A magical land of imagination and infinite possibilities collides with very real dangers in this portal fantasy epic from a 
pair of debut comics writers who are here to show readers what they’re capable of.
Rose’s imperfect but bright childhood fell entirely to pieces in a single night when the land of her fantasies ended in bloodshed and horror the same night she lost her mother. Years later, institutionalized and with only her friend, Elliott, left to support her, Rose’s life is again upended by the discovery that the imaginary land she used to play in is very real.
And not only that, the violence she witnessed there as a child has raged in her absence, threatening the lives and futures of the colorful animal denizens who were once her loyal subjects. When Rose and Elliott are pulled between worlds by Rose’s faithful lieutenant—Wallace the purple elephant—they will find that lives and futures on both sides of the portal now hang in the balance.
Kill Your Darlings from Image Comics is complete in a single volume. With a couple time jumps across Rose’s life and interwoven with a historical legacy that carries dire implications in the present, this is a bright, colorful story with scarlet blood in its heart. Rose’s growth and isolation lie at the center of the comic, but the writers also capture questions of generational trauma, the flaws of childhood memory, and the power of joy even in the face of tragedy. It’s an immensely personal story of one young woman growing up with a past that haunts her; but across sweeping landscapes, it’s also a thrilling and dramatic fantasy epic complete with lovable creatures, fierce battles, and sinister powers lurking in the dark places of the world. If there’s one criticism to be made, it’s that the book’s ambition stretches a little beyond its reach.
For a debut told in a single volume, there are a lot of threads to be untangled and everything doesn’t quite have the space to breathe that it might deserve. Especially toward the ending, there are moments of plot and character where I would have loved to get even more time to watch things unfold with the level of development they deserve. But even this complaint is simply a desire for more of what the story has to offer, and what we do get remains a thrilling quest of heart, empathy, and grand adventure.
This may be a debut for two exciting new writers, but Quinn and Hill are no strangers to the world of comics and bring the art and visuals of worlds both real and imagined to vibrant life across these pages. Full of bright colors and fantastical designs, the artists take us into the wonders of a child’s imaginary kingdom. It’s not all rainbows and talking animals though on panels soaked with gore of overcome with dark magic. Shuttling the reader across time and worlds, the art is rich and delightful—albeit occasionally horrifying as well. Entire worlds feel larger than life with stakes that fit the setting, but the artists are equally able to capture the moments of heartache and uncertainty that make grand stories worth telling. It’s a great blend of realism and the dynamic visual possibilities that comics offer as a medium.
Kill Your Darlings rightly carries a mature rating. Don’t be fooled by the color and whimsy of the early pages; the story also includes graphic violence, child death, strong language, and some intense themes wrapped up together in a tale of adventure. It’s a story most meant for adults, but following Rose on the journey from childhood to adult understanding, there’s some narrative work here that’s sure to resonate with older teen readers who can handle a bit of blood spatter. Overall, a few hiccups in pacing and development aren’t enough to derail this wonderfully engaging story. Especially for readers of Kelly’s I Kill Giants, Gillen’s Die, or Young’s I Hate Fairyland, the blending of real-world issues with the tropes and visuals of epic fantasy make for a wild ride of a story that also has something much more personal to say. It’s worth adding to the shelves of any collection for older readers who like their fantasy stories wrapped up with themes and experiences that land quite a bit closer to home.
Kill Your Darlings
By Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, ,
Art by Bob Quinn
Image, 2024
ISBN: 9781534397828
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
