I Kill Giants #7 (OF 7)

For the past year, we've been watching as Image Comics has slowly continued to carve out a niche in the comics world, one that is difficult to describe. Sure, they've got Spawn and Savage Dragon and Witchblade and those type of books that you  think of immediately when you hear "Image Comics."  But over the past few years they've been quietly putting out other books that defy categorization, leaving me simply to describe them as "good comics."  In 2008 it seems as if they stepped up that part of the house, and I Kill Giants was one of the books that had us talking.

Joe Kelly (who has had a long career working for both of the big 2 publishers doing superhero type comics) teamed up with JM Ken Nimura (someone who I'd never heard of before) and created a comic that even as I read this last issue and try and review, I cannot put my finger on what it is exactly.  Usually that's a bad thing, but in this case its actually quite a good thing.

Warning: I'm going to discuss what specifically happens in this issue, some call that a "spoiler" but this is definitely the kind of book where what happens is almost irrelevant, it's the way it happens.  But if you're worried about that sort of thing, take caution as you continue reading.

I Kill Giants was a 7 issue mini-series, done in black and white, telling the story of Barbara Thorson, a young girl who claims to be a giant killer.  Obviously she has issues relating to her classmates and finds herself alone most of the time, no one being able to get beyond her facade.  When I started reading this series, I could never put my finger on whether or not Barbara was crazy, or that she was sane and the rest of the world was the crazy ones.  Kelly crafted her story throughout the 7 issues in a masterful way, balancing the moments where it's obvious that all this giant killing business is in her head with moments where you absolutely believe there are giants in the world and only Barbara can save us. The last issue, #6, delivered what was the ultimate climax action of the story, as a storm hits Barbara's Long Island town and she is the lone line of defense against the giant that threatened the safety of the one who Barbara loved, her mother. But it's here in issue #7, with the epilogue of sorts that we learn that the giant wasn't here for Barbara's mother, rather it was here for her and not to harm her, but to help her.  To instill the confidence in Barbara that she is strong.  Strong enough to deal with anything, specifically her dying mother. 

I can't say that I didn't get a bit choked up as I turned the pages of this issue, after seeing the revealing flashback of what happened to Barbara during the storm and her run in with the giant leading to Barbara facing her own fears and climbing the long stairs to her mother's bedroom, filled with medical equipment as she lays dying.  It's Barbara's embracing of life and death and the lesson to cherish the time we have that was the ultimate climax of the story.  If you didn't feel a little bit while continuing to read this issue, watching as life goes on and her mother passes, then you've got a cold, dead heart. 

When this series began, I thought it was going to be a kids fantasy book.  A pre-teen heroine, giants, a big hammer, it had all the makings of that kind of book.  But that's not what it turned out to be.  I Kill Giants is a heartfelt, emotional story about life, death and growth and one that I absolutely cannot wait to see collected in a nice hardcover and be able to recommend to people as an example of how comics can be the perfect vehicle to deliver complex and touching stories like this., 

As usual when reviewing a book, I've talked about the story and how delightful it has been.  But the other great thing about comic books is that they're a visual medium, where an artist works his butt off to deliver the vision of the writer.  I don't know where JM Ken Nimura came from, but man, what an artist!  The black and white art of I Kill Giants is just as deceiving as the story.  At first glance, it seems quite simple and cartoony.  But Nimura is able to draw engaging action scenes, touching emotional discussions and tell a fluid, well paced story.  His manner of facial expressions, body language and figure drawing comes off as seeming effortless, but it's clear that after this issue, it's quite masterful.  I can't imagine the delicateness of moments of this story drawn by anyone else.  The big eyes and thin lines compliment the heaviness of the story perfectly, giving a balance and amazing comic book.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the items beyond the story and art that make this comic special.  The cover treatments are an example of how you can break the mold of the typical comic book.  When the first issue came out, it was the cover that grabbed me.  This book didn't look like anything else on the rack, and that's a great way to get noticed.  Additionally, the back matter, specifically the humorous back cover cartoons depicting Kelly and Nimura's creative process was both amusing but also provided a face to the creators.  With such emotion being poured out in the pages of the story, these little breaks cut the tension perfectly and gave us insight to the storytellers.  A fun and subtle touch that made the whole series that much more fun to enjoy.

After writing about I Kill Giants, I'm still at a loss as to how to describe it beyond "Good".  But maybe after some thought I don't think "good" does it the proper justice.  I Kill Giants is a great comic book with an enthrallingentrhalling story of love, life,loss and courage.  This would be a title that I would gladly recommend to anyone, young or old, and encourage them to give a try and see just how comics can be a serious and touching medium of storytelling.

Ron Richards
We are stronger than we think
ron@ifanboy.com