Image Comics reviews 10/28/20 – Undiscovered Country #9, The Department of Truth #2

Killadelphia #9

Killadelphia has been a fascinating read as it touches on this secret history of vampires in one of the original states and this issue further links America’s past with its greatest shame.

Jimmy Sangster is starting to regret bringing his vampire father, James, back from the grave to help guide him as the vampires led by Abigail begin their brazen attack on the city. James was enjoying a modicum of peace and know he’s stuck working another case and isn’t exactly thrilled about the prospect. The family interplay between the Sangsters is always fun and writer Rodney Barnes captures that father/son dynamic very well.

Even more intriguing is the origin of the vampire known as Jupiter, who’s ready to carve out his own bloody path through Philadelphia as soon as he assembles an army to aid in his conquest. Jupiter’s origin makes labeling him a villain difficult even as he’s killing scores of people in very brutal fashion.

Jason Shawn Alexander’s art remains captivating. His panels are almost hypnotic in their arrangements and movement of the characters with the thick line work behind them makes the pages more dramatic without feeling like cheating on creating backgrounds. Luis NCT’s color work is essential to the presentation and the stark reds and browns are very effective this issue.

I dig this title a lot as it brings something different to the traditional vampire story with its use of history and its police procedural perspective.

Rating: 9 out of 10