Review- LADY KILLER VOL. 1

I read the first issue in the Dark Horse Number Ones trade last year and was blown away by it. My local library has a pretty kickass graphic novel section and I was pleased to find this book there.

LADY KILLER VOL. 1 (Dark Horse, First Printing, 2015; Softcover)

Collects Lady Killer #1-5 (cover dates January- May, 2015)

Writers: Joelle Jones and Jamie S. Rich

Artist: Jamie S. Rich

Colorists: Laura Allred

I borrowed this book from my local library.

Lady Killer is the story of Josie Schuller, your average middle class housewife circa 1960 who has a side job. The Jackie Kennedy American post-war prosperity aesthetic and optimism is a fantastic contrast to the extreme gore and senseless violence that her side job provides. Josie is a hitman...er, I mean hitlady.

Like all working women who juggle family life with a thriving career, Josie is burning the candle at both ends trying to make it all work. She tries to compromise family life and scheduling with her hits and winds up making neither side happy. This is where her situation gets sticky for everyone involved.

Without giving away anything, this is a fun, fast-paced read high on style. Those with an aversion to excessive gore or black comedy would do well to stay away from this comic. If you can giggle at the over the top nature of the series then you will have a blast reading it.

Everything wraps up nice and neat at the end while leaving enough loose ends for further investigation of the series. The writing is solid, the artwork has a style that balances between nostalgic and modern, and Laura Allred's coloring is second to none.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4 out of 5.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials used in physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Library copies are fascinating studies in the durability of these books. I look at them like science experiments, as the average human handles their books like the Samsonite Gorilla when compared to how I handle my books.

Paper stock: Coated stock with a slight sheen to it.

Binding: Sewn binding.

Cardstock cover notes: Matte coating.