They’re putting the “sass” back in “assassin,” and they’re on the move once again. Your Major Spoilers review of Killer Queens 2: Kings, Not Wings #1 from Dark Horse Comics awaits!
KILLER QUEENS 2: Kings, Not Wings #1
Writer: David M. Booher
Artist: Bradley Clayton
Colorist: Harry Saxon
Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Editor: Spencer Cushing
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 9, 2023
Previously in Killer Queens II: During a day of questionable choices at Space Pride, Max, and Alex bump into their old boss, who tries to dragoon them into chasing down a runaway heir to the throne of Sarelia, an alien planet ruled by a brutal patriarchy. Little does he know that the heir in question is closely connected to Alex. As Alex and Max race to save the runaway heir from a galaxy-wide bounty hunt, they’ll dredge up Alex’s past and confront her planet’s misogynist present. If that means burning the patriarchy to the ground, well, get out the torches!
MEANWHILE, ON PLANET SARELIA
We open in another galaxy, far away from Max and Alex, and Space Pride, in a castle on planet Sarelia. The captain of the guard has had his men turning the whole place inside out looking for the missing Prince Cahl. When they find him, though, Cahl has no interest in returning to their princely duties, as they have had their fill of royalty, misogyny, and all the other trappings. To prove their point, Cahl leaps from the castle’s parapet, then glides away on the wings that readers would have had no idea that they had. Meanwhile, at Space Pride, we join the titular Queens in a tattoo parlor, as Max gets his first tattoo, reminding Alex that, on some planets, a tattoo is a sign of strength and dominance. Plus, it goes great with his gold lamé shorts. Leaving the parlor, they almost immediately run into their former employer, the flying monkey Bieti, who lets them know about Cahl’s flight from his family and the sizeable bounty, but Alex’s interest seems to go far beyond just a reward.
THE PERILS OF FAMILY
Having not read the first Killer Queens limited series, I wasn’t sure what to expect here, but the sight of Max’s lower-back unicorn-pooping-rainbows tattoo put me in the right mindset to appreciate what was coming. When Cahl appeared in Alex’s ship, explaining that she is/was his step-sister, I was definitely hooked for this story. There’s an ebullience to this issue’s script that is immediately enjoyable, and combined with Clayton’s art, makes it clear that this book is entirely my proverbial jam. By the end of the issue, we’ve seen space fights, a monkey in a jetpack, family drama, and a pretty impressive cliffhanger ending, all of which makes for a fun first issue.
Plus: Fuzzy dice!
BOTTOM LINE: ENORMOUSLY LIKEABLE COMICS
The most impressive part of Killer Queens 2: Kings, Not Wings #1 is the fact that I have already bought all four issues of the previous series based on how entertaining this issue is, the strength of the art, and some really fun dialogue, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. The fun tone of this book reminds me of The Monkees which, if you know me, is what Nic Cage would call high praise.
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KILLER QUEENS II #1
Alex and Max are back in action, and the story is wonderfully engaging and enthusiastic, with art that brings it all to life. Well worth your time.
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Writing8
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Art9
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Coloring9
Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.