KILLADELPHIA #9
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Jason Shawn Alexander
COLORS: Luis Nct
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon
LOGO/GRAPHIC DESIGN: Brent Ashe
EDITOR: Greg Tumbarello
COVER: Jason Shawn Alexander with Luis Nct
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Francesco Mattina
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(October 2020)
Rated “M/ Mature”
“Burn Baby Burn” Part III: “The Dance of Death”
Published by Image Comics, Killadelphia is a comic book series from writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander. 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., who came home to Philly to deal with the final affairs of his recently murdered father, revered Philadelphia homicide detective, James Sangster, Sr. Not dead, but undead, the father joined the son, the chief medical examiner (Jose Padilla), and a rebellious vampire to lead the battle that saves “the City of Brotherly Love” from a vampire apocalypse. But that was just the first battle, and this is a war.
Killadelphia #9 (“The Dance of Death”) opens with family dysfunction as Big (dead) Jim and Li'l (alive) Jim squabble. Meanwhile, Abigail Adams reveals her plans for Philadelphia, and her leanings are a bit different and bit more aristocratic than that of her late, late husband, John Adams' ambitions. Plus, the origin of Jupiter Evans, who went from faux-friend and plaything of Thomas Jefferson to put-upon property of a “Founding Father,” is revealed.
THE LOWDOWN: As I wrote before, Killadelphia's first story line, “Sins of the Father,” was and still is quite fantastic. However, the second and current story line, “Burn Baby Burn” is an even more intense reading experience. I am shocked by what writer Rodney Barnes is delivering in Killadelphia, probably the most imaginative vampire comic book since Marvel Comics' Tomb of Dracula, which had its bloody heyday back in the 1970s.
I am also impressed at how Barnes has kept the Sangster boys' relationship fresh and vital... and full of vim, vigor, and vinegar. The complications of old family strife and of assorted cracks in the foundation of a family give this story dramatic heft.
Artist Jason Shawn Alexander's art sets Barnes' passions of his characters aflame. Alexander's illustrations explode off the page, with the contributions of colorist Luis Nct. Alexander's graphical storytelling turns Barnes' script into a comic book that will eventually burn the readers' hands and ignite their imaginations. Plus, Killadelphia #9 offers a suite of Alexander's lovely art as an extra.
As letterer Marshall Dillon scores the vampire apocalypse with his fonts as musical notes, we say goodbye to another issue of Killadelphia... reluctantly. It is one of the best comic books out today – whether the Eisner and Harvey Awards realize that or not.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of vampire comic books and of exceptional dark fantasy will want Killadelphia.
10 out of 10
[This issue features “Selected Works,” paints by Jason Shawn Alexander.]
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 © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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