Review - Killswitch (@ActionLabDanger)

"Our society values some more than others."

It's alarming to think that the future will be anything like the past. In Killswitch TPB from Action Lab Danger Zone, the future is--in fact--just as scary as some of the worst parts of the past. The book is written by Jeffrey and Susan Bridges, illustrated by Walter Geovani, colored by Brittany Peer and lettered by Simon Bowland.

In a future where clairvoyant Augurs are used for their powers but feared, held captive, and persecuted, a disaffected military major is shocked into action by the grim realities of the Augurs’ treatment. She puts her life and career on the line to help them attempt a daring escape from captivity.

There's certainly a sense of the familiar in the script by the Bridges, namely in their approach to the society that both relies and fears the Augurs. Major Marcela Regula is a woman who struggles to reconcile doing the "right thing" with what is perceived as right. The Bridges do an excellent job of exploring the depths of Major Regula as a character and all of those around her, aiding the reader in determining their personalities. There's also an undercurrent of propaganda throughout the issue that the writers use in a way to further bolster the characters. There's often a sense of betrayal when the real truth comes out to the public and the Bridges use that to their advantage well.

Geovani's linework is fairly straightforward in its approach. The characters are rendered with basic linework that places emphasis on their facial details more so than their physiques. Geovani does manage to imbue the issue with a sense of the future in the character and atmosphere designs though. The panels are very cleanly arranged throughout the issue and draw the reader's attention to the action with the help of the black gutters. Peer's colors lean on darker hues on every page, giving the book a sense of something galactic.

Killswitch is a somewhat new take on the familiar concepts of duty and morality. Major Regula struggles with accepting the status quo and even goes so far as to buck it in her own way. The script by the Bridges is well-thought out and rife with allegory, providing a window into current events. Geovani's artwork is a good match for the book's tone and themes, providing an appropriate sense of futuristic fantasy. Killswitch is a sobering reminder that things are not always as they seem.

Killswitch is available now.