Thursday, August 11, 2011

Graphic novel reviews K

Katie the Catsitter - Colleen AF Venable
 

Kill Or Be Killed - Brubaker
A teen fails in a suicide attempt and enters a pact with a demon that he gets his life back but must kill to continue it.  So he starts killing criminals.  Or is he just plain nuts?  This is a chilling and compelling horror noir.  Wonderful.  [5]

The Complete Killer - Matz 
Collects thirteen original albums or Volumes 1-5 of the collected additions.  The unnamed hit man ruminates on man and god and law and justice while trying to find a secure place in a corrupt world of hypocrites he despises.  Teaming up with a drug runner and an ex-CIA man, he tries to go semi-legit in the oil business, but his past never lets him stay put.  The art is photo-realistic, gorgeous and impeccable; the story grim but not gory.  The title character philosophizes more than you might expect a hit man to do, but what can you expect?  He's French.  Thrilling and very well done noir.  [4.5]

The Killer Inside Me
A pretty straightforward retelling of the smoldering noir novel by Jim Thompson.  [3.5]
 
The King of Kazoo - Norm Feuti
The egotistical but clueless king of Kazoo, Cornelius, and his daughter, Bing, set out to solve the mystery of a mysterious explosion.  Traveling in the car invented by his mute engineer Torq, they face all sorts of dangers that Bing talks their way out of before Cornelius can make things worse with his pride.  Good silly fun with some inventive concepts but no surprises as they march toward Cornelius' redemptive arc.  Art- and atmosphere-wise, it owes a debt to Bone.  [3.5]