After a very successful Kickstarter campaign, Killtopia has captured the imagination of many, with an anthology comic coming soon to Kickstarter. I was glad I got in on the ground floor.
Ten years ago, Neo Tokyo was suddenly infested by killer mecha. Today, the machines are hunted by high-tech bounty hunters known as 'Wreckers' in the city's Sector-K district - now rebranded as 'Killtopia,' the world's most-popular bloodsport.
While on a routine hunt, Shinji, a rookie Wrecker encounters Crash, the world's first sentient mecha, whose code contains the cure to the Rot - a nanomachine plague that's slowly killing humanity.
Together they set off to heal the planet while being pursued by every Wrecker, yakuza gang, android assassin and scumbag in Neo Tokyo.
Can they survive long enough to save our species?
Concept/Writing: Dave Cook
Art/Colour: Craig Paton
Letters: Rob Jones
Sign up for the Killtopia anthology here:
World building.
That is something that can be difficult in comics, both for creators and for the readers. Jump in now on an ongoing Marvel comic, for example, and even with their famous sliding timeline, some aspects may confuse readers. For example, the current X-Men comics, while excellent, could be deemed overwhelming for new readers who may have watched the latest Deadpool movie.
In respect of Killtopia, all readers start from the same point. We are all new to this version of the world, and we can all get into it together. The creative team is doing a fantastic job here, moving us through the current status quo with a combination of in-character discussions, interviews, and news reports. These hand you the information without feeling like a massive info dump or introduction. The information you are given works in terms of the story while also assisting in moving the story along.
The mech that is in Neo Tokyo is causing some serious issues. As a by-product, they produce a nano-virus that causes a fatal disease, The Rot, and there is currently no cure. The shock of finding a sentient mech who can communicate throws a joker in the deck. The build towards this, with the various interested parties, is well done, and as I mentioned above, it makes a good spread of combining the world-building here and the story.
Also happening is Killtopia - think neo-Hunger Games, but instead of survival, there is entertainment, where various wreckers compete to show that they are the best. We look at some of the others - with some excellent designs - and the current champion, taking in all the money and endorsements that come with it.
As the story progresses, we get some of the stakes involved; some are personal, and you really feel for them, and some are much more brutal.
This is a fantastic beginning to the story, and there is so much to take in. There is some dark humour in here, which made me feel like the citizens of Mega City One would be in Judge Dredd, and the art and colouring make this a brilliant read that is easy on the eye. The mechs and Wreckers have some excellent designs, and there is a way to go on this.
Look out for future commentary on the later volumes!