Kill or Be Killed #8 Review (Image)

Written by: Ed Brubaker
Artists: Elizabeth Breitweiser, Sean Phillips
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 26, 2017
Review by: Ryan Douglas

I don’t have friends, I have thousands of acquaintances

It’s as if each month Kill or Be Killed comes out we’re reading the next page of Dylan’s journal. Feels like you found your best friends journal post him going down a dark path and learning all his secrets. Ed Brubaker has mentioned he plans to make this the longest series he’s done with this collaborative team. So I’m in for the slow burn, getting a week in the life of Dylan each month and seeing how this all plays out. Let’s see what Dylan is getting into today.

We open the issue seeing Dylan making his way through the subway station and him catching us up on the state of the city. Since his vigilante crusades, the NYPD have the presence of police around the city. This actually feeds into Dylan's ego making him proud he’s caused all this. Although his narration indicates when we finally do catch up with Dylan in the present he may regret this all.

The issue jumps to Dylan’s apartment and we see Daisy and him hanging out. Daisy is looking for his dad’s art and mention he should consider showing them at a local gallery. Dylan doesn’t feel comfortable with the idea. While they carry on the conversation Daisy brings up his father death. Here you would think Dylan would open to his girlfriend. But instead, decides to twist the truth of how his father died. Dylan starts to inform the reader as good as things were going with Daisy it felt unreal. I’m really starting to think his dad’s stories and the artwork is an indication they are influencing his decisions.

That night while laying in bed with Daisy his thoughts are racing through his head and can’t sleep. Dylan begins to reminisce on the first night he met Kira and opened up about his father’s suicide. This is where the previous issue that focused on Kira plays in perfectly. Ed Brubaker does a great job weaving the two storylines smoothly and impactful.

The next night while Daisy and Dylan are out getting dinner he’s completely zoned out and all his thoughts are focused elsewhere. When they return back to the apartment we see Mason, who’s been become a bit more of a jerk since breaking up with Kira. But he’s watching the news where we find out a teenager has been playing dress as the vigilante. The police did a number on him sending him to the hospital with plenty of bruises and broken bones. Now that’s just only going to make things worse for the police state New York is in. 

As the two are getting ready for bed. Dylan goes to take his meds and finally notices they are missing. Not being able to get ahold of his dealer, he can only leave a voicemail for the time being. Couple days go by and still no word from Rex. But Dylan has something to occupy him while he waits.

It’s that time of the month for Dylan and he’s found his next target. Dylan isn’t all there cause his naive and carelessness leads to him botching the kill. This sends Dylan having to run from the scene and get away quick. After he’s able to get away he finally gets a call from Rex and Dylan can’t be happier. Unfortunately, his past mistake will be catching up with him real soon.  

Another well written and paced issue. Though the previous issue focused on Kira and felt as a way to just give her character development. It’s still woven into this issue's story tieing the two perfectly. Which gave me, even more, appreciation for the previous issue. The story doesn’t move forward much. But knowing we’re in for the long haul each issue is still important and there are many clues to help theorize what’s coming. There are still other factors not seen in this issue while will be key for what’s come. I’m going to give a prediction and say Dylan is telling this story either from his jail cell or on trial. Each month I get giddy when I get to read a new issue. The art continues to be some of the best work I’ve seen from the collaboration of Elizabeth Breitweiser and Sean Phillips.

Bits and Pieces:

We’re in for the long haul with the series. But Ed Brubaker is planting plenty of clues making it fun to theorizing how things will end up for Dylan. With this month’s cliffhanger, things seem to be ramping up and about to blow up in Dylan’s face.

8.0/10