Killtopia Phantoms #1 Review - A Dark, Stylish Return to Neo‑Tokyo

How about an incredible new chapter in the Neon-saturated splendiferousness of Neo-Tokyo? A new age of fear in sci-fi cyberpunk genre gloriousness, with art that stamps a banner for why it's one of the best in the business. It's a return to the world of Killtopia with Killtopia Phantoms #1 by Dave Cook and Clark Bint.

Dave Cook is a writer, a multi-award-winning author no less. Previous works include the stunning first arc of Killtopia (reviews here & here), BPM: Beatsdown Per Minute, Ninja Baseball Spirits and Bust. He has also written two books on gaming history: Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide To Side-Scrolling Beat 'em' Ups and Run' n' Gun: A History of On-foot Shooters.

Clark Bint is an artist and creator from Oxford and an absolute talent, much loved here at CBNUK. His interior works span Killtopia, Frank On The Farm and Murder Most Mundane. He also has a treasure trove of cover work to his name.

Emma Oosterhous is a cartoonist from Colorado now based in the UK. Her previous work includes illustrating Grand Slam Romance. She also has an upcoming graphic novel, Gay Persuasion, to be published by Avery Hill.

Last, but by no means least, is the returning series letterer Micah Myers. He has worked on comics for DC, Image, Dark Horse, IDW, Mad Cave and ComiXology, as well as creating his own book The Disasters. Notably, note-worthy, nicer than chicken nuggets, creatives noted, let's review Killtopia Phantoms #1.

So, let's start with the art. What a treat it always is to see Clark's name in the credits. Not that you'd need to, with the unmistakable style and beautiful artwork he always creates. The cover is your starter for ten that sits at an 11 in the Spinal Tap rules of awesome. It's a mixed media tone setter of delight. From there, we open on a countryside scene panel that feels very much like classic Clark professional art. Apart from being very pretty, I note this panel for its benchmark properties for what is to come.

What is to come is without doubt the most Clark Bint, Clark Bint art I have had the pleasure of witnessing. By this I mean the skill, quality, and style on offer positively radiate beauty and confidence. The ability on show looks as polished as ever, to create mind-bending art. The character work is full of life and style that is uniquely Clark's. His ability to create beyond cinematic art is unrivalled. Now let's talk about action, because Clark's art captures real magic in these moments. The presentation of action grabs like an intimate choke hold between consenting adults. There's a hint of real danger, surpassed by so much pleasure. The intricacy of detail on offer is worthy of cultish devotion, making this comic's art worth returning to again and again.

Emma Oosterhous provides colours worthy of this magically majestic art. The vibrancy and quality are so impactful that S&M fetishists would flinch. Emma's colours offer stunning enhancing effects to Clark's inks, showcasing everything brilliant about both artists' abilities. To cap off this epic presentation, Micah Myers adds inventive lettering of its own artistic merit. Finishing off things idealistically. Cyberpunk action in comics never looked so good, period. Beautifully unified art, now let's talk about the story.

Dave Cook brings us back to Neo-Tokyo five years on from the first arc's setting and the explosive ending of Killtopia as a sport. With returning character Bloody Mary in the starring role, we're led through narration to a very interesting house guest. Then on to the event that has rocked Neo-Tokyo and every citizen that inhabits it by impacting their day-to-day existence - Ghost Night, when reality itself blurred. The new normal is a medicated mass due to the mass mind hack event. There's a terrifying consequence and another returning character.

The allegories here could stack like Tetris blocks. Thoughts of fear, anxiety, conformity and capitalism and their ripples through society jumping to mind first. The thought experiment I felt was most tangible and frightening raised here would be something much more literal rather than esoteric. I feel it's these questions that are the jumping-off point for the plot. What Dave and Clark have done here is manifest, create and deliver the first step on a petrifying road. Not just from a horror perspective, but also on the cyberpunk genre landscape. This is a monumental shift in just how exceptional storytelling here can be.

This is another example of the pure, unadulterated beauty on offer in independent comics. In every meaningful way, a series for all strong-minded and strong-stomached comic book fans.

For fans of Cyberpunk, sci-fi, action, police thrillers, horror, wicked humour, the ultimate manifestation of the fear of parenthood brought to a horrifying visual peak in a gloriously ugly big red baby, Hot Meat delivery (yes, you read that right, cheeky), you need Killtopia action again. It is so good and art that can redefine the cyberpunk landscape with its killer team and unrivalled action depictions. Download a copy of Killtopia Phantoms #1.

To get your copy, you need to go to davecookcomics.bigcartel.com. It's a one-stop shop for all your Killtopia wants and needs.

Review: The easiest 5+/5