cover image Kill Them All

Kill Them All

Kyle Starks. Oni, $19.99 trade paper (184p) ISBN 978-1-62010-434-7

Originally the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign, this over-the-top action comedy by the creator of Sexcastle teams an ex-cop obsessed with returning from his fall from grace and an assassin in a crime cabal who is beginning to think she’s been duped; they’re up against an egomaniacal crime lord with no regard for anyone else. This is a love letter to 1990s action films, which means cliches are explored and spoofed, including cops as buddies, action scenes set on skyscrapers, and John Woo setups. As such, it’s less a story than a compilation of interlinking conventions of the genre accompanied by too-clever banter and explosive fight scenes. It’s a fine comedy for those already fans of ’90s action movies, but does result in some problematic moments, as with scenes of a woman’s domestic abuse being stuck in as cheap fodder for the male cop’s motivation in life. Some parts of ’90s entertainment are best left behind. (Oct.)