Who knew how deadly the world of Cola can be! Two former Siamese twins have become bitter rivals. The lengths they go to destroy the other are huge! Assassins? Sabotage? Nothing is off limits. In the end, only one will be sipping the cold taste of victory.
POP KILL #1 BY Jimmy Palmiotti & Dave Johnson, Juan Santacruz, Brian Reber and Sean Konot takes readers on one hell of a ride.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the dangerous game at hand.
POP KILL #1 BY Jimmy Palmiotti & Dave Johnson, Juan Santacruz, Brian Reber and Sean Konot (Mad Cave Studios)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Palmiotti & Johnson are flipping the espionage stat quo on its’ ear. Goro and Kaito run their companies with no mercy. The opening sequence feels right out of a spy movie. Jon Pyle loudly crashes the opening pages. Readers watch as he ruthlessly attacks. It becomes a pacesetter for the remainder of the chapter. When Popso takes the first hit, the fallout is brutal. The message becomes crystal clear. Losing is not an option.
This drives Pyle back into service. Goro hires him on a very discreet mission. Events play out in a very violent fashion. One person of interest changes the game on everything. Readers watch as the long play begins to acquire game-changing information. It moves very fast while mixing in various spy themes. This works to keep the audience guessing. Once at the close, events end more intrigue. There’s never a dull moment with this issue.
Santacruz and Reber opens with a full page image of Pyle at work. The break-in to Popso turns into a wild scene. There’s no shortage of the violence at hand. Both brands office scenes carry this same energy. Readers get an up close look at how failure is tolerated. It’s equally matched by the maniacal behaviors of the twins. Each close-up shows heir twisted drive to reign supreme.
Pyle’s mission takes him on a bloody adventure. Konot’s lettering stands out in these panels. The pursuit of Dina Deluxe comes across as charmingly evil as the spy game gets. Deluxe’s reactions indicate she’s buying into Pyle’s lies. This leads readers into the closing pages. A simple dinner turns out to be anything but simple. The art team mixes in a few wrinkles to ff set the mood. It’s a fitting end to a very rambunctious opening.
OVERALL GRADE: 8.6
A dangerous web of lies and deception forms under the guide of cola companies in this unique tale. Palmiotti & Johnson take readers on a very different spy story. Santacruz, Reber and Konot head into the chaos and charm with the art. What side will take victory is really anyone’s guess.
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