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The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: National Anthem
Forget everything you already knew about the Fabulous Killjoys! Writers Gerard Way and Shaun Simon, along with Illustrator Leonardo Romero ( Hawkeye ), colorist Jordie Bellaire ( Redlands ), and letterer Nate Piekos ( The Umbrella Academy ) team up to present an all-new modern day Killjoys series, as Way and Simon take it all the way back to the original story that inspired My Chemical Romance's concept album Danger Days and its dystopian comic book series in The True Lives of the Fabulous National Anthem .
The Fabulous Killjoys, once a group of teenage exterminators determined to save reality, have lost their way--and their memories. After a period of mental confinement, former Killjoys leader Mike Milligram gets de-programmed and hits the road to bring the gang back together for a final showdown against an evil pharmaceutical corporation, their monstrous hitman, and savage gang rivals.
This oversized hardcover collects issues #1-#6 of National Anthem --the Deluxe format also includes a slipcase designed by Tony Ong, an exclusive print by Leonardo Romero and Jordie Bellaire, as well as a brand new eight-page Killjoys story exclusive to the hardcovers.
The Fabulous Killjoys, once a group of teenage exterminators determined to save reality, have lost their way--and their memories. After a period of mental confinement, former Killjoys leader Mike Milligram gets de-programmed and hits the road to bring the gang back together for a final showdown against an evil pharmaceutical corporation, their monstrous hitman, and savage gang rivals.
This oversized hardcover collects issues #1-#6 of National Anthem --the Deluxe format also includes a slipcase designed by Tony Ong, an exclusive print by Leonardo Romero and Jordie Bellaire, as well as a brand new eight-page Killjoys story exclusive to the hardcovers.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2020
49 people are currently reading
689 people want to read
About the author
Gerard Way
227 books4,532 followersGerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and comic book writer who served as frontman, lead vocalist, and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance from the time of its formation in 2001 until its breakup in 2013. He is the author of the Eisner Award-winning comic book series The Umbrella Academy (now a Netflix original series) and The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. In January 2014, he announced via Twitter that he and artist Gabriel Ba will begin work on Umbrella Academy Volumes 3 & 4 in late 2014/early 2015. His debut solo album Hesitant Alien was released on September 30, 2014. Way lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife Lindsey (bassist of Mindless Self Indulgence) and their daughter, Bandit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
June 3, 2021
The series juts ahead 10 years where all the Killjoys have grown up and gotten jobs, falling into the same traps they'd always looked out for. This story was more coherent than the original, although it still had its obtuse moments. I think that just goes with Gerard Way's style of writing. He doesn't always care to explain "Why?".
Leonardo Romero's art was solid. I typically like Jordie Bellaire's coloring but this was a garish explosion of conflicting colors. It was sometimes an assault on the eyes.
Received a review copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss
Leonardo Romero's art was solid. I typically like Jordie Bellaire's coloring but this was a garish explosion of conflicting colors. It was sometimes an assault on the eyes.
Received a review copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss
May 9, 2021
Let us start by me saying I did not like the original Fabulous Killjoys book. I did not like it one bit.
Good news! I liked this book quite a bit! I think it's because it feels less dependant on the song this series was initially based on. National Anthem has much more flow, and feels like an actual story instead of some cool ideas thrown together.
Don't get me wrong - the central ideas presented here still feel like what a high school teenager might think is mindblowing and/or revolutionary, but they are at least integrated into the story and not just slathered on top.
That said, there's an epilogue that no one needs, and that rushes through a couple of plotpoints that had me scratching my head.
The art is really good, as is the colouring - the kind of colouring that seems to be angling for you to have some kind of aneurysm.
Not a wholehearted thumbs up, but at least more fun.
Fun thumbs up. Fumbs up!
(Thanks to Dark Horse Books for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)
Good news! I liked this book quite a bit! I think it's because it feels less dependant on the song this series was initially based on. National Anthem has much more flow, and feels like an actual story instead of some cool ideas thrown together.
Don't get me wrong - the central ideas presented here still feel like what a high school teenager might think is mindblowing and/or revolutionary, but they are at least integrated into the story and not just slathered on top.
That said, there's an epilogue that no one needs, and that rushes through a couple of plotpoints that had me scratching my head.
The art is really good, as is the colouring - the kind of colouring that seems to be angling for you to have some kind of aneurysm.
Not a wholehearted thumbs up, but at least more fun.
Fun thumbs up. Fumbs up!
(Thanks to Dark Horse Books for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)
July 12, 2021
wait um. mike milligram is like. really sexy ok
August 10, 2024
do I need to explain my rating?
many people will say that Gerard has a creative mind when it comes to characters and has nice concepts, but his writing style is comfusing and he doesn't know how to tell a story. it either doesn't make sense or your brain starts to boil like fried oil trying to perceive the main idea.
my oppinion is that Gerard's storytelling is not for everybody. not many people can make a honest and clear impression about their writing because there are not many people that will actually UNDERSTAND their way of narating. and that's why I love it so much.
I will read everything this man has written and will write. I am one of the biggest fans of his works and I'm so glad I live in the same lifetime with him.
and I love the killjoys as much as I love Gerard, and especially I love Mike and Kara and Jaime with my whole heart. I really hope we'll get to see them again even for a few pages.
many people will say that Gerard has a creative mind when it comes to characters and has nice concepts, but his writing style is comfusing and he doesn't know how to tell a story. it either doesn't make sense or your brain starts to boil like fried oil trying to perceive the main idea.
my oppinion is that Gerard's storytelling is not for everybody. not many people can make a honest and clear impression about their writing because there are not many people that will actually UNDERSTAND their way of narating. and that's why I love it so much.
I will read everything this man has written and will write. I am one of the biggest fans of his works and I'm so glad I live in the same lifetime with him.
and I love the killjoys as much as I love Gerard, and especially I love Mike and Kara and Jaime with my whole heart. I really hope we'll get to see them again even for a few pages.
June 18, 2021
Amazing, I love the artstyle used in the killjoy comics, it makes me want to frame every page and just hang it on my wall.
June 20, 2025
Mike milligram sexy as hell. love the lore. Gerard way please let me dissect your brain.
September 10, 2021
It stands to mention I knew nothing about this book going in. I didn’t know it was a redux, spun off the original, which was a comic that went along with the author’s band concept album. I don’t even know that much about the author outside of Umbrella Academy, which is notably one of the few books extant that fared infinitely nicer as a tv adaptation. I know he was in My Chemical Romance, but that knowledge is academical, not fan based.
But the thing is, he does write comics like a musician. They have that certain energy. This one’s all hip, punk and angsty and the characters riffs like guitar chords, but outside of that manic frantic tonal arrangement, this wasn’t that great. It was fun, but not great.
Killjoys are one of many gangs that exist in Way’s comic universe. Years ago they’ve abandoned their wild ways and went on a straight and narrow. The main character, Mike (who looks exactly like one of the older kids on Stranger Things or maybe/likely he’s meant to look like Way himself), these days is working at a grocery story, seeing the love of his life dying in his arms proved to be too much excitement in his past life. But then some excrement hits the fan and Mike gets the gang together and they go back to their old ways of cruising and bruising and silly getups. Like a music video, in a way. One of those that are made to look like short movies.
So the story wasn’t exactly for me, but art was pretty good. Way teamed up with yet another Brazilian artist, it seems, and the result is a wild, retro styled technicolor ride that wouldn’t be out of place in the 80s.
Overall, it was entertaining enough and read quickly. I’m not in love, the chemicals aren’t being fired up for this romance, but it was a decent diversion for about 60 minutes.
But the thing is, he does write comics like a musician. They have that certain energy. This one’s all hip, punk and angsty and the characters riffs like guitar chords, but outside of that manic frantic tonal arrangement, this wasn’t that great. It was fun, but not great.
Killjoys are one of many gangs that exist in Way’s comic universe. Years ago they’ve abandoned their wild ways and went on a straight and narrow. The main character, Mike (who looks exactly like one of the older kids on Stranger Things or maybe/likely he’s meant to look like Way himself), these days is working at a grocery story, seeing the love of his life dying in his arms proved to be too much excitement in his past life. But then some excrement hits the fan and Mike gets the gang together and they go back to their old ways of cruising and bruising and silly getups. Like a music video, in a way. One of those that are made to look like short movies.
So the story wasn’t exactly for me, but art was pretty good. Way teamed up with yet another Brazilian artist, it seems, and the result is a wild, retro styled technicolor ride that wouldn’t be out of place in the 80s.
Overall, it was entertaining enough and read quickly. I’m not in love, the chemicals aren’t being fired up for this romance, but it was a decent diversion for about 60 minutes.
May 20, 2022
I want to make out with this art style it’s just so gorgeous. I also enjoyed the story and thought it was great
Read
April 7, 2021A sequel to the comic expanding on the story of the patchiest My Chemical Romance album, which I enjoyed much more than that suggests. I wanted to describe it as equal parts Blake and Banksy, but when you think about it, most art in which sexy young insurgents see the reality behind the lies and homogeneity peddled by the Man are equal parts visionary brilliance and embarrassing twaddle - consider the Sex Pistols, or the Matrix trilogy. Though mood-wise, closer comparisons would be Doom Patrol (hardly news when it comes to Way's influences) and Repo Man. Romero and Bellaire make it look amazing, all artificial flavourings and washed-out suburbs - and even give the car chases a sense of thrill, which is famously tough in comics. You know when lazy hack pop artists stole the look of old comics and made out that was a creative act? The look here is comics stealing that back. The conclusion feels like it could happily have run another issue, but also manages to pay off on a note much more nuanced and satisfying than I'd have expected, even as I was relishing the sugared-up thrill of the ride.
June 20, 2022
oh god I can feel myself regressing back to my 14yo self
September 16, 2023
(maybe slight spoilers)
you spend the first 2 reads of the comic trying to understand all lore and meanings behind obscure terms, such as mom and dad being names of artificial intelligence, trying to understand why people are so distant with each other and just trying to understand in general *what* is happening.
the book is really good, the artstyle perfectly captures the moments characters are put in, alongside colours being accurate to the mood and emotions felt by characters. the lore feels complicated and all over the place at times, but that's also typical for gerard way's comics. timeline goes both to current and past, which makes it harder to read if you're not paying enough attention.
characters are pretty likeable, with good and sensible trans character introduction. as a part of lgbt community myself I appreciated it being good done.
the lore continues on to the lore from the album Danger Days: The True Lives of The Fabulous Killjoys by my chemical romance, so if you liked the book you may want to give it a listen :}
in general, the comic deserves a few good and attentive reads to fully grasp the concept. I recommend it wholeheartedly, as it is a good and interesting piece of art, thanks to both creative lore and amazing art.
you spend the first 2 reads of the comic trying to understand all lore and meanings behind obscure terms, such as mom and dad being names of artificial intelligence, trying to understand why people are so distant with each other and just trying to understand in general *what* is happening.
the book is really good, the artstyle perfectly captures the moments characters are put in, alongside colours being accurate to the mood and emotions felt by characters. the lore feels complicated and all over the place at times, but that's also typical for gerard way's comics. timeline goes both to current and past, which makes it harder to read if you're not paying enough attention.
characters are pretty likeable, with good and sensible trans character introduction. as a part of lgbt community myself I appreciated it being good done.
the lore continues on to the lore from the album Danger Days: The True Lives of The Fabulous Killjoys by my chemical romance, so if you liked the book you may want to give it a listen :}
in general, the comic deserves a few good and attentive reads to fully grasp the concept. I recommend it wholeheartedly, as it is a good and interesting piece of art, thanks to both creative lore and amazing art.
July 1, 2025
art in this is SOOOOO stunning. will say back cover was not kidding when it said "forget everything you already knew about the fabulous killjoys!" that being said i found this to be a super interesting story and its def more coherent (if that makes sense) than the original (as in you don't really need to know all the danger days lore). ALSO i need mike's mother mary save us jacket soooooooo bad.
December 27, 2022
I’ll always be attached to the Danger Days album and the 2013 Killjoys comic - not necessarily because the 2013 comic was *well written*, but because Killjoys’ worldbuilding is truly insane, has a bunch of potential, and i have spent a long time living up Gerard Way’s nostril following his work everywhere.
Now obviously, National Anthem is a new piece of work, but it’s one whose early development inspired what would eventually become Danger Days, so it’s natural that there’d be comparisons. For the rest of this review, I’m gonna stick to bullet points:
- As always, with regards to artists, Way and Simon and their editors know how to pick ‘em!! This is truly an incredibly beautiful book to look at and hold - Bellaire’s colouring is so aesthetically suited and efficient, and Romero’s skill at layouts is amazing! The paper quality is ALSO fantastic to touch - imitating pulp comic paper textures, while still staying physically strong.
- Every Gerard comic has vomiting or Weird Pregnancy or both :/ Gerard nooo
- Gerard’s skills at character writing have improved a bit! I feel a bit more like these characters are Characters in their canon than i do with DD Killjoys - one of Gerard’s biggest writing flaws is to cram too many plot elements into too short a storyline, which funks up the pacing and leaves little time for character development (fans of DD Killjoys had to fill this in themselves). It possibly helps that this is a physically hefty book, feeling thicker than the Danger Days one - does make me yearn a bit for what Danger Days could have been if Gerard and Shaun had more time and page space to really flesh it out.
- That being said, the one character who gets the least character development is Max. All other characters at least get flashbacks, and even the shortest glimpses into the trauma they channel to make their powers work (even Kara gets more backstory time than him, and hers is a few panels), but Max gets none of that. And ignoring the only black character in what is structured as an ensemble cast is... not great?
- I think you could argue that there is confusion as to whether the underlying theme of this book is consistent from beginning to end, but like... does a comic need Themes? is it not enough to just vibe?
Overall, it’s clear that Way put a lot of work into this, possibly more pacing planning than with 2013 Killjoys, but I’ll forever be biased towards Danger Days’ Mad Max style world, and everything fans have done with it.
Kara 100% fucking rules though.
Now obviously, National Anthem is a new piece of work, but it’s one whose early development inspired what would eventually become Danger Days, so it’s natural that there’d be comparisons. For the rest of this review, I’m gonna stick to bullet points:
- As always, with regards to artists, Way and Simon and their editors know how to pick ‘em!! This is truly an incredibly beautiful book to look at and hold - Bellaire’s colouring is so aesthetically suited and efficient, and Romero’s skill at layouts is amazing! The paper quality is ALSO fantastic to touch - imitating pulp comic paper textures, while still staying physically strong.
- Every Gerard comic has vomiting or Weird Pregnancy or both :/ Gerard nooo
- Gerard’s skills at character writing have improved a bit! I feel a bit more like these characters are Characters in their canon than i do with DD Killjoys - one of Gerard’s biggest writing flaws is to cram too many plot elements into too short a storyline, which funks up the pacing and leaves little time for character development (fans of DD Killjoys had to fill this in themselves). It possibly helps that this is a physically hefty book, feeling thicker than the Danger Days one - does make me yearn a bit for what Danger Days could have been if Gerard and Shaun had more time and page space to really flesh it out.
- That being said, the one character who gets the least character development is Max. All other characters at least get flashbacks, and even the shortest glimpses into the trauma they channel to make their powers work (even Kara gets more backstory time than him, and hers is a few panels), but Max gets none of that. And ignoring the only black character in what is structured as an ensemble cast is... not great?
- I think you could argue that there is confusion as to whether the underlying theme of this book is consistent from beginning to end, but like... does a comic need Themes? is it not enough to just vibe?
Overall, it’s clear that Way put a lot of work into this, possibly more pacing planning than with 2013 Killjoys, but I’ll forever be biased towards Danger Days’ Mad Max style world, and everything fans have done with it.
Kara 100% fucking rules though.
February 7, 2023
esse livro é a ideia original dos killjoys criada lá em 2008, antes deles virarem um projeto de mychem, e finalmente contada em 2020. por ser a ideia original dos criadores, sem influências externas, e com mais de uma década pra amadurecer, eu esperava gostar mais dela do que da história dos killjoys de 2010-13, mas não foi o caso — talvez seja sobre uma experiência de estar aos 30 e tantos anos que eu ainda não tenho, e eu mude de opinião no futuro. no momento, sinto que gosto muito do *conceito* da obra e não tanto da execução, especialmente com a kara, personagem trans. estamos falando da temática central de esquecermos memórias e coisas ruins para que apenas o “bom” reste; tem tanta coisa interessante para se explorar com uma personagem trans aqui! me decepcionei que ela foi quem teve a história menos interessante do grupo (apenas uma discussão com o marido que nem relevante é). num elenco com tão poucos personagens em que todo mundo teve um momento, me decepcionei. de certo modo, sinto que essa história é mais “tradicional” do que a história dos killjoys de mychem, então é menos meu estilo.
August 14, 2021
Killjoys never die
January 25, 2023
Mike Milligram I love you so much
February 4, 2023
I loved this more than the first comic, also the art style!!!
July 17, 2023
2.5*
gerard way i love u so much but u cannot write a cohesive story. i’m sorry. extra half star for the truly stunning art <3
gerard way i love u so much but u cannot write a cohesive story. i’m sorry. extra half star for the truly stunning art <3
July 22, 2022
"Against the sun we raise our broken fists and give thanks to the dead, for we may never get another chance to say goodbye."
I’ve been wanting this for a long time as a long time MCR fan who really appreciates the Danger Days album and its expanded universe. While I loved the art style and coloring there are a lot of issues with the story that I just can't ignore. Gerard Way is a great writer, but album writing and comic book writing are two completely different things. Taking an idea from a concept album and transforming it into a written story is incredibly difficult, and it shows throughout this nearly 200 page collection, which somehow still feels too short. Albums are more lucid and require less explanation, as lyrics don't need a background and can frankly be anything, as long as they speak to our musical mind. However, comics and stories as a whole need exposition and explanations of settings, villains etc. When listening to a song you can just throw yourself into its lack of context. When reading you can’t.
To be more specific, the role of the Killjoys is briefly mentioned in very vague terms specific to the Danger Days universe. As a long time fan of the band and someone who has done tons of online research into the Killjoys lore, I still can't really explain exactly what the Distortions and Noise Eaters are, and don't even get me started on trying to explaining what the hell "Mom and Dad" are supposed to be. I also figured out about 3/4 into the fifth issue that every character has a power- something that should have been made abundantly clear from the beginning. I had to do a double take when Jamie started growing claws out of nowhere and flip through my copy to see if I was missing some pages- an action I found myself doing frequently.
Pacing is also an issue- the flashback scenes felt well rounded and necessary, but towards the middle of the book characters were moving locations, changing goals and having major realizations all within a few panels of each other. It quickly became overwhelming, and I feel that the novel and its characters could have been more fully fleshed out if they were simply given more time to move through these events.
Despite my gripes, I don't regret purchasing this book. Diehard MCR fans will be delighted by even the smallest of references- (Here's a couple. In this universe SCARECROW is the Drac from the two music videos, not an atomic bomb, Mike Miligram's character is quite obviously based off Gerard Way's iconic Party Poison character, and the Trans-AM, (aka the car that 16 year old me would have done anything to drive in) appears in all of its glory.) Characters in the book also share suspicious similarities to members of band. Speaking of characters, the designs in this book are PHENOMENAL. I could spend hours staring at the reference sheets included in the back of my copy. The book itself is also very well put together, it has thick textured pages that are constantly bursting with color, the use of which is very impressive throughout this book. There's a part of me that wants to take pages of this out and place them on my wall to stare at forever, but I'd never defile a book. It's also definitely one of the higher quality comic books that I have seen.
Overall, this graphic novel feels like a collection of ideas and characters that are very loosely strewn together with very little explanation or pacing. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone without prior experience to the Killjoys Universe, but I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for some phenomenal art or just love MCR's 2010 masterpiece.
I’ve been wanting this for a long time as a long time MCR fan who really appreciates the Danger Days album and its expanded universe. While I loved the art style and coloring there are a lot of issues with the story that I just can't ignore. Gerard Way is a great writer, but album writing and comic book writing are two completely different things. Taking an idea from a concept album and transforming it into a written story is incredibly difficult, and it shows throughout this nearly 200 page collection, which somehow still feels too short. Albums are more lucid and require less explanation, as lyrics don't need a background and can frankly be anything, as long as they speak to our musical mind. However, comics and stories as a whole need exposition and explanations of settings, villains etc. When listening to a song you can just throw yourself into its lack of context. When reading you can’t.
To be more specific, the role of the Killjoys is briefly mentioned in very vague terms specific to the Danger Days universe. As a long time fan of the band and someone who has done tons of online research into the Killjoys lore, I still can't really explain exactly what the Distortions and Noise Eaters are, and don't even get me started on trying to explaining what the hell "Mom and Dad" are supposed to be. I also figured out about 3/4 into the fifth issue that every character has a power- something that should have been made abundantly clear from the beginning. I had to do a double take when Jamie started growing claws out of nowhere and flip through my copy to see if I was missing some pages- an action I found myself doing frequently.
Pacing is also an issue- the flashback scenes felt well rounded and necessary, but towards the middle of the book characters were moving locations, changing goals and having major realizations all within a few panels of each other. It quickly became overwhelming, and I feel that the novel and its characters could have been more fully fleshed out if they were simply given more time to move through these events.
Despite my gripes, I don't regret purchasing this book. Diehard MCR fans will be delighted by even the smallest of references- (Here's a couple. In this universe SCARECROW is the Drac from the two music videos, not an atomic bomb, Mike Miligram's character is quite obviously based off Gerard Way's iconic Party Poison character, and the Trans-AM, (aka the car that 16 year old me would have done anything to drive in) appears in all of its glory.) Characters in the book also share suspicious similarities to members of band. Speaking of characters, the designs in this book are PHENOMENAL. I could spend hours staring at the reference sheets included in the back of my copy. The book itself is also very well put together, it has thick textured pages that are constantly bursting with color, the use of which is very impressive throughout this book. There's a part of me that wants to take pages of this out and place them on my wall to stare at forever, but I'd never defile a book. It's also definitely one of the higher quality comic books that I have seen.
Overall, this graphic novel feels like a collection of ideas and characters that are very loosely strewn together with very little explanation or pacing. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone without prior experience to the Killjoys Universe, but I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for some phenomenal art or just love MCR's 2010 masterpiece.
September 25, 2023
anyone who has seen me in person can easily infer that I'm a my chemical romance fan, so seeing this in toppings made it an already foregone conclusion. I love everything gerard way has done - my chem is great, his solo projects are great, I love umbrella academy, so the true lives of the fabulous killjoys seemed like a good bet. in fact I am currently writing this with hair dyed radioactive red to match gerard way's in the music videos attached to the album inspired by the comic. well actually it's slightly more complex than that - he came up with this version first (that being national anthem ) but the story changed during development for the album, and therefore so too did the music videos, which inspired the spinoff comics that came out in 2013ish. so this is a reboot that is also sort of the original? a similar origin story to season 6 of riverdale. anyway, I've never read thr other comics so I didn't really know the story other than the vague sense through the albums and music videos. my first impression was Holy shit I love this art followed by what the fuck is going on. the world and events are heavily underexplained, but at the same time I loved the themes and vibes so much its hard for this to really dampen my enthusiasm. the writing style is certainly confusing but I kind of love the abstract song-lyric-esque writing sometimes. the art style is FANTASTIC, a Ray gun that shoots using your trauma is fucking awesome, and Mom and Dad are quietly creepy. the messaging is sort of basic but done really well, and it was a lot of fun to listen through danger days while I read it. it's a good length too! hawkeye vibes in the way it took time to read and digest, and I would've taken more time if it wasn't for devouring it on a train. I liked the way they fought for a world that was more real, and had to confront fantasies of a perfect world that held them back. in the end, Kyle 100% (yes thats the name) was my favourite character. This was a joyful, heartfelt read, and the alternate covers and concept art tucked in the end of the book were really the cherry on the cake!
June 11, 2021
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from Edelweiss and Dark Horse. All thoughts are my own.
I wish I liked "The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: National Anthem" more than I did. It’s a great premise, with some delightfully gritty and horrific artwork. But the story is just… disappointing.
"The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: National Anthem" is based on Gerard Way’s original idea for the "Killjoys" comic, from before the album changed his plans. As such, it bears very little in common with the My Chemical Romance album or the original comic. "National Anthem" isn’t a sequel or a prequel or a spinoff. You could probably classify it as a reimagining, but even that doesn’t quite feel right. For better or for worse, "National Anthem" is its own beast. Some of the ideas are similar to those in the original comic, but the context is entirely different.
"National Anthem" follows Mike Milligram, the leader of a group of teenage orphans called the “Killjoys.” It’s been years since the end of the Analogue War—an event never properly explained, but which essentially saw groups of orphaned teens fighting against reality-altering creatures at the behest of entities known only as “Mom” and “Dad.” The war ended, and the Killjoys disbanded, grew up, and took their medicine. Until one day when Mike’s TV breaks and he sees the world for what it is—a whitewashed reality controlled by a mysterious organization. It’s up to him to reunite the Killjoys and save the world.
As you can see, there are broad similarities between the original comic and "National Anthem." While the original story was a sort of bright, dystopian sci-fi fantasy, "National Anthem" is a more gritty story, firmly rooted in the present day. Or, rather, a slightly alternate version of the present day. This largely works to "National Anthem"’s advantage. This comic is darker and focuses more on the psychological horror of having one’s reality reshaped before their eyes. This is firmly Mike’s story, and it’s rooted in his experiences, which gives the whole affair this kind of unreliable quality. At times, he seems crazy. Like he doesn’t know what’s real or what’s not. And so, we’re also in the same boat, unsure if what we’re seeing is actually happening.
This sort of approach makes for an immediately captivating comic. The problem is that Way and Simon don’t commit to the uncertainty for longer than an issue or so. Pretty quickly, everything just sort of turns into another generic story where the underdog rebels try to take down the evil corporation. The uncertainty of whether or not the story is happening evaporates pretty quickly. To be fair, Way and Simon try to keep things fresh by adding a lot of twists and turns and big questions, but few of those pay off in any meaningful way. And some of the twists come so far out of left field that they’re not even fun.
This is a comic with too many ideas thrown in. So, everything feels very vague. The characters’ motivations are difficult to follow. I’ve no idea what the antagonists’ actual plan is or why they’re doing it. There’s a sort of hand-wavey explanation given, but after five issues of buildup, it’s very unsatisfying. Mike is the only character with any real development or traceable motivation. The rest of the Killjoys are just there. They’ve got backstories and whatnot, but none of them are explored. This isn’t their story. And that’s a shame because what little we do know of them is every bit as captivating as what we know about Mike. I wanted to like "National Anthem." It started promisingly enough, but as the series went on, it never paid off on any of its ideas. The ending is nice, but it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, nor does it feel earned.
I did, however, like the artwork. I liked it a lot. Way more than I expected to. Normally, I don’t like this particular style of artwork. But Romero made it work. His gritty, surreal art, combined with Bellaire’s almost-garish colors, created this dark, seedy world that perfectly represented the darkness at the heart of Way and Simon’s script. There’s a grayness to the corporate world, but the colors of the Killjoys’ “more free world” aren’t exactly inviting, either. So, you’re left feeling kind of uncomfortable the whole time, like you’re seeing a world you’re not meant to see. It worked brilliantly and it makes the comic a much easier recommendation.
Ultimately, "The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: National Anthem" is a mixed bag. If you don’t like Gerard Way’s comics, this one’s not gonna win you over. It has all the trademarks of his other work. If you’re a big fan of the My Chemical Romance album or the original comic, I’m not sure you’ll love this, either. However, for what it is, it’s still pretty fun. The road trip elements are enjoyable, even if the narrative is disappointing overall. Gerard Way always has big ideas, and they remain compelling here, even if they’re under-explained. The characters are fun, if vague. The universe is intriguing. And, most of all, the artwork is just stellar. The whole book is worth reading solely for the art. If you’re interested, give it a shot. Just be prepared for a weird ride that doesn’t always pay off what it sets up.
I wish I liked "The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: National Anthem" more than I did. It’s a great premise, with some delightfully gritty and horrific artwork. But the story is just… disappointing.
"The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: National Anthem" is based on Gerard Way’s original idea for the "Killjoys" comic, from before the album changed his plans. As such, it bears very little in common with the My Chemical Romance album or the original comic. "National Anthem" isn’t a sequel or a prequel or a spinoff. You could probably classify it as a reimagining, but even that doesn’t quite feel right. For better or for worse, "National Anthem" is its own beast. Some of the ideas are similar to those in the original comic, but the context is entirely different.
"National Anthem" follows Mike Milligram, the leader of a group of teenage orphans called the “Killjoys.” It’s been years since the end of the Analogue War—an event never properly explained, but which essentially saw groups of orphaned teens fighting against reality-altering creatures at the behest of entities known only as “Mom” and “Dad.” The war ended, and the Killjoys disbanded, grew up, and took their medicine. Until one day when Mike’s TV breaks and he sees the world for what it is—a whitewashed reality controlled by a mysterious organization. It’s up to him to reunite the Killjoys and save the world.
As you can see, there are broad similarities between the original comic and "National Anthem." While the original story was a sort of bright, dystopian sci-fi fantasy, "National Anthem" is a more gritty story, firmly rooted in the present day. Or, rather, a slightly alternate version of the present day. This largely works to "National Anthem"’s advantage. This comic is darker and focuses more on the psychological horror of having one’s reality reshaped before their eyes. This is firmly Mike’s story, and it’s rooted in his experiences, which gives the whole affair this kind of unreliable quality. At times, he seems crazy. Like he doesn’t know what’s real or what’s not. And so, we’re also in the same boat, unsure if what we’re seeing is actually happening.
This sort of approach makes for an immediately captivating comic. The problem is that Way and Simon don’t commit to the uncertainty for longer than an issue or so. Pretty quickly, everything just sort of turns into another generic story where the underdog rebels try to take down the evil corporation. The uncertainty of whether or not the story is happening evaporates pretty quickly. To be fair, Way and Simon try to keep things fresh by adding a lot of twists and turns and big questions, but few of those pay off in any meaningful way. And some of the twists come so far out of left field that they’re not even fun.
This is a comic with too many ideas thrown in. So, everything feels very vague. The characters’ motivations are difficult to follow. I’ve no idea what the antagonists’ actual plan is or why they’re doing it. There’s a sort of hand-wavey explanation given, but after five issues of buildup, it’s very unsatisfying. Mike is the only character with any real development or traceable motivation. The rest of the Killjoys are just there. They’ve got backstories and whatnot, but none of them are explored. This isn’t their story. And that’s a shame because what little we do know of them is every bit as captivating as what we know about Mike. I wanted to like "National Anthem." It started promisingly enough, but as the series went on, it never paid off on any of its ideas. The ending is nice, but it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, nor does it feel earned.
I did, however, like the artwork. I liked it a lot. Way more than I expected to. Normally, I don’t like this particular style of artwork. But Romero made it work. His gritty, surreal art, combined with Bellaire’s almost-garish colors, created this dark, seedy world that perfectly represented the darkness at the heart of Way and Simon’s script. There’s a grayness to the corporate world, but the colors of the Killjoys’ “more free world” aren’t exactly inviting, either. So, you’re left feeling kind of uncomfortable the whole time, like you’re seeing a world you’re not meant to see. It worked brilliantly and it makes the comic a much easier recommendation.
Ultimately, "The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: National Anthem" is a mixed bag. If you don’t like Gerard Way’s comics, this one’s not gonna win you over. It has all the trademarks of his other work. If you’re a big fan of the My Chemical Romance album or the original comic, I’m not sure you’ll love this, either. However, for what it is, it’s still pretty fun. The road trip elements are enjoyable, even if the narrative is disappointing overall. Gerard Way always has big ideas, and they remain compelling here, even if they’re under-explained. The characters are fun, if vague. The universe is intriguing. And, most of all, the artwork is just stellar. The whole book is worth reading solely for the art. If you’re interested, give it a shot. Just be prepared for a weird ride that doesn’t always pay off what it sets up.
February 24, 2022
*Review from my 10 year old*
I liked the book. It was a pretty big book for a comic. It definitely gave some clues and hints to the band by the events that happened that were described in their songs.
However, I don't really like comics and the chapters only took a short time to finish.
Overall, I think the book would have been good but just not as a comic. More so as a short story.
I liked the book. It was a pretty big book for a comic. It definitely gave some clues and hints to the band by the events that happened that were described in their songs.
However, I don't really like comics and the chapters only took a short time to finish.
Overall, I think the book would have been good but just not as a comic. More so as a short story.
March 26, 2025
slay again
i actually preferred the art style in this one to the one in ttlotfk: california. it had a retro, pop art, 3d vibe i really liked. also the story is amazing as per usual and i'm obsessed with kara
i actually preferred the art style in this one to the one in ttlotfk: california. it had a retro, pop art, 3d vibe i really liked. also the story is amazing as per usual and i'm obsessed with kara
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2022
Amazing show stopping incredible marvellous 10/10
Read
December 2, 2024I have yet to read the fabulous killjoys so maybe it was a bad idea to write the sequel first but I loved it!! Very fun read and such wonderful art
July 2, 2025
i really loved the coloring and art in this book oh my godddd it was so stunning i’ll lay down my life for leonardo romero and jordie bellaire. i like how much the story differs from killjoys: california and the characters feel very fresh and new. the “mom” and “dad” figures are so interesting to me as well. i think national anthem has better world building than california which i appreciate.
July 22, 2025
Leonardo Romero arrasou muito aqui, brasileiros no topo !!
August 8, 2025
UGHHHH why did gerard do this to me. i am UNWELL. the vibes however are freaking perfect!!! also mike ❤️❤️❤️
July 1, 2022
denna var lite enklare att hänga med i, gillar karaktärerna mycket också!! den får 3,5 men man kan inte ge 3,5 så det får väll bli 3
November 14, 2022
I had so much fun reading this. The story is apocalyptical but at a point where not everyone knows or even notices that something is happening, they are being controlled and their lives are forever changed.
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