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Dark Horse Comics
Written by: Joëlle Jones & Jamie S. Rich
Art by: Joëlle Jones
Colors by: Laura Allred
Imagine if you will any iconic mother figure from the last sixty years on television. Donna Reed, Mary Tyler Moore, Florence Henderson, Phylicia Rashad, come to mind but picture them as stone-cold killer assassins. That’s what we have here in Lady Killer #1 by Joelle Jones and Jamie S. Rich from Dark Horse Comics. A beautifully drawn, dark comedy that mixes ‘60s nostalgia, wicked sit-com satire and deadly action.
The tone quickly changes as Josie returns to suburbia to make supper amid her children and disapproving mother-in-law. This is where the familiar sit-com world we’re accustomed to takes place. Dad is greeted at the door after a long day at work whilst the impeccably dressed housewife caters to his needs so lovingly and welcomingly. The German mother-in-law isn’t so convinced talking trash in her native tongue. This picture of perfection and television family fantasy is undercut by a phone call.
Jones has done incredible work on Oni Press’ Helheim with Cullen Bunn and here she has even surpassed that. Her sharp lines lend perfectly to the period with stylish dresses, sharp suits and expressive faces. The amount of detail is painstakingly done to capture the kitchens of the time with appliances and cabinetry that are appropriate. It’s more work than you’d expect or needed but Jones clearly took additional pride in a title that bears her name as co-writer and artist. Readers will reap the rewards scanning each beautiful panel.
Laura Allred enhances Jones’ lines with bright colors in the clothing with darker earth tones in the background that make the contrast really stand out.
Lady Killer doesn’t rewrite the genre of undercover assassins but does exemplify how good it can look. This first of five issues is a winner and shows a ton of potential for the rest of the run.