Writer: Rodney Barnes
Layouts & Inks: Jason Shawn Alexander
Penciller: Germán Erramouspe
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Marshall Dillon
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $16.99
Release Date: June 28, 2023
Ananzi, the trickster god, worries that the fighting on
Earth is growing too fierce. He seeks an ally in Corson, but the demon says,
“Let it rage!” Can Ananzi prevent Heaven from sending down angels and
initiating Armageddon? Let's leap into Killadelphia TP Vol. 5 and find out!
Story
Vampires roam the streets, killing all they find. While some
who die become vampires, others who return to life fight them. Thus, historical
figures like George Washington and John Adams--former presidents of the United
States of America--are reborn in Philadelphia, the city of America's birth.
Rodney Barnes doesn't just focus on the white leaders of
America's Revolutionary War. He spotlights their wives and the slaves who
served and sacrificed for them. He also brings in black leaders like Toussaint
Louverture, who fought in Haitian Revolution against France in the same era.
The conversation gradually changes as Killadelphia TP Vol. 5
continues. Characters take the spotlight only to die amid the fighting. Ananzi
seeks the aid of his fellow gods, realizing he owes his existence to Human
believers. Resurrected fighters—who've lived through many eras and seen our
nation endure the Covid-19 Pandemic and Black Lives Matter—ponder the
relationship between law and ethics.
As each chapter—or issue—has a name, so does this volume:
There's No Place Like Home. The final story focuses on two boys growing up in
the inner city. While Seesaw knows the rules of the streets, Ray has his head
in the clouds. Seesaw worries his friend is naïve and spends too much time
reading books. Amid all the fighting with vampires and demons, it's a relatable
story that speaks to the heart.
Unaided by an introduction, you may feel lost in
Killadelphia TP Vol. 5. But even if you don't understand everything, it's hard
not to love this trade. It also helps that this collection of the latest issues
appears before the next ones hit the stands. I don’t want to throw out any
spoilers, but the last issue hints that a significant Image character will join
the action. This revelation leaves me excited and looking forward to
forthcoming issues.
Art
As Corson spawls at a table in a restaurant he once
frequented, hellfire burns in his eyes and mouth, horns twist above his head,
and batlike wings splay out to either side. Fighting rages in the streets:
blood sprays from severed limbs and heads. When a vampire dies, its body
explodes. Toussaint Louverture wields two swords, and his cadre of fighters
brings to mind Blade, Electra, Ninjak, and Ronin from Avengers End Game.
In her dressing room, TV meteorologist Octavia Morris
transforms into the goddess Oya, radiant in her half-naked, tribal attire.
Ananzi, often seen with spiders, visits Odin in the clouds. Reliving childhood
memories, Seesaw shoots hoops with street predators while Ray sits nearby,
listening to music through his headphones and reading I Am Legend by Richard
Matheson.
Rough lines define characters, and heavy inks increase the
drama in Killadelphia TP Vol. 5. Direction lines suggest action, indecision, or
realization. Buildings appear adorned in architectural detail, while others are
blank in places, with just the suggestion of their appearance. Crosshatching, stippling,
and barely controlled inks impart a hand-drawn feel.
Limited color schemes change with scenes. Ananzi’s
reflections while sitting in a tree and Seesaw's childhood memories glow with
light. Interior scenes—such as when Seesaw's old flame reappears—wade through
tans, browns, and purples. Yellows, oranges, and reds heighten the fighting.
Clearly defined light sources provide highlights and shadows.
Black uppercase letters haunt white dialogue balloons in
Killadelphia TP Vol. 5. A black or white line leads to the speaker. Red
lettering and a red direction line accompany Corson's words. Memories and
thoughts inhabit colored narrative boxes. Vibrant, energetic sound effects
heighten the otherworldly action in the easy-to-read volume.
Final Thoughts
While vampires and Humans make Philadelphia’s historic streets
their battleground, Killadelphia TP Vol. 5 ponders how far America has come in
two-and-a-half centuries. The volume asks if ethics evolve, explores the role
of religion in our lives, and reverences the stories we value.
Rating 8.5/10
To view issue covers art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
