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Review: ‘The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys’ # 6

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10 years ago

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The final chapter of Gerard Way and Shaun Simon’s “The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys” proves to be a somber conclusion to an epic story. The final chapter revels in the implications of a world built around alienation, and in doing so forgoes the expectations of a finale. Instead we are treated to a largely visual issue guided by Cloonan’s incredible work. The script is sparse but the art brims off of every page.


WRITTEN BY: Gerard Way & Shaun Simon
ART BY: Becky Cloonan
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: December 31, 2013

“Killjoys” has been somewhat of a polarizing experience for me. Admittedly I’m not a huge My Chemical Romance fan, and the story seems to be wrapped very tightly around the narrative from their last album. That being said, the story can still exist and triumph on it’s own, but in the end the conclusion is sure to resonate more with fans than newcomers.

The Girl’s mysterious power if finally revealed and now that she has come to terms with her responsibility she can use it. She accepts her fate. She acts almost contrary to how’d we expect and the script questions her. Her blind confidence pushes the story forward without any regard for anyone else.

Which is why I feel Destroya was a little wasted here. It was nice to see the porno droid have some beats with the giant mechanized beast. Yet, in the end it didn’t feel earned.

Korse on the other hand earns a satisfying conclusion to his own story. One that ends up being completely contrary to everything else going on. As the Girl becomes a tool, Korse finally rejects his role as one. Both earn their freedom in entirely opposite ways.

For me, Cloonan has always been the star of this show. Her art here is completely breathtaking. The moments with the porno droid and Destroya are especially strong. The massive hulking beast is drawn with such intimacy that its beats are often the most somber, touching ones, even amongst the backdrop of fiery destruction.

“Killjoys” is a strange beast. My initial love for the series waned a little in the middle. I never really believed that Way and Simon made the effort to initiate new readers into the larger context of their world. The mysteries created from the scripts allowed interesting questions to be raised, but ultimately they were never answered.

The story does pose a number of good questions about corporations, conformity, and the power of art. Yet, in the end feels a little distanced from the reader. I enjoyed the most of the ride, and almost wish we had more time to explore this world. My questions were never fully answered, and I was lost in the art almost every issue.

With all that in mind, its important to remember that “Killjoys” was a fantastic miniseries that evokes a world unlike anything else that hit the stands in 2013. The team of Way, Simon, and Cloonan have created a truly original American manga that oozes with style with every page.

Rating: 3.5/5 Skulls.

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‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

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2 days ago

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April 18, 2024

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Witchblade cover

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.

  • Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover B: Giuseppe Cafaro and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover C: Blank Sketch Cover

  • Cover D (1/10): Dani and Brad Simpson (Full Color)

  • Cover E (1/25): Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto, Virgin Cover (Full Color)

  • Cover F (1/50): J.Scott Campbell (Full Color)

  • Cover G (1/100): Bill Sienkiewicz. (Full Color)

  • Cover H (1/250): Line art by Marc. Virgin Cover, Inks (B/W)

Witchblade #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Witchblade comic panel Witchblade #1 cover image

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