Killtopia

by Dave Cook, Clark Bint (artist), Craig Paton (artist)

“The epitome of mecha, cyberpunk storytelling” – collected for the very first time!

A high-speed, high stakes, cyberpunk adventure through Neo Tokyo – a neon-soaked metropolis governed by ruthless corporations and savage bloodsports.

Ten years ago, an unexplained explosion rocked the city’s Sector-K district leaving it home to a horde of rampaging, killer mecha and a lethal nanomachine plague known as ‘The Rot’.

Today, the sector is rebranded as ‘Killtopia’ – the most brutal bloodsport on the planet. High-tech hunters known as ‘Wreckers’ flood Japan to destroy the mechs in exchange for Rod medication, infinite wealth, and limitless social influence.

While on a routine hunt, a rookie Wrecker called Shinji encounters Crash, the world’s first sentient mecha. Shinji learns that The Rot’s cure lies within Crash’s code, and could save the life of his dying sister, Omi. Together Shinji, Crash and a misfit band of hackers and slum rats team up to cure The Rot while being hunted by Yakuza crime lords, android assassins and every Wrecker in Neo Tokyo.

Meanwhile, as the death toll of the hunt rises, an ancient digital entity watches the mayhem unfold from the shadows, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself to the wordl..,

Can Shinji and Crash survive long enough to cure the planet, or does the universe have bigger plans for our heroes?

The Complete Collection brings together issues 1-5 of the critically acclaimed series, previously published by BHP comics, plus extra bonus and behind-the-scenes material.

Genres: Science Fiction, Graphic Novels

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2024

Reviews

[Alex Sarll]

Dave Cook's introduction talks about wanting to move cyberpunk beyond the clichés, but all that really seems to mean is that he's not into trenchcoats. Killtopia is stitched together from very familiar components, whether that be the micro level of Zentradi, "Let's jam!" and "well futile", characters dressed as Marshal Law and Ash from Pokémon, or the macro of a plot where violent future sport keeps the populace distracted from rampant inequality and impending doom. True, the single robot who's started displaying signs of consciousness does eventually (SPOILER) push the story into a whole other area of SF, but even that ends up feeling like a Cybermen knock-off, before nosediving into that infuriating thing where an antagonist who previously had defined motivation just ends up as an all-purpose villain for villainy's sake. Worst of all, the story's Neo Tokyo (yes, another slightly too blatant nod) feels less frantic than the current version. Still, Cook's pages have a little of the kinetic cool of acknowledged influence Geof Darrow, and there are some entertaining moments along the way, usually courtesy of queen bitch Stiletto: "Just breathe. You're clearly not thinking straight. You want me to order you a mime you can slap around? That usually makes you feel better."

(Netgalley ARC)

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally read comics in one sitting, but this mesmerising volume is so full of colour, action, side cuts, and mayhem that it took me many little delves over many days to finish. There are so many characters, most intent on causing much harm and ending up being killed in outrageous fashion. There is a story that links all the parts together. But mostly over the top dark comic violence. Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Titan Books for my ARC copy.

I'm a huge fan of graphic novels and this one did not disappoint, it's so bright and vivid. With an easy to follow story and amazing art style, i would 100% recommend this even if its your first dip into Graphic novels.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dans l’univers Cyberpunk avec tout ce qui implique les multinationales qui dominent, l’écart gigantesque entre pauvres et riches, une violence omniprésente. La révolte pour retrouver un peu d’humanité chez le peuple qui sait que le gouvernement ne parle quand termes d’argent.

Énormément de Easter eggs dans cette BD. Ça vaut le regard sur les panneaux d’illustration.

«-Why do humans feel threatened by anyone who doesn’t look like them ? I have wrestled with this question ever since I set foot in sector K. If you’re not killing us, you’re either enslaving us or profiteering from our misery. We are not objets, we have a purpose.
-You’re right, but people are capable of changing Crash. We have a chance to help them see mechs in a new light. » • §₽ 148

[M.i. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killtopia reminds me of kickass cyberpunk stories like transmetropolitan. There’s that rage against the machine factor going for it, including the art style used to depict the techno chaos depicted in its society.

I enjoyed it, including the themes of rising up against oppressive factors.

[Shawn Ingle · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Halfway through I was still bored.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though there's a forward here by the author that he wanted to break some of the cliches of cyberpunk with this, I felt like it followed a lot of the same cliches. It's got all of the standard poor getting tromped on by the ultra rich here, kept in line by the hope of making it big in Killtopia where the winner of the battle royale strikes it rich while everyone else dies. There's also a robot faction that is being killed off due to a plague they unwittingly released on humans. It's not bad, but there's nothing new here either.

Craig Paton draws the first 2 chapters and his art is good. Clark Bint draws the last three and I'm not a fan of his frenetic, too much going on pages and panels I had a hard time following. It's the ADHD of comic book art.