshallDillon
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/
http://rodneybarnes.com/
The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
-------------------------
Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).
POST AMERICANA #5 (OF 7)
IMAGE COMICS
STORY: Steve Skroce
ARTIST: Steve Skroce
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Fonografiks
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2021)
Rated M / Mature
Post Americana is a six-issue miniseries written and drawn by Steve Skroce and published by Image Comics. Post Americana is set in a dystopian future and focuses on two rebels' attempts to save an area called the “Wasteland” from a rogue President of the United States. Colorist Dave Stewart and letterer Fonografiks complete Post Americana's creative team.
Post Americana has two settings. The first is “The Bubble,” an installation inside the Cheyenne Mountains that is the most sophisticated super-bunker in the world. Inside, Nathaniel Hawksworthe, the new President of the United States, plans to use the bunker's resources to build the “New America” by basically paving over the second setting, the “Wasteland.” Determined to stop Hawksworthe are Michael “Mike” Lee, a hapless rebel, and Carolyn, a deadly Wasteland girl, who is already hellbent on revenge against the denizens of the Bubble. But Carolyn and Mike will have to survive the Wasteland in order to save the Wasteland.
As Post Americana #5 opens, Carolyn, Mike, and Evey's ride with Night Terror has taken them to the lost coast of California to Wonder Studios, the former home of the Walt Disney-like Cromwell Leviticus Okamoto. There, Mike finally meets his secret ally, Okamoto's wife, Marcy, in person. Marcy soon admits to deceiving Mike, but he doesn't even know half the story. And that could mean a death sentence for everyone on the planet – even those soft-living folks in the Bubble.
THE LOWDOWN: I am a huge fan of writer-artist Steve Skroce, going back over two decades – which I admitted in my review of Post Americana #1. In my review of subsequent issues of this series, I have regaled you, dear readers, with the joys of reading Post Americana.
Post Americana #5 is the penultimate issue of the series, and in it, Skroce has created an issue that seems divorced from the rest of the narrative. However, it actually isn't, as this fifth issue serves as a launching pad for the craziness to come in the finale. Post Americana is a blast to read, and its satire of the United States is both sharp and sly and blunt and brutal. It is as if Skroce wields both a satirical scalpel and hammer.
As he has throughout this miniseries, Skroce gets excellent assistance in creating this fine edition of his latest comic book. That includes superb coloring from Dave Stewart and lettering from Fonografiks that makes the craziness readable. I can't wait for the sixth issue.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Steve Skroce's comics and of post-apocalyptic sci-fi will want Post Americana.
A
[This comic book includes a four-page preview of “The Good Asian #1” by Pornsak Pichetshote and Alexandre Tefenkgi.]
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/
The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
-----------------
Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).
