One of the most important things a good story can do is hold a mirror to the world and reflect on it. Killswitch, by Jeffrey and Susan Bridges, provide that reflection in one of the most exciting and action-packed sci-fi stories of the year, and one that centers on a question: Do the ends justify the means?
Killswitch is the story of Regula and her disillusionment over the treatment of the Augurs (psychics who are shunned and abused for the betterment of society), as well as how they escape their confinement and fight for the chance of a better future. One of the most fascinating aspects of the story is the fact that, right off the bat, we are provided with the motivations of every character introduced, which are made clearer as the story progresses.
The story itself is short and quick—the entire plot only occurs in the span of one day – but it’s a testament to the Bridges’ storytelling ability that so much can happen in such a natural way in such a short time. You don’t even notice the relation to the current sociopolitical climate that’s happening because it’s interwoven so naturally into the plot.
And what’s a comic book story centered on a moral question without the illustrations? The art by Walter Geovani is already clean and crisp, but it’s made more evident through Brittany Peer’s coloring. You can see the homages to stories like Minority Report and Blade Runner, and they easily influence and expand the atmosphere of the story.
Currently, we are experiencing a shared hardship, but it’s important to understand that the theme of Killswitch – the idea that the suffering of those deemed as “other” can better the lives of everyone else – is still relatable. We’re all in this troubling time together, and we all need to lend our hand to help each other. And that’s the point that the Bridges are trying to show us: that when we decide to help one another, change can happen.
The Killswitch trade paperback is the action-packed, sci-fi adventure that asks us whether we’re doing all that we can, or if we’re just standing idly by. It’s a story that needs to be told, especially those that tackle making hard decisions that break the comfort of societal norms.
Creative Team: Jefferey and Susan Bridges (writers), Walter Geovani (art), Brittany Peer (colors), Simon Bowland (issues 1-2 letters), Ed Dukeshire (issues 3-4 letters), Natasha Alterici (cover), Natasha Alterici (main covers), Diana Van Damme (trade/PDF preview cover) Dylan Todd/Big Red Robot (logo)
Publisher: Action Lab: Danger Zone
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