It took little convincing for me to pick up I KILL GIANTS.
In my early comic book days, when I was fresh and adjusting to my comic book writing/art inclinations and distastes, I was forming a new relationship with a college mate. His backstory is tragic; he was a hardened and intensely apathetic person because of it but he did not hesitate when he spotted the trade paperback of I Kill Giants on the shelf of our usual comic book shop. As soon as he laid eyes on it, I watched as he instinctively slipped it out and held it firmly into his hands, keeping an uncharacteristically warm, unblinking eye contact with the book for a lingering moment.
He returned to full-motion and handed me the book, looked me straight in the eye, body parallel to mine, saying, "This is a great book, read it." He was so self-assuring without a hiccup or a waver-- I took the book into my hands, opened it up and flipped the pages-- I remember feeling drawn to the pages.
I won't go into the full storyline, but let me just say, Joe Kelly's writing in I KILL GIANTS brought me to tears and as I look longingly at the cover, the blue and red artistry brings out a stricken throat. As for Ken Niimura's art, I knew I had to have it once I opened the book. My friend and the art alone had me convinced.
My friend and I do have our differences but the point of commonality is tangible; we've pained, we've suffered, we've bled, and to quote, Kieron Gillen, a favorite comic book writer of mine: "We all bleed, for many reasons."
It's been about 1 and a half to two years since I've read I KILL GIANTS but it haunts and moves me still, like a ghostly monster that reminds me of the consequence of cowardice and the rewards of strength. I still recall indulging on what was supposed to be a "quick flip through" which turned into a complete reading of I KILL GIANTS on the subway. I sat there, pressing my hands onto the pages, trying to reach out to Barbara and trying to save those who were in harm's way. Niimura's pen drew a window that allowed me to watch Barbara's life unfold but separated me from disturbing the natural order of death and life-- a feat that is not simply accomplished with chicken scratch and heartless haranguing-- Kelly & Niimura, dream team~
This contest has given me a platform to be a relevant voice and to be heard by relatable persons, for that I am thankful, but I Kill Giants has given me the reason to write this, and for that I am grateful.
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