The dynamic mix
We’re used to seeing noir kings Brubaker and Phillips in stories similar to what they’ve done in crime over the years. Indifference, Where I Saw a Dead Body, Night Fever, Faded Out or Pulp are some examples of the works of this duo in recent decades, they are considered not only the best authors in this genre. One of the strongest, most reliable and greatest artistic teams in comic history.
Sometimes they go out of their comfort zone to introduce the supernatural or superheroes into their stories, the fantastic Fatale and Incognito are good examples of this. And it’s in this genre-blending category that we place Kill or Be Killed, a work that’s impressive for its presentation, but not for its excellence.
I will kill you or they will kill me.
The premise of the story couldn’t be more chilling. Even if it came from Donnie Katz’s head. Dylan, who has a tendency to kill himself, was not very fortunate in his life. One night, when he saw a demon in bed, he saw his life turned upside down and gave him a message that cannot be ignored: unless he kills Dylan, he deserves to die.
Once the influence of the supernatural apparition is overcome, the story moves to the mundane world, turning our protagonist into a masked vigilante tasked with finding the man who deserves to die (and the killing is a man’s worth. An inexperienced killer. Dylan owes this demon after his first murder. Everything becomes more complicated when he realizes that he has just begun.
The young man has to deal with his part of the negotiations and the personal problems that ruin his life, especially with his girlfriend who lives with Kira. All very Peterparkian. With all this, on the one hand, he decides that everything that happened to him is true, or that even his madness has reached an unforeseeable limit, and on the other hand, he will be persecuted by both sides. Police and Mafia…
Brubaker, perhaps influenced here by David Berkowitz’s portrayal (Son of Sam, responsible for six murders in the late 1970s, orders the neighbor’s dog-possessed demon to commit the crime), brilliantly narrates Dylan in the first person. The misadventures, the successes, the failures and most of all, the moments when fate was on a knife edge. And Phillips, for his part, does a fine job in his usual realistic style with Elizabeth Breitwether’s color support.
Deadly version
Previously, this work was collected in four volumes, but this edition is more suitable for enjoying the story without mistakes. It’s outrageous in every way, and to top it all off with a surprisingly satisfying (and surprisingly, at the same time expected) finale to arrive at a destination after an amazing journey to get everything you’ve ever wanted.
As for the impressive edition, the deluxe edition of the Kill or Be Killed Omnibus line, published by Panini Comics in cardboard format, contains 624 pages with a size of 18 x 27.5 cm. In color. The American version of the twenty issues that comprise the original series includes a translation. It also includes a final section loaded with illustrations and covers, among other things. The recommended retail price for this size is €60 and it goes on sale in November 2023.