End of Life #1 is written by Kyle Starks and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Steve Pugh, colours by Chris O’Halloran and letters by Becca Carey. Main cover art (left) is by Gerald Parel.
End of Life #1 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Professional hitman Eddie Stallion has messed up. He’s accidentally robbed the Raven, a high-ranking boss of the international cabal of assassins, the Menagerie, of which Eddie is a member…or he was. Now with a price on his head, Eddie chooses to hide in the one place everyone knows he’d never go…the small midwestern town of Pluto, home of his estranged father and known hard-ass George Stallion.
Looking for safe harbour, Eddie instead finds his resentful father dying of cancer, old friends looking to collect that bounty, Menagerie assassins who have wandered into town, a cancelled newspaper comic-strip creator turned local crime lord, and oh yeah, his childhood first love, too.
Review
Only a few titles in, DC’s revived Vertigo imprint is showing no signs of slowing down and seems to be continuing that momentum with Kyle Starks’ invigorating new series End of Life.
From page one, Starks throws us headfirst into the action along with instantly sharp and witty dialogue that will undoubtedly define this series. From the opening phone call with his handler, it is clear that Eddie is going to be a ridiculously enjoyable protagonist to follow…despite how dumb he is. He can be best summed up as the loveable idiot who always puts his foot into deep shit, whether he realises it or not, and boy is he good at doing so.
There are many instances throughout this first issue that give us a strong idea of how proficient he is as a hitman. Still, unfortunately, he constantly does or says stuff before thinking about it, this is what gets him into increasingly dire circumstances which makes everything that much funnier in the moment for us, the readers. Eddie’s stupidity and the hijinks that unfold around him are complemented by a lively tone and snappy pace that keep every twist in his evolving predicament just as riveting as the last.
Steve Pugh’s artwork also does a great job of conveying that playful side to End of Life. The action is flashy, and his conciseness within the illustrations cleverly bleeds movement over panels, adding to that fast pace that makes it endlessly engaging. The frenetic nature of the art, along with the comedic expressions that heighten the growing insanity, is matched perfectly with Chris O’Halloran’s heavily stylised use of colours. Each setting is bright and bursting with life whilst still feeling distinct enough from the last; no two locations feel the same, and this allows for a great sense of juxtaposition between louder and quieter moments.
As the issue progresses, we get a glimpse into Eddie’s personal life as well as his strained relationship with his father. The tense conversations between him and his dad lead to some comically petty exchanges that also reveal a more tragic side to Eddie’s gung-ho lifestyle. A specific line from Eddie as he attempts to justify why he disliked a scarf his mother got him one Christmas did get a chuckle from me as he shows no sympathy whatsoever.
End of Life gets off to a fantastic start with this first issue. It’s incredibly entertaining, hilariously written and impeccably illustrated. All of this is confidently glued together with a brilliantly naive lead in the form of Eddie Stallion, who makes every page just as captivating as the last. He may not be the smartest hitman in the world, but he’s one that you instantly want to see more of because of his arrogance and personality. Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of this as soon as you can.
Verdict
Everything from its razor-sharp humour to its stylish artwork and chaotic energy is pitch-perfect, proving wholeheartedly that End of Life means business and that this relaunch of the Vertigo imprint is no one-trick pony.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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