Kill Or Be Killed #1 Review

Kill Or Be Killed by Image Comics, the new comic from writer Ed Brubaker and artists Sean Phillips and Elizabeth Breitweiser is interesting. I am not familiar with this group's previous work but have been hearing a lot about their past stuff and need to check it out. With how much ugliness there is in the world and how much there is in the U.S., this comic seems to be coming at a good time. I hope this comic doesn't turn into some kind of violence fantasy porn for people who can't stand shitty americans but I can see that happening possibly. And the comic does touch on some of the scumbag-y elements that we are dealing with, asshole cops, psychopath presidential candidates, terrorist acts. Just asshole cops alone, you could have a super hero that deals only with them and to never run out of cops to deal with.

This is the darkest comic book I've read so far. Very dark and bleak. The main character Dylan reminds me of an even more depressed, negative, Donnie Darko but with a shotgun. It will suck if this series stays as negative as this first issue, hopefully it was only that way to set the story up. Another thing that reminds me of Donnie Darko is the dark creature that visits Dylan. It's definitely his Frank the Bunny it seems. After a failed suicide attempt Dylan supposedly has to kill others that "deserve it" in order to continue living since he possibly cheated death. Dylan doesn't know if the creature is real or imagined but I don't think it matters, either way, he has to deal with it and with how it's pushing him to kill others.

I really like the artwork with this comic. The pictures of the city under snow is really great. The city Dylan lives in looks like a depressing Pittsburgh during winter time but it could be anywhere really. The darkness of the art contributes to the story really well. One of the best things that I like about this comic is how realistic it is. The art, the complex characters, and the story show a really interesting vigilante/superhero type character and all the things they are dealing with.

Another thing that I like is how Dylan is dressed. I was just thinking about a week ago that a super hero shouldn't be dressed in some over the top and usually silly outfit but something more like just a hoodie and regular clothes because they could blend in easier and attack when they need to in a more advantageous way. They could slip in and out when need be and this character could definitely do that and this is just the most realistic approach to someone who goes out at night to deal with crime.

I am definitely following this comic more but do hope it's not as bleak as this first issue. Not that it would be a terrible thing but it would be nicer if things lightened up at least a little bit instead of just being a total bummer while this person does do the vigilante thing. Another thing I am curious about in upcoming issues is where Dylan draws the line with those that deserve to die. There is definitely a grey area with that and with how he needs to kill at least one a month, I wonder if there will be a time when he maybe can't find someone that is an obvious choice.