Dynamite Entertainment 2018
Written by Bryan Hill
Illustrated by Rodney Buchemi
Coloured by Adriano Augusto
Lettered by Troy Peteri
The resurrected KISS lends their protection to an innocent whose destiny puts her in the sights of the deadly Illuminati. KISS will put their new abilities to the test when they fight the most powerful foe they’ve met yet, while trying to save the girl and letting her fulfil a prophecy that spells trouble for the evil cabal!
With each issue of this that comes out Bryan keeps impressing the hell out of me. I have always enjoyed his work and his versatility but this combines every last thing you could think of and it works in ways that are surprising. I love that Alicia is this small town girl with an almost awe shucks attitude is meant to be the one to kill Derek Moonson and fulfil some prophecy. Now because I am a cynic and we’re dealing with Lilith I am not so sure there really is a prophecy regarding Alicia. Instead I feel as if there is a major feint or misdirection taking place and I cannot wait to see if I am even remotely in the ballpark.
The way that this is structured is extremely well done. That this issue we see how KISS are talking to Alicia about everything that has gone down s far. So if you haven’t picked up the first two and flip through this one you can totally read it and not feel like you’ve missed everything. While it is completely new reader friendly I would suggest picking up the first two issues just because you should, and you won’t be disappointed.
I think the way that the transitions work in this issue. Seeing Derek was not something that I had expected to see, well not like this anyway. I hate to say this, no actually I don’t so sorry not sorry, but he looks like a bad guy from a Scooby-Doo cartoon episode. I love the purple and green together but that blue eyeshadow, that horrendous cape and those platform boots/shoes oy veyesmere. Still what we see here contains a lot of interesting characterisation and some revelations that will make for some choice moments in the future.
One aspect of the book that I do very much appreciate is the fact that the boys aren’t familiar with their newfound powers. So this is a learning on fly experience for them and that they don’t succeed right off the bat works well in my opinion. So seeing that works on a few levels here and again the characterisation is sensational in ways that I wasn’t expecting.
The interior artwork here is so damn good. I mean the way that we see the attention to detail through the varying weights of the linework is masterfully accomplished. The way the guys are brought to life in these outfits and their faces, or chest hair in at least one, bring out the fanboy in me through so many avenues. The creativity and imagination that we see here is marvellous and this thing that was Kristin yeah that’s something else. The utilisation of page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a superb eye for storytelling. Personally I am a big fan of how we see the backgrounds utilised now if we just saw that in every panel. Where Lilith appears those floating lights seems weird I know they are lampposts but seriously that needed more work.
Seeing how the boys work together and play off one another is sensational. The writing is so strong with amazing pacing, story & plot development and characterisation alongside some stunning interiors help me to change to Make Mine Dynamite!