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The Killer
02/02/2007

The Killer #1 (of 10) $3.95 & 32 pgs., from Archania Studios/written by Matz; drawn by Luc Jacamon/sold at comics shops & www.aspcomics.com.

The back-cover blurb reads: This series contains adult content, graphic violence, nudity, and strong sexual content. That is usually enough to win a 'thumbs down' from this reviewer.

Then, there's The Killer, a relentless and unromantic story that promises a cold look at the very worst in human nature. This ten-part graphic novel is about the life and thoughts of a cold-blooded assassin.

"I used a bat. I couldn't afford a gun back then."

Did you shudder?

This is not a pretty picture, in one sense, and certainly not one for children. In particular, the assassin's characterization is as shamefully riveting as it is ugly.

Its relentless and understated pacing, dialog, and plot are flawless and captivating. It will be a rare person indeed who can read the first installment without buying the next issue.

In another sense, The Killer is a pretty picture.

With a minimalistic, beautiful style that is always conscious of color, and using flawless visual storytelling, the artist uses average faces moving in the real world to tell his decidedly violent, nihilistic story.

This is not an ocean one should frequently bath in, but if you are in the mood for a hard-as-nails look at the underbelly of life, you may want to take the plunge.

The Killer is extremely well written and drawn and is highly recommended for adults. MV

MINIVIEW: The Joy of A Peanuts Christmas: 50 years of Holiday Comics [Hallmark Books]. Charlie Brown and his friends always make me smile, and that is a wonderful gift to a fallen world. Possibly the most popular comic strip in history, this volume reprints the minimalistic art of Charles Schulz from five decades of Christmas celebrations. MV

Check out Dreams and Visions #35 for a new Vance short story: www.bconnex.net/~skysong/dream.htm

Interested in the exciting Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection and Toy and Action Figure Museum? Go to fourcolorcommentary.blogspot.com/

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Author Bio: Michael Vance

Michael Vance was first published at the age of eleven and became a professional freelance writer in 1977. His work has appeared in dozens of magazines including Starlog and Jack and Jill. He has been a syndicated columnist and cartoonist in over 500 newspapers. His history book, Forbidden Adventure: The History of the American Comics Group, has been called a "benchmark in comics history". He ghosted an internationally syndicated comic strip, and his wrote own strip for five years called Holiday Out that was reprinted as a comic book. Vance also wrote Straw Men, Angel of Death, The Adventures of Captain Nemo, Holiday Out and Bloodtide. He is listed in the Who's Who of American Comic Books and Comic Book Superstars. His short stories have been published in more than a dozen magazines and have been recorded by legendary actor William (Murder She Wrote) Windom. With novelists Mel Odom and R.A. Jones, he co-wrote Global Star, a tabloid in a world where werewolves and babies born with bowling balls in their stomachs are reality. Vance?s weekly comics review column, Suspended Animation, has been continuously published for more than sixteen years in fanzines, newspapers, and websites. In addition, he worked in newspapers for twenty-two years as an editor, writer and advertising manager, creating three successful newspaper magazines.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The view and opinions stated in this column are not necessarily the views and opinions of Komikwerks and its owners.

Suspended Animation Archives

The Killer02/02/2007

The Killer
02/02/2007