One of my favorite additions to the vampire-horror subgenre has been Killadelphia. Penned by Rodney Barnes, this series continuously brings a wonderful depth to the American horror genre in the way it blends the fantastical with the historical, yet makes it staggeringly modern in the discussions we have, and need to have, within our society. An impressive feat of Barnes’ book is the way he can run through such an expansive story, touching different character moments that all imbue this sense of dread in the reader that stays with them long after the book’s closed.
One of the most gripping aspects of this book is the way Jason Shawn Alexander depicts the world of Killadelphia. It’s in such adept hands through the way Alexander brings vibrancy and a swath of different art forms together — this book upholds a type of beauty that is rare in monthly books. Alexander’s own works are what bookends this issue, and if you weren’t scared from the story you just finished, the back matter is sure to give you a fright.
Colorist Luis Nct manages to put such an intricate level of color and detail that there is an almost controlled bleeding in the way this book is filled in. Each panel has a wonderful layer of color that is reminiscent of charcoal on top of an oil painting. The effect is uncanny and gets behind your retina. The way these colors occur really imbues this story with an organic feel.
Besides this, letterer Marshall Dillon brings an appreciated ease of reading throughout the book. Differently colored caption boxes and simple word balloons keep the book moving at an easy to digest pace. A unique detail is a way the balloon tails continually serve as simple lines that allow us to focus on the images.
Overall, this is yet again a wonderful addition to the Killadelphia tale. The narrative alone is enough bang for your buck, but Alexander’s artwork really make this worthwhile reading.
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