I’ve commented before that delays are often fatal to a series. “Kill All Immortals” in particular has been really hot and bubbling since the fourth issue in October. Not only did we discover the source of Viking immortality, but Frey made some terrible sacrifices in preparation for his final showdown with his family.
So will having to wait several months be a hindrance to this deep story of family drama and end-of-life capitalism? Or will the power and intrigue of the Vikings make just a few months a long lunch? In the end, we got a mostly strong finale and maybe even a bright future for Kill All Immortals, so it might have been worth the delay.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
Following issue #4, we had to cover some very high (or low?) points, so we had a lot of time to simmer. How will Frey approach this confrontation? How should she deal with what she did to Owen? And how will her family treat her after all this? A little more time would mean we could feel the true weight of these people’s lives, much like writer Zach Kaplan has done for the first four issues of Kill All Immortals. , he deeply influenced us all the way to the end of the series.
What we got was the kind of big, visceral battles we really wanted. The art team of artist Fico Osio, colorist Thiago Rocha, and letterer Hassan Otsman-Elhaou re-presents a very personal and large-scale bloody battle between Frey and the rest of the Asvald clan. . Everyone and their mother has been calling this series “John Wick-esque” since the beginning, and this issue has been as brutal and unforgiving as ever. There’s something deeply moving about crying about your family while being partially vivisected, or about honor and business with a sword in your chest. Somehow the blood felt darker and more intense, and even as we understood its larger, contextual value, we came to feel the release of such violence.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
Similarly, the family battles were structured and played out in a way that wasn’t just sweet bloodshed. For example, the brothers all fight in ways that feel deeply indicative of their characters. Stein is more lithe and more prone to surprise attacks, which speaks to his nature as the youngest child. Thor is physically fit and strong, which speaks to his mental stability and larger role within the family. And the oldest, Leaf, struggles with the anger and intensity of someone who clearly has a lot to prove. But even those expert displays paled in how father Eric was present on the page. He tore apart his offspring with brutal efficiency, and managed to act just as he did with his own children, in a way that conveyed deep connection and understanding.
Sure, that cohesiveness became skewed as the fathers beat the kids, but it’s because the action and visuals as a whole give us blood and guts while slowly giving us these deep character insights. It’s even more telling of how it’s crafted to reveal. That even if your mouth falls slack at the sheer violence of every panel, you can resonate with and get to know these characters with a power you’ve never seen before. This is just another way that Kill All Immortals is amazing in that way, trying to make these characters and their deliberate developments important, no matter how much blood gets splattered. This is a testament to the true power of this series, and why it has become so much more than its premise and inspiration.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
At the same time, the real “hook” of this finale isn’t all that subtle or nuanced. I don’t want to spoil too much, but the fight scenes may be a little too obvious. It is a path that you have already foreseen, and it means that the father must truly atone for his evil ways at the hands of his children. And from that whole path/arc, I feel a few different ways.
First, I thought it was a little too on the nose. Yes, it’s something we all saw coming at some point, and it has to happen if our sons are to learn any lessons. If the father pays some karmic justice. And if Frey’s path becomes solid and her uneven journey becomes meaningful. But it still happens that parts feel too uneven.
Yes, I love how it starts with Thor, for example, who had this solid emotional presence throughout Kill All Immortals. If big change is going to happen, it has to start with great people. On the other hand, Leaf’s transition to the “winner” side felt a little awkward and half-hearted. I’m glad he finally joined his brothers in one last true showdown, but it could have happened more intentionally and meaningfully.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
Still, even with these “failures,” I think the more obvious levels and payoffs for the viewer, as well as the fairly overt pacing and approach, would actually work. I’ve already mentioned the John Wick-esque nature, but part of the appeal of this story is that, yes, things don’t just happen the way you want them to, they happen in very bright, bold, obvious ways. is. I think the approach is not to phone it in, but rather to contextualize the pain and anguish we feel for these characters in a way that makes sure we get a strong resolution.
While we wrestle with them, relief will be great, inevitable, and all-consuming. There’s no need to be sly or subtle in every gesture; being direct and in your face reminds us of why we invest in these stories and why we care in the first place. Masu. The rewards in life aren’t always so flashy, but in Kill All Immortals, important events fall like an ax to the face and we all learn that our hard work and dedication earn us just that. You will be happier and more satisfied.
After all, the overt way of life of the Children of Asvald shows that the page has been turned (in a loud and bloody way), that they have become more connected and united over the centuries, and that they are He assured us that we are free to live or not. they wanted to do that. And, sure, the big question plaguing them was triple-revealed to us in a different, slightly awkward way, but there’s a purpose here too. It’s good to shout change/development from the rooftops, and sometimes it’s good to make people really realize what’s going on because it no longer exists and the characters occupy a new world. I am. So what’s fun is not just celebrating these accomplishments, but the fact that their pain and sacrifice really meant something, and the fact that we’re facing new challenges and opportunities with these characters. It’s about being satisfied.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
I can’t say what those challenges are, but the book has a neat little ending that reveals or teases a possible second chapter of Kill All Immortals. Again, without giving too much away, it’s completely on-brand and has some neat little twists to make the most of this “family of immortal warriors” premise. And if that happens, I’m totally on board considering the events of Kill All Immortals Part 1.
But even if nothing else happens, Kill All Immortals ends here, and I’m completely satisfied. Yes, there were some very blatant and slightly awkward bumps along the way. But overall this book/story gave us everything we wanted. Characters move and grow in a dark and complex world. And great insight on the subject. (Given this book’s concern with capitalism, neobabies, and transparency, the ending should give the elites the fear of God.)
Just waiting made it even clearer. Kill All Immortals is a hell of a book about family, lineage, and what happens when you hold your destiny in your hands with the power of blood and emotion.
“Kill All Immortals” #5 swings the ax for a truly solid, if not perfect ending
Kill all immortals #5
Although there were some significant hiccups along the way, this finale shows off the true visual and thematic power of “Kill All Immortals.”
The fight scenes are massive, gory, and filled with huge subtext.
Good theme development, often strategic and/or subtle.
I truly believe this ending is satisfying enough for a truly solid story/series.
Some aspects, such as family loyalty, were a bit uneven and clunky.
While satisfying, this issue feels a bit short or underdeveloped in important parts.
