For all its faults and foibles, I truly believe the human race’s greatest strength is its creativity. It’s part of the reason why I love the comic medium so much – writers and artists join forces, using their combined creative powers to craft stories that transport me into other worlds. In fact, Kill Your Darlings #1 uses this as part of its narrative, asking the question: What happens when your imagination breaches reality? More importantly, what happens when that imagination takes a dark turn?
The answers can be found within the pages of Kill Your Darlings #1, specifically where its protagonist Rose is concerned. She’s dreamed up an entire kingdom, which seems to be confined to the range of her bedroom. But life seems to intrude on her fantasy; there’s her mother’s struggle with bills, while her friend Elliott is dealing with his own problems at home. Soon, something dark and terrible shatters Rose’s childhood – and it may be connected to the fantasy kingdom she’s created.
Writers Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan have crafted a hell of a first issue, drawing in their readers with a macabre opening sequence. As the issue progresses, Parker and Sheridan showcase a growing darkness: blood and shadows seem to invade Rose’s fantasy world, and the last page of the book will send chills down even the most hardened reader’s spine. Parker and Sheridan, like any good writers, understand that stories are often a metaphor for the struggles we deal with in life. In this case, it’s the idea of what happens when your childhood is upended and how you deal with it.
The book also boasts some intensely colorful artwork courtesy of Bob Quinn. Quinn does a great job of blending the fantastic elements with the real world, leading to some very inventive – and sometimes downright trippy – sequences. A large piece of cardboard becomes a magical sword capable of cutting through anything. Stuffed animals become loyal soldiers. The rumpled folds of a blanket give way to the stone walls of a massive castle. Quinn even plays with colors during this change; Rose’s fantasy world is presented as bright, stunning and with vibrant shades of pink and blue while the real world is more muted. As the two begin to blend, shadows start creeping into the fantasy, slowly giving way to horror.
Finally, letterer John J. Hill gives each and every part of the book its own voice. Rose’s narration is delivered in a reddish pink font, while her stuffed animal soldiers have a silvery-blue. But it’s the screams that stand out the most. They are large, take up a good part of the page, and most importantly they feel blood chilling. Every so often, the relative peace and innocence of the book will be punctured by these screams – serving as a reminder of the darkness lurking on the fringe.
Kill Your Darlings #1 delivers a dark fantasy wrapped in bright colors, which should hook readers from start to finish. There’s no doubt on my end: between this, Vanish, and The Schlub, KLC Press is proving to be the place to be when it comes to comic imprints. More than that, it’s a reminder of why I love comics, and proof that even if you grow up you don’t have to shed your creative spirit.
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